Emergency Water Well Hand Pump Kit Installation | Epp Well Solutions

[@jons2447]

THANK YOU! I've been looking for this or something like it for maybe 5 years! I'll have to see what it costs to change to a “pitless adapter” or other mods. I'm on disability so every little bit counts. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

[@earlschultz7880]

great presentation, all I have to do now is measure my static water level. looks like a great value!

[@EppWellSolutions]

Thanks Earl! Wishing you the best of luck with measuring your static water level!

[@nodivisions]

This looks great! A couple questions: 1. I understand the 1/16" hole allows drainage to prevent freezing & cracking. But does the pump actually function in freezing weather? If I go out there on a 15-degree day (I'm in PA), would it work? 2. Aren't you allowing rainwater (and potentially dirt/mud, etc) down into the well by drilling the hole in the well cap like that? Of course well water itself isn't necessarily "pure" but it's filtered by 50-100+ feet of earth & rock, whereas surface water is not.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Thanks for reaching out Anthony! 1. With the 1/16" hole the water should drain off fast enough that it won't freeze so that you can use it in freezing temperatures. The water will always be moving, whether it is being pumped out or drained out of the freeze hole. If you are worried about it freezing after using it still you could drill a hole larger than 1/16" to drain it off faster. You will just have to keep in mind that you will be losing more water per pump stroke. 2. Well caps already have venting to allow the outside air into the well at the surface. The hole drilled in the cap is usually sealed fairly well by the 1" couplers glued on either side, but if you would like to seal it even more you could use some sealant around the upper 1" coupler and the cap.

[@blackmorel836]

This is exactly what I am looking for ! Has it been tested in the winter ? How well will this work in freezing temps. Manitoba Canada Usually -20 Gets down to -40 Does the water all drain out after use, or will any part freeze and crack / get plugged with ice.

[@EppWellSolutions]

It sure has! At 11:20 in this install video you will notice that the installer drills a 1/16" hole in the 1/2" pipe below the freeze line. That way when the pump isn't being used the water can slowly drain out of the 1/2" down below the freeze line. The water drains from the 1/2" pipe out the freeze hole down into the 1" pipe and then drains out another hole in the piston back into the well. This protects the water from freezing and cracking the pipes. I understand you are from Manitoba. Unfortunately I must inform you that this product is only available to US customers at this time. We are working hard to make our hand pumps available in Canada, but at this time I do not have an estimate on when they will be available. You can follow us on our social media to be the first to know when it is available for sale in Canada.

[@Wiseguy58]

How did you get the string off of the piston after you installed everything? did you just cut it? If so, isn't there a possibility that that string could become a problem left in the well casing and get tangled around the regular pump impellers? Thanks

[@denisec8914]

Hi, I think we're related on my Mother's side of the family. My grandmother's parents were Mary Morley (I think) and Joseph Sherman Epps. I have a picture of them and you resemble Joseph, face structure and nose. Its interesting. I had only clicked on your video to learn about installing a hand pump, but you really resemble my great grandfather.

[@oneyetiger]

Question: I have looked at a lot of hand pump videos. I am considering the same, but never have I seen anyone disinfecting their well with a gallon of bleach after working inside the casement pipe if the well is used for a human water supply. Am I correct with my observation? Second what is a ball park estimate of cost of pump kit excluding pipe and fittings?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Great questions! Disinfection with bleach after working inside the casement pipe is not a procedure we use during installation. It May be a good idea to check with your local well drilling/pump company to see if they advise you to do so for your situation. Our hand pump kits come with the piston, handle, and fittings as shown in the install video. The kits are $350 each with free shipping across the contiguous United States. Just let us know if you have any additional questions!

[@KCARanchHomestead]

Hi. Are these made to leave inside the well? Or would you suggest just having the hole in the cap ready, but keep the pump out of the well for emergency use?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Whether you decide to install the pump or store it for later is totally up to you. It doesn't matter for the longevity of the hand pump whether it is in the well or on a shelf. We have customers opt for both ways. If you have the hole drilled in the cap already just be sure to plug it up or install the hand pump to keep any large contaminants from entering into the well via the hole.

[@TheAudiomaniac]

Has this pump been tested on deeper wells. My static level is around 325'. I was looking into simple pump, but their price for that deep is nearly $4000. I am almost tempted to buy this and just try it but hate wasting money if it will not work at all.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello, our hand pump kit has only been engineered and tested for depths of up to 150 feet deep. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@woodchuker570]

RIGHT, simple pump is so overpriced, I am trying to figure out why.

[@sherylstuetzel9561]

Did you ever find a cheaper solution? Our well is 280' deep. I would love to have a hand pump as a back up but don't know what to do.

[@TheAudiomaniac]

@@sherylstuetzel9561 I haven’t found a cheaper solution.

[@Domelady]

Don't waste your money on Simple Pump. I cannot believe they are still in business. I used them 25 years ago, and the weep hole did freeze up and cracked the head TWICE. The first time, I was able to save the unit from disappearing down the well, but the second time, I lost it. I was naive, and they were horrible. Never again.

[@dianawilkinson2867]

Love this, except was hard to listen due to horrible repetitive background music. If you must have music, something calming and/or less repetitious would make the video much more enjoyable and easier to pay attention to. Thank you for your work. It is helpful.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@MrsRCope]

Yes..no music at all would’ve been great

[@rachelhoughable]

Will this work for a very deep well? Ours is 140 ft...

[@EppWellSolutions]

Yes, our hand pump kits can reach depths up to 150 feet.

[@MadeAtTaylor]

Hi, if my well was drilled to 200 feet, but the static water level is 30 ft below grade (per the well report I got from the company after I moved in), will this kit work? It was drilled in 2016.

[@EppWellSolutions]

You bet! Our kits can reach depths up to 150 feet deep, so your static water level is well within range.

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

So to get water up with the garden hose attached you must pump it? Any way to use this kit with drip tape irrigation?

[@EppWellSolutions]

That is correct. The pumping action of the hand pump brings water up to the handle and through the hose. Drip tape irrigation requires pressure, and our hand pumps are not made for pressure application so I would not recommend using drip tape with the hand pump.

[@i.m.anonymous8032]

What is the blue pump/spigot that is next to your pump?

[@EppWellSolutions]

That is just a spigot to access the pressurized water from the electric pump.

[@Msicu1221]

I have a condemned well water due to pump getting stuck in the bottom can you still get water out of it using this system????

[@EppWellSolutions]

You sure can! You just need to make sure you have the 1-5/8 inch clearance for the hand pump piston to fit down in your well. If you are not sure if you have this clearance you can take a 1 inch PVC pipe and cement a 1 inch PVC coupler on the end. Lower the pipe(s) down into your well coupler first and see if it lowers down with no problem. If it lowers down no problem then you have the clearance needed for the pump piston in our kit.

[@johnbauer9628]

my well is 170 feet deep. How do I know what my static water level is?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello John, if you happen to have a well report from when the well was drilled, you can look at that and it will often have a static water level depth from when it was drilled, and that can help give you a good idea on whether it is a shallow well. If you do not have the well report, you can try the washer and bobber method where you tie a washer to the end of a string and put a bobber up higher on the string, and then lower it into the well. Once you hear/feel the bobber hit the water you can lift the string out and measure the length. This method only really works on shallow wells. Some well or well pump companies also have specific instruments to measure well depth, so you can always call your local company and see if they can measure the well depth for you. If you are having trouble finding your static water level, you can always make a ballpark guess, glue up that length in pipe, and lower it into the well. You can then try a test pump like shown in the video and see if any water comes out after some strokes. If water does not come out, then glue up another section or two, like the video explains at then end, wait for the glue to dry, and then lower that section down and try again for water. You can repeat these steps until you find water, and then finalize the installation. Hope this makes sense and is helpful for you. If you have any questions at all please reply here or reach out to us at pump.eppwellsolutions.com/support

[@johnbauer9628]

@@EppWellSolutions THanks. I'll try the bobber on the string.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello Jerrod, the hole saw size for drilling through the well cap is 1-3/8" and the drill bit size for drilling the freeze hole is 1/16".

[@brux3822]

Will this freeze in the winter or does the water eventually draw down when not in use?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello Brux, During installation you will drill a 1/16" hole into the side of the 1/2" PVC pipe below your freeze line so that when you are done pumping the water will drain down to that hole below your freeze level.

[@brux3822]

@@EppWellSolutions Great thanks for the response. I didn't watch the entire video obviously...

[@jeffsmith4945]

How does this work on a 4” well where the pressure regulator itself barely fits in the well?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello Jeff, Our pump's piston is 1-5/8" at its widest point so you would need that clearance in your well casing next to your current well piping. So unfortunately our hand pump will not work in your 4" well in tandem with your current well piping. Sorry for the inconvenience. Preferably you would want a well casing of 6" or greater to have the needed clearance for our hand pump. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

[@earlschultz7880]

@@EppWellSolutions you may be able to move the pressure regulator out of the well casing, like on your pressure tank.

[@ritamoore3940]

Is this pump available to Canada?

[@EppWellSolutions]

At this time our hand pump kits are only available in the United States. We hope to expand to Canada soon, so you can follow us on social media to be the first to know when we do. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@paintersson]

What if you don’t have the overhead room to pump the water? Say your well pipe is enclosed in a house. Is there a way to do a minty and bring it out where you have clearance?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello Tom, The hand pump needs to pump vertically so you will need some height in your well house above your well head to pump. A full pump stroke is about 26.5 inches so if you want a hand pump stroke then you will want over 26.5 inches of clearance above the hand pump handle. Please let us know if you have any additional questions, Tom!

[@chrisbrowder6371]

Will this attach to a main electrical well or would I need to dig another one

[@EppWellSolutions]

Hello Chris, our hand pump is completely separate from your main electrical pump. That way if the electrical one failed for any reason, you can still hand pump water. In nearly all 6 inch well casings, the hand pump can be installed in tandem with your current electrical pump, so you don't need to dig a new well. You just need 1-5/8" clearance for the widest point on the pump piston.

[@Watchdog_McCoy_5.7x28]

@@EppWellSolutions my well cap has the pipe coming up through it. Is there any recommendations on how to install this hand pump with this type of well cap?

[@EppWellSolutions]

Great question! Shoot us an email at [e-mail] with a photo of your well cap along with the well casing diameter in inches and we will guide you through how to install with your well configuration.

[@Watchdog_McCoy_5.7x28]

@@EppWellSolutions i just sent an email. If you aren't busy, I can email you my phone number if you have time to talk and answer a few questions. Thanks.

[@geni2shoes889]

That music was a horrible idea

[@rut3ch]

How do I make an order? I'm sold.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Thanks for reaching out Jason! You can order easily at our website here: pump.eppwellsolutions.com/store/p/well-hand-pump-kit Or by calling us at [phone]

[@joeymcknight4954]

The music was a constant distraction and drowned out your voice. Otherwise I enjoyed the video.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Thanks for the feedback Joey!

[@20greeneyes20]

Yeah really don't need the music at all.

[@carol2132]

I guess i am the only one that has trouble with the music! hard to listen to people talk over it.

[@PrimitiveVsns]

Buyer beware. Schedule 40 doesn’t work with this pump, at all. The 1/2” couplers that come with kit are schedule 40 and have an outside diameter of 1 1/6” which doesn’t fit inside the 1” pipe. Can’t use 1 1/4” pipe because it won’t fit the 1” coupler that’s on the pump. Poor investment on my part.

[@EppWellSolutions]

Yes, you will need to use the thin wall class 200 1" PVC pipe. As you found, schedule 40 doesn't have the necessary clearance for the 1/2" couplers. If you are having trouble finding thin wall 1" or 1/2" pipes just let us know!

[@PrimitiveVsns]

@@EppWellSolutions right now I have 80’ of 1” and 80’ of 1/2” schedule 40 that I can’t use. None of the big box stores or plumbing supply stores in my area have thin walled pipe.

[@EppWellSolutions]

@HAWKS in our experience the best place to find thin wall piping is at a landscape irrigation supply shop. If you can send us an email at [e-mail] with either your name or order# we can do some research and find you a place nearby where you can get the thin wall for your hand pump kit.

[@PrimitiveVsns]

@@EppWellSolutions sent.

[@EppWellSolutions]

@HAWKS you should have an email now. We found a SiteOne landscape supply nearby you that stocks the 1" thin wall class 200 PVC and also special orders the 1/2" thin wall class 315 PCV pipe. Please let us know if you have any other questions!