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JoeR
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Loc: St.Cloud, FL
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Cost of replacing submersible pump?
10/07/06 05:00 PM
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Got up this morning, used the restroom, and discovered I had no water! It was still dark when I got up, so outside I go to find the problem. Luckily the multimeter has a backlit display. I find 220V all the way to the well casing. Horses are hovering all around me trying to help, but sadly I have voltage all the way to the main wires going to the pump. At this point my mood changes since I know I can't do this myself. The pump is 65' down inside a 3" casing. That pipe with water is going to be way too heavy for me to pull up. I call the well guy, and he confirms my fears. Gotta pull the motor up, not sure of cost yet since he didn't know which kind of pump I had. He had a nice setup to pull the pump out, and after removing three section of pipe, he gets the pump out. He checks it by connecting 220 to it, and it is shot. It is a 22GPM 3" submersible pump. Cost to replace plus labor is around $1,700. He offers me a 16GPM pump for a little less, but my wife already complains about pressure loss when she has the washer, tub, dishwasher, and shower going. 3 kids who get dirty a lot tend to consume lots of water, and plenty of dirty laundry. Anyway, I tried to price 3" 22GPM pumps, but I couldn't find too many to price. So, does this $1700 sound like a fair price for Florida? When you have no water, almost any price seems fair! 
Thanks,
Joe
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egon
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: JoeR]
10/08/06 07:13 AM
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There are many different brands of submersible pumps. Some are better made than others.
Check out the brand of pump offered versus other makes of pumps and compare prices to make your decision.
Egon
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JoeR
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: egon]
10/09/06 08:33 AM
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Thanks Egon. I had trouble finding 3" submersible pumps online. I found only one manufacturer, so it is hard to get an idea of parts cost. There are plenty of 4" pump makers though.... 
Joe
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egon
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: JoeR]
10/09/06 09:45 AM
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The 3 in. may not be too common. If that is the case it may raise the cost of the pump.
Egon
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1994
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: egon]
10/09/06 01:07 PM
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The 3" 22 GPM pump is probably a Grundfos 22SQ. Couldn't be very old. Was it the variable speed SQE22 with the little 1 gallon tank or the SQ22 with a regular tank?
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JoeR
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: 1994]
10/09/06 06:10 PM
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You are correct. It was the Grundfos 22SQ. The final price came in at $1300, so I was a little relieved. He replaced the pressure switch too. I can't complain, they did do a good job and were thorough.
Joe
Edited by JoeR (10/09/06 06:11 PM)
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1994
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: JoeR]
10/10/06 07:36 AM
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How long did it last and how large is your pressure tank? There are ways to make it last longer. Next time it goes out it will be even more expensive.
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JoeR
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: 1994]
10/10/06 08:58 PM
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I have a 60Gal pressure tank, and the pump lasted 5 years. I asked the guy why it didn't last longer, and he said the hurricanes we had causing power surges or a close by lightning strike could have shortened its life expectency.
Joe
Edited by JoeR (10/10/06 08:59 PM)
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1994
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: JoeR]
10/11/06 08:40 AM
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Seven years is the average life of a submersible, so you didn't miss it by much. The 3" pump you have spins at over 10,000 RPM compared to a normal 4" pump that spins 3450 RPM. Everytime you double the RPM of a pump you quadruple the wear rate. Should still last longer than 5 years. If lightning or power surges destroy a pump, you usually wake up after the storm or power surge to no water. Lightning and power surges usually knock out the motor right then, doesn't usually just damage a pump and cause it to go out sooner. The 3" pump you have does have some electronic components built into the motor that might have been damaged by power surge but I doubt the pump would ever run again after this kind of damage. The 60 Gallon tank you have only holds about 15 gallons of water and your pump delivers 22 gallons per minute. While you are using 7 GPM the pump is on for 1 minute and off for 2 minutes. There are 1440 minutes in a day so you have a potential of the pump cycling on and off 480 times every 24 hours. Cycling on and off is the biggest killer of pumps and more than likely what caused yours to go out. Cut the cycling on and off by 75% and you might get 20 years out of a pump. Don't know if that 10,000 RPM pump with built in electronics will even last that long but I know it would help. You can use a Cycle Stop Valve with the tank you have or install 4 times as many or 4 times as big a tank and you will reduce the cycling by 75% making your pump last longer. Otherwise $1300 every 5 years means you need to put up about $25 per month to pay for the next pump you will need.
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Pat
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: 1994]
10/11/06 09:19 PM
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I have paper cartridge fuses with metal caps on the ends in both legs of the 220 going to the submerged pump. I have had lightning surges destroy the fuses. There was no visible part of either fuse left after a lightning event except the metal end caps. I keep spares handy and replace the fuses and the pump works fine again and still works fine several years later (maybe 3 years since last blown fuses.)
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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lxw
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: JoeR]
10/14/07 01:07 PM
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I'm in about the same boat, and I'll get my new pump (and tank, which is leaking and was never installed right anyways, apparently) installed on Friday. I'm way remote, so there's about $250 just in travel time for these guys, but they quoted me $2800 for the pump and tank and labor. Youch. It's also a 3 inch submersible, and it's only about 10 years old. Alas.
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speedbump
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Loc: Florida
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: lxw]
10/15/07 09:42 AM
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In reply to:
I'm way remote, so there's about $250 just in travel time for these guys, but they quoted me $2800 for the pump and tank and labor.
Wow, where are you located that they can charge those rates?
bob...
Pumpsandtanks.com
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lxw
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: speedbump]
10/15/07 10:00 AM
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I'm in extreme Northeastern California, about 8 miles from Nevada and 10 miles from Oregon. The closest town that has someone to do the work is an hour away in good weather, and the next closest town is about 3 hours drive each way. Needless to say, it's next to impossible to talk someone into coming for a small job, and for a biggish job like this, they can charge pretty much whatever they want, which in most cases is just normal times two. I'll post with the final verdict after the job is done. Maybe mine will come in under budget too! 
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speedbump
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: lxw]
10/15/07 01:06 PM
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I see what you mean. Your kinda at their mercy.
I don't know if it'll help, but I sell 3" and 4" subs if it's any help to you. Submersible Pumps
bob...
Pumpsandtanks.com
Edited by speedbump (10/15/07 01:07 PM)
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lxw
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Update: Submersible pump (and tanks) cost
[re: lxw]
10/23/07 11:09 AM
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Well, Billy and Jeff showed up on Friday and I have a beautiful new system. Grundfos 3" submersible and 2 30 gallon tanks (a bigger tank wouldn't make it through the 21" door in the pumphouse). Billy gave me the second tank at his cost. Final cost, a nice round $3000. Now if the well doesn't go dry, I should be good to go for quite a while!
Moral of the story: next time you replace your pump and your checkbook says "ouch!", just be glad you don't live in remote Modoc County, California (don't get me wrong, it's 100% worth it!).
Laurie
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bobkrack
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: speedbump]
10/24/07 04:14 AM
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Hi Bob,
I'm not certain but I think this thread is as good as starting another. I live in a fairly remote area but only fifteen miles from Redding (90,000).
When the power goes out (several times each year), I am without water. I have a 240V submersible, 1-1/2 HP well pump.
I have a 10KW generator but do not want to install it via a "whole-house" transfer setup.
I do not have the land layout for a substantial above ground storage tank, although I DO have a 20 gallon storage tank with 12V pump for potable water.
I am wondering if I could not just add a 110V submersible pump in parallel with my existing pump, with the 110V pump switched by it's own pressure switch that would be set with a much lower "start pumping" setpoint. That way I could have water with only an extension cord (or an invertor) and no hassle with any kind of transfer devices.
For emergency use, very low volume and even very low pressure would work fine for me.
Thanks,
Bob
I was taught to respect my elders but it's getting harder to find any!
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speedbump
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: bobkrack]
10/24/07 07:22 AM
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It think your asking if this pump can be installed in line with the outgoing pipe from the submersible in the well. If the water level in your well were less than 25 feet, it may be possible. But you wouldn't need the extra tank, the one you already have would do. I am not familiar with a pump that runs on 115 volts that has a built in pressure switch, so I can't say if the pump is capable of lifting water or not.
This is not something I have ever seen done before, but then I have seen other strange things that actually work well. So, maybe it's worth a try. Can you post a picture of this pump?
bob...
Pumpsandtanks.com
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bobkrack
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: speedbump]
10/29/07 07:27 AM
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Hi Bob,
I guess I din't get my point across very well.
I do NOT have a 110V pump, I am interested in getting one. I assumed that since 12VDC pumps were available 110VAC might just be available also.
I was also referencing a second pressure switch to control the 110V pump, IE:220V pump pressure switch set points = on at 20PSI, off = 40PSI for example and 110V (or 12V) on = 10PSI and off = 30PSI (or 40 or whatever).
Actually, 10 on and 20 or 25 off would work just fine for emergency use.
Thanks for your patience!
Bob
I was taught to respect my elders but it's getting harder to find any!
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speedbump
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Re: Cost of replacing submersible pump?
[re: bobkrack]
10/29/07 08:43 AM
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That makes it easy. There are lots of 115 volt pumps. Jet Pumps, Centrifugal Pumps. They can be up to two horsepower in 115 volts.
The big thing is the water level in the well. These pumps can only lift water 25 feet vertically.
bob...
Pumpsandtanks.com
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