upgrading (?) irrigation system quotes

19 years ago

Hi folks - hope someone here might be able to "advise" me ... or at least, offer your opinion.

I've been tinkering with my system for a few years - and it all just died last summer. I've got a few bucks stashed away and KNOW I need to get the system up-n-running again, before the summer heat kicks into high gear. The problems that I had in the past were mainly associated with my pump side of the system. That being (a) the pump is one of those pressure driven types and was constantly loosing pressure, priming, etc based on the ever changing water table/levels and (b) the timer is a silly little basic model. By the end of the summer, I was having to turn off the circuit breaker to control the pump - it would run constantly unless I switched the breaker off. Finally, when I switched the breaker back on - NO PUMP - it wouldn't make a sound or pump any water. Now, a season later, I turned the breaker back on and I can hear a hummmmmm from the pump (and a little click about every three minutes). Still, no water, no real pump activity.

After calling several companies to request an estimate for repain, I found ONE that was interested in the job. A tech came out and said that my pump type is not really suitable for irrigation (and should mostly be used for something like a holding tank) and that it seems to be burned up. He suggested a new pump, timer and pump start relay be installed. He went on to say that he couldn't be sure the well isn't "dry" since the pump won't even work. He priced the job at $800.

So, here's my questions (sorry for so many):

Does it sound reasonable that the pump is burned up?

Was it the wrong "type" of pump?

Could the well be dry - and that is what was causing the pump to run constantly (as if trying to prime itself) and require regulation via circuit breaker swithching?

Does the price for a new pump, timer & relay sound reasonable?

Thanks for your help ---- I can't seem to even find another company locally to get a second opinion!!!! And the idea of having a whole new system installed sounds backward.

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Comments (3)

The_Mohave__Kid
19 years ago
Is this a free estimate ???

How deep of a well do you have ??

I won't second guess a technician via computer but I don't see it being necessary to repair your system and then to tell you if the well is dry ?? ... sounds to me like someone that does not want to spend a great deal of time trouble shooting your system ... and for free .. well you can't blame the guy.

Call back some of the more reputable companies and ask what there fee is to look over the system and recomend a renovation plan to get the system working.

Good Day ...
funkill
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks for your reply. Yes, the "reveiw" was a free one ... but it was the only company that I've been able to get out to my house regardless of charge!!!! It's absolutely amazing - four companies in the area - after repeated calls (we're talking about 4 calls each over the past two weeks) and this is the only one that responded.

So, is there a way to determine if the well is dry? I have no idea of the depth of the well (or even the exact location) as there was no info from the previous owner. This irrigation tech thought it was reasonable that the well is directly under the pump --- which is inches from the footers for my home. Reasonable assumption???

I guess I'll keep pestering the other companies and attempt to get a second opinion. However, I'll gladly accept any further advice/suggestions!
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No, the aquifier is not that weak. It is the fact that they just do not install a big pump as part of a standard package from what I am finding out. My well will actually produce 20gpm no problem. It is a standard submersible pump in a 4" casing. The pump is already set with 40/60PSI cutoffs, however, the best combination of pressure/gpm is at the 47psi/10GPM which keeps the pump running. If I try to get 55psi out of the system I think I will only be getting about 6GPM out of it and when watering 1acre of grass I think it is unreasonable to try and water it with that flow rate. I would rather design the system for the correct flow than to have to redo it at a later point. On a happy note: I called my well guy and spoke to one of the owners yesterday. He said they can install a 1.5hp pump and new well tank for about $1200. That is giving my some credit for my existing system. I could also get what he called a constant velocity system. I guess it maintains a constant 70PSI and will pump an easy 20GPM but they want $1700 to install that system.
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Check the nozzles fitted on the sprinklers. The nozzles come as sets for 'Hi Flow' and 'Lo Flow'. You have four discharge rates per set to choose from.Reduce the nozzle sizes on the sprinklers as far as practically possible. This should bring your sprinkler discharge rate and well recharge rate to more manageable parameters. You might have to by-pass part of the pump discharge back into the well to reduce the pressure increase due to the lower discharge rates.But if your domestic line runs from the same pump, the increased pressure would only be advantageous. You will only need to increase the zone run times to compensate for the lower discharge.But this is more water efficient. And the cheapest way to solve the present problem.
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Kmac
19 years ago
Funkill, cut to the chase and call in a consultaion from a professional well & pump company. Ask up front what the charges will be, and if any of the upfront fee can be credited back if they end up performing some or all of the work.
I problaly have a hunch as to why you are getting a poor response from the local irr guys, and that is because they are slammed with work right now. In this business i view it as all of the bears (landscape clients) come out of their caves and all freak out over their landscapes & irrigation en masse. The kind of work you have for them to deal with is complicated in the general scope of work, and there are easier pickings for them out there. Sorry about this, it is a fact of life.The flow goes into the easy route...If I was called out to your place, I would only do it after you had ruled out well/pump problems and then go from there. When we do work on existing systems, we do all of our work on a Time & Materials basis, informing you along the way as to what your available options are, as fiddling around someone else's system sometimes takes much more time than you can imagine, and if we had to bid it it would give you a heart attack. Many times it is more cost effective abandon the old system + re-design and install a more efficient system. All of this I would advise up front on the phone before even making an appt. so the client is totally informed, and this also serves as a pre-qualifying tool as well, as there is only (1) of me, but lots and lots of potential clients out there, and the ones who are really serious about getting a quality + trouble free job installed are farther and farther between these days, thanks to the 'Home Depot' mentality and the proliferation of unlicensed folks out there masquerading as the real deal...

upgrading (?) irrigation system quotes

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The_Mohave__Kid

funkill
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upgrading (?) irrigation system quotes

Comments (3)

The_Mohave__Kid

funkillOriginal Author

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Kmac

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funkill
Original Author