skip to main content

Simple irrigation pump questions

18 years ago

I use a centrifugal pump to pump water out of a river on my property. Very simple setup. I plug the pump into a 50ft extension cord, pump is attached to a 25ft 1" black plastic suction piping with a foot vavle submersed in the river. I have a gauge and a spicket which I attach a garden hose to and get about 30-40psi out of it. Two questions....The pump runs constantly when plugged in, is it ok to stop the flow using a nozzle at the end of the hose? My second question regards the pump losing it's prime evry once in a while. Is there an easier way or place to install the check valve. Its a pita to drag the hose from the house to fill up the suction pipe anytime it loses its prime. Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mikie_gw
18 years ago
fwiw
Shallow wells here have a 1.5" check valve about two feet from pump.
Pump has a pressure switch with high limit cut off and low pressure cut on. JetPump with pressure switch set about 30# on & 50# off.
Pump has a small pressure tank plumbed into it.

When water flow is shut off it builds pressure until the pressure switch shuts off the power.. that pressure tank helps seal the check valve. If a faucet leaks, drip drip, pressure switch eventually will turn on the pump and charge it back up to full pressure and then the pressure switch shuts it off again. So its always maintaining prime with the diaphram pressure tank sealing the check-valve with some back pressure. If it should develop a leak on the suction side of the check valve , then it would lose full prime but the water in the tank and piping should be enough to start the prime with no city water hose applied.
johnCT
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks. Can I somehow put the check valve closer to the pump rather than at the end of the suction pipe? As it is now, when the pump loses its prime I have to completely fill up the suction pipe with water before the pump will catch.
Related Discussions
Well / irrigation pump
Q
Comments (2)
What size well casing? Is it a shallow (driven/jetted) well? Is your area experiencing a drought? Problem could be a faulty checkvalve/footvalve if you are losing prime. Water level in the aquifer could have dropped below the well screen. Check valve should be on well side of pump just after pump. Or it is at the bottom of the well (footvalve) if it has a draw pipe.
...See More
Recommended Way to Optimize Pump/Tank Irrigation System
Q
Comments (3)
My advice would be this. 55psi on a sprinkler system is too much. Find out how many gallons per min the system would run at say 35-40 psi. Most likely it will be more like 13-20 gallons/min. but be sure you check. Then as Lehua said tie zones together and get the flow more in line with the intentions of the pump. Not sure what area you are in but in some areas your well has a drop pipe in it....if you have this case you can discharge some water back down your well to compensate. Tie into a zone pipe and have a gate valve control how much water discharges down the well when the zone is on. If you have a body of water around you can also do this (lake or canal). I would not get rid of the tank or pressure control. What I would advise (most expensive solution) is to get a sprinkler pump without a tank or switch and run the system this way. But I would not get rid of a tank on a pump with a switch. Good luck, Tom
...See More
get rid of the hose reels .... simple irrigation
Q
Comments (15)
For those in the northern states, you will want to blow out the piping in fall, so it does not freeze and damage the setup. Any buried pipe needs to be very deep, for year-round water use, so it is lower than the frost depth up here in the cold areas. Should then have a self-draining hydrant, instead of a faucet, so it doensn't freeze above the ground either. For a summer help, the system ken shows would work and be helpful. Just remember that come fall, all the water needs to be removed for pipes. ALL the faucets should have back-flow prevention valves on them. They prevent any siphoning of water, fertlizer, puddles, from being sucked back into the water system, city or well, to contaminate the water supply. VERY IMPORTANT to have the back-flow prevention valves on every faucet outside, keep your water supply protected. Such valves are available at Home Depot type stores in plastic or brass. Plastic are much less expensive, but may need replacing sooner. Still should get a couple years or more out of them.
...See More
heat pump use with irrigation system
Q
Comments (4)
I would think you would need some sort of holding tank and a pump to bring it back up to pressure for the irrigation system. The tank will need a overflow outlet for the excess water and a place to dump it. I used to work with a gentleman who put in a well water source heat pump and he dumped it into a creek about 100 yards in the back of his house. The county health dept said you couldn't dump it back in the well because it would contaminate the aquifer. The biggest problem he had with this system since he hooked it up to his drinking water well was the fact it brought the sulphur levels in the water way up over what a normal household pumping would have. I would take this into consideration along with the wear and tear on the well pump. Another thing you have to consider is upgrading the well pump to a commercial unit that was built to handle the load being put on it. I always wondered what the sulphur and the minerals in the water were doing to his heat exchanger in the heat pump.
...See More
mikie_gw
18 years ago
I don't see any reason you cant add a second check valve other than its adding another small bit of friction to the flow on the suction side.
My pump came with a built in check valve on the inlet which I cut & reamed out,, I grew up in the go fast world so it seemed the natural thing to do, port the sucker for maximum flow ;)

That factory check was apparently designed to hold water in the pump to keep it from running dry and cooking the impeller if the normal check valve lost seal. And normal check would have been footer check in some areas or the check at the top of wells is normal here for shallow well sand points.
johnCT
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the replies. Maybe thats what I'll try then. I'm not so much concerned with flow as I only use it to water the garden, etc. All I care about is getting it to keep its prime.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Install a Drip Irrigation System

By Marianne Lipanovich

Save time and water with a drip watering system in your vegetable garden — a little patience now will pay off later

DECORATING GUIDES Houzz Tour: Couple Pares Down and Pumps Up the Style

By Becky Harris

A big transition from a large suburban house to a 1,200-square-foot urban condo is eased by good design

DOORS 5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Find out whether that barn door you love is the right solution for your space

REMODELING GUIDES Considering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First

By Sarah Phipps Design

Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features

CURB APPEAL 7 Questions to Help You Pick the Right Front-Yard Fence

By Matthew Ankeny

Get over the hurdle of choosing a fence design by considering your needs, your home’s architecture and more

PATIOS Patio Details: Simple Materials Make for a Sophisticated Space

By Annie Thornton

Low water bills and minimal maintenance are just part of the beauty of this handcrafted backyard deck and patio

FALL AND THANKSGIVING Simple Pleasures: A Cozy Home in Cold Weather

By Laura Gaskill

Stock up on these treats and essentials to make even blustery days and snowed-in time feel special

COMMUNITY Simple Acts: The Unsung Power of a Good Neighbor

By Alison Hodgson

There are many ways to be a good neighbor, and they're often easier than you think

VACATION HOMES Houzz Tour: Simple Vacation Style in New Zealand

By Annie Thornton

Humble materials and a familiar form help make this fishing-village retreat restful, comfortable and even uplifting

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Easy Ways to Manage Stormwater for Lower Bills and a Healthier Earth

By Billy Goodnick Garden Design

Send cleaner runoff into local waterways and spend less on yard irrigation with these simple landscaping approaches

Sponsored

More Discussions

Bower's Vine Leaves Limping

9

Renovating drip system-a question for those with experience

12

What threads does the Orbit B-hyve XD with 4 outputs have?

0

Your experinces with expandable garden hoses

0

Fertilizer injector on siphon valve turned to drip irrigation

1