Millions of Americans get their water from a well. Unlike city water, well water is not treated with chlorine or chloramine by the municipality. Instead, it is incumbent on homeowners to filter and purify their well water before usage. But, to allow for well water to enter a home, a well pump must be installed to push water from the ground up into a home’s plumbing. Well pumps allow for a consistent flow of water into a home while making the process as energy efficient as possible. When it comes time to install a well pump, many homeowners wonder which well pump is ideal for their system. Below you can find information on what well pumps are, how they work, the types of well pumps, and how to choose the right well pump for your property.
What is a well pump?
A well pump is a device that draws water from a well and pushes or pulls it into a well storage tank. Depending on the type of pump, it can be installed and located in the home, crawl space, outbuilding, or in the well itself. A submersible pump uses impellers to draw water in and push it up a pipe, while jet and centrifugal pumps use impellers to create suction that pulls water up from underground. All of these pumps work better than the others under certain conditions and carry different initial and ongoing maintenance costs. Read on to learn more about these types of pumps.
How does a well pump work?
Well pumps can work in one of two ways: by pushing water up a pipe or using suction to pull it from underground. Well pumps are activated by a well pressure switch, a device that sends a signal to the pump when water pressure inside a well pressure tank becomes too high or low. The pressure switch lets the pump run as little as possible to elongate its lifespan. When the water level inside a well pressure tank becomes low, the pump will activate and begin filling the tank. Once the tank reaches a preset pressure after filling up, the switch signals the pump to turn off. This ensures the pump only turns on and off when it needs to, preventing issues, such as overheating or short-cycling, which can cause the pump to prematurely fail.