Well and Pump Question

[blume357]

About 10 years ago we had a well put in at our mountain house. 285 ft deep and works well... well. rated at 8 gallons a minute but the neighbor (an old geezer) who was supervising the installation said they really got 12 gallons a minute out of it. Drilled through a good bit of rock to get this.

Here's the problem... even though this system has a filter (fine mesh) on it just past the pump... we still are getting this fine granite dust in the water lines..... I actually think this stuff is good for you and you really can't see or taste it in the drinking water... but the problem is these new water saving facets.... they stop up.

So, I'm thinking about a bigger and better filter system... what do y'all think or suggest?

My only other thought is that this system should not still be pumping so much granite dust after all these years.... possibly the pump is at the very bottom and it should be raised up a few feet? This might be beyond my abilities though.... who knows about this kind of stuff.....

 

[Hipshot]

Had a well drilled some years ago in upstate Pa. which produced 12 gpm at 350' deep. Water level came up 185' and submersible pump was placed 50' off the bottom which left 135' of water over the pump. Driller poured a gallon or two of Clorox into the well and told me to let it run, not at full force, for two weeks. Never had a problem and you never tasted better water in your life. It was cold enough to haze over the faucet when you wanted a drink. You might try raising the pump.

 

[4kdave]

If it were me I would get the water tested to find out what is in it besides water.

 

[JFB]

I can't find the filters I have for my house, but this is very close
http://www.lowes.com/pd_89376-59019-WHKF-DWHV_0

 

[ronto]

I use a Type S whole house string wound filter. The rating I use is 25 microns and no sand or silt gets through it. Better ratings are available for finer filtration.

 

[RugerHound]

If the pump is at the bottom, you're gonna pick stuff up... No way you're not going to . As Hipshot suggested - Find out what your water level is, then calculate some distance from the bottom based on that number.

Our well is 575 feet deep and we're a good 50-75 feet above the bottom. We still pick up a lot of iron, so we installed self regenerating filter system to serve all the indoor taps, toilet tanks, etc.

I also strongly urge anyone with a water well to get your water tested periodically- Annually is best.

 

[Mobuck]

If your pump happens to be sitting adjacent to a sand layer, the water flowing into the well will carry sediment. Maybe raising the pump 50' would solve the problem w/o impacting a reasonable water output.

 

[coach]

My well is down 300' and it sucks up grit with the water. I put a whole house filter on that I bought at Home Depot. I used to use the spun filters and they would clog fairly quickly. I discovered the pleated paper filters do just as good a job. They're cheaper and last longer. My submersible pump it a good 40' from the bottom of the well. Besides clogging up the aerators on faucets, it collects in the toilet tanks, showers heads and water heater. Not really sure it hurts the heater, but I can guarantee it will collect a few inches over the years.
The grit will continue to clog things for a while after a filter is installed from the remaining grit in the lines.

 

[Jeepnik]

If you want a really good one that is easily installed and maintained, look at Harmsco. They are NOT cheap. But the filter element can be cleaned a number of times (how many depends on how badly fouled you let it get).

I just happen to know a guy that sells them. :mrgreen:

 

[PriseDeFer]

We use a "GE Heavy Duty Water Filtration Unit" part# GXWH401 to filter out the iron which was clogging our aerator valve thingamajig and filling up the fine 5 micron sediment filters in the R.O. unit. The housing is clear plastic so you can see what's going on, filter changes are easy, have extra replacement filters on hand while you find out how often you'll have to change them. Get the extra o rings and get the plastic filter housing wrench (for UNscrewing).

 

[Jeepnik]

We use a "GE Heavy Duty Water Filtration Unit" part# GXWH401 to filter out the iron which was clogging our aerator valve thingamajig and filling up the fine 5 micron sediment filters in the R.O. unit. The housing is clear plastic so you can see what's going on, filter changes are easy, have extra replacement filters on hand while you find out how often you'll have to change them. Get the extra o rings and get the plastic filter housing wrench (for UNscrewing).

Be careful when using clear filter housings. Don't put them in an area exposed to sun. If you do, before you know it you'll have a wonderful bug farm kicking some potentially really nasty critters into your water.

 

[PriseDeFer]

Thanks, does get some sunlight, will shield it.

 

[Rancher Will]

On my ranches our wells are deep wells with submerged pumps. The filters are in the line just before the water goes into the pressure tanks. There are numerous types of replaceable filters and we use the ones specifically designed for the type of sediment, etc., that is in each type of well water from each well.

 

[blume357]

The hot water side on the kitchen sink faucet is what stops up from the sediment and I added two outside facets to make it easier to drain the water lines in the late Fall when we close up and they completely plugged up. These were the faucets with the valve way back, 12", away from the outside to reduce the chance of freezing.... I could not get them un plugged.

The real reason for the extra filter is that my wife has decided we need to sell this mountain house and in putting it on the market with a realtor you have to sign all these papers and list any problems with the house. I figured it was easier to fix the granite dust problem than to disclose it.... spent most of yesterday re-plumbing and am not so sure now.