How to Make a Simple & Strong PVC Water Pump (DIY manual hand pump from spare parts)

[@billhanson8889]

WOW !!! GREAT EXPLANATION...Tried all night to understand other videos, but yours is BEST !!!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks Bill, glad it was helpful

[@LeeDaiYing]

Thank you for explaining it in your way. ❤

[@martinezjosei]

Nice slow and clear instructions!

[@Tioniker01]

Thank you, sir! I'm a product developer. And I needed to learn the mechanicians of a manual water pump. You did such a good job at breaking it down that I feel I'm owe 2 CEUs! Thanks again, Buddy!

[@Rizik1986]

This is a great little pump! Simple but serves its purpose. Thank you for the in detail video showing all the parts to build it.

[@ruready4nsl927]

LOVE THIS!! Thank you SO much for such clear instructions! This is the BEST "how to" video I have ever seen on a DIY hand pump!!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Wow, thanks! I really appreciate you saying so

[@pattifoote1714]

I like this, would work great on those large water bottles that go on water dispenser, when a SHTF happens! Thanks 😊

[@dtaylor2467]

Thanks I am about to build one

[@johnbarbuto5387]

Nice. The best part, IMO, is the inventiveness of it. Well done.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thank you John

[@andrescalderon1122]

Yoo this is awesome I love it 😂 TY . you just saved me some time in building one from scratch myself

[@jesseholliday3480]

Love it. Gonna use this to complete my water capture system

[@FBPrepping]

I´ve linked from my Patreon site to this video. This is one of the easiest builds I´ve found for this things. Thanks dude.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks Jose, I appreciate it.

[@olalabamahillbilly9677]

I will be building one myself! Thanks for sharing

[@DRUMMER-j-u2x]

Very impressive, Great Lakes!! And well explained! 👍

[@TheLimbReaper]

Pretty cool simplicity. Naturally, stainless steel hardware would be nice along with the addition of a collar at the top of the pump. Another thought. For pieces you don't wish to glue, I've used a pop rivet or small sheet metal screw to hold PVC together before.

[@baileyj123]

Great clear video. Thanks. Lot cheaper than $2000 stainless.

[@ahwell9984]

So well explained, and a $6 outlay!

[@travelwise05]

Good work and a thorough explanation ! Thanks! You deserve more views!

[@stephensuter7242]

Really like this concept!

[@DYIIdeas]

I like this, would work great on those large water bottles that go on water dispenser, when a SHTF happens! Thanks

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

That's a good idea!

[@akbychoice]

Very good tutorial and explained very well.

[@zeebraeend]

The rubber checkvalve is a good idea, although you could also use leather. But keep in mind that leather can swell up a bit. I guess it's all about what you have and what you'd want to buy. Great video👍

[@ibrahimnyabwa8088]

Superbly good

[@florencekirk9021]

That is really cool, thank you for sharing it with us.

[@liamstone3437]

The thing I like about this is the ability to fix it with standard parts. Spending $30 for one that breaks and becomes trash is disappointingly wasteful. Good job explaining. This will work well in my sailboat.

[@PaulStringini]

Great video, thanks!

[@jessicakevan3715]

Very helpful thumbs up!!!

[@christianmeditationcenter1111]

Excellent!!!

[@user-xo1px6zk1j]

Thanks for sharing, Hope I can figure doing, I am good at taking apart!, 🤣

[@timteller1400]

This is helpful. Thank you

[@suezapata547]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing! 👍✝️

[@carolsloanes4938]

Excellent design and presentation thanks for sharing.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks Carol!

[@spacecoastz4026]

Very nice and well explained. A few improvement....maybe a better check valve washer for the plunger, like gluing a rubber backing to the metal washer or perhaps a plastic washer would work better. And a top fitting that is drilled out to accept the plunger shaft...that way it's not wobbly. Our septic tank has a filter and recently clogged. I should clean it every year but three years went by. The tank filled up and we knew we had a problem when the shower didn't drain. So I purchased the hand pump from HD and it worked fine until the bottom check valve popped off the bottom of the main shaft and disappeared into the tank. Fortunately it did the job that I needed done in order to pull out the septic tank filter. I probably removed 30 gallons of water. This looks more durable.

[@fernandohandig3998]

thank you

[@danlynn1980]

Great video! Is there a complete list of every part needed so I can just go to the hardware store and buy them?

[@mixessentialvlog4523]

Wow sir i like your idea..nice.. and simple and useful...no need of electricitu...

[@matthewpalmer3477]

This video was incredible, bless you for making it...really good info and very easily explained. I just watched another clown on here making these with a link to his ebay account and he wants almost $200 for this same idea. You're a good man.

[@josephpetite3072]

Will this work to get silt out of a spring, set a box where silt has accumulated?

[@krisqueen5939]

🌷Thanks😊

[@moonolyth]

I think what you're missing now is an 0-ring for that plunger. Nice design!

[@Genesis.1-1]

You can buy a PVC check valve. I installed one on my sump pump discharge line.

[@ayahsu3343]

I'm using just a check valve at the bottom of the pipe for my tube well when my water pump is not available. If this will make pumping less force needed, it will be awesome

[@panasonic3DO]

Awesome! Wonder if this would work with about 10-15 feet of hose attached running to water source, as in would it have enough suction to get water rolling? Thanks for the great video

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks Lenny. I think the hose I tested it out with in this video was 10 foot, and it definitely worked.

[@romatherapy]

I'm wondering the same thing. We don't have easy access to the water source so need to add a hose to the bottom suction part in addition to the hose at the top

[@MehmedimS]

ists wery genius idea i will definitly use that for my garden. i am wondering how high it can pump? I have water source about 170m (558 ft) away and about 20m(65 ft) down, can it pup that high? if not, probly i wil plan to use fill my cars water tank in trunk, cart it 170m and deploy tith that again. i may use ram pump but idk i can because its sort of puplic tap in middle of nowhere.

[@brentgilbert4208]

Nicely done!

[@WilliamBoothJr]

I’m going to sell everything I don’t need and I’m going out west to start my gold mining adventure Thank you for explaining everything necessary to build a water pump system

[@johnvet8356]

Great idea for a strong yet effetive PVC well pump! Have you tested it on a deep well yet? I figure one can drop a hose or 1/2" PVC pipe below the water level and pump enough water for home usage. Am I correct? Have you trested this pump on a well?

[@stevenellet8990]

I really like the metal check valve idea...could that be used instead of the rubber one?

[@mal__123]

Hi. Such a great idea right there. Im so glad i found this video. But i want to ask whether this tool can be use for a dense liquid? Thank you so much for your great information about this tool and for your time answering the question. Keep up sharing good information and have a great day.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks. I'm not quite sure about using it for a denser liquid. I've only tried it with water. In principle it should pump any liquid, but I don't know for sure.

[@mal__123]

@@GreatLakesPrepping okay thanks a lot

[@traceyshomestead1938]

Excellent video

[@ricks2907]

Thanks buddy cheers Ricky 🇺🇸👩🏻‍🦼🎸🐈‍⬛🙏🐓

[@RedStorm.]

Good job

[@vantatilfly]

this is what I need. I'm in the Philippines and its christmas monsoon season and the inside of my house is a lake. MERRY CHRISTMAS. please send one. a bigger one. Id probably make one after the storm

[@Alomtancos]

@GreatLakesPrepping 6:35 any reason you didn't use the same "valve"/inner bike tube system on the inside? Why bother with washers? If you were going to sand down the plug to fit the outer tube anyway... Couldn't you have used the same mechanism as the first intake&backflow-stopper?

[@dubeaut]

Could the bottom of the housing be connected to a house, that sits in a lake, and then pumped into an RV tank? Or, could the pump sit in the lake and pump water through house to Rv tank? Maybe not enough ‘power’?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

It probably just depends on the distance for how useful it would be. It would likely pump through a hose a long distance, but it would just take a lot of pumping.

[@jeffclaycomb157]

Great video! Do you think a pump of this design on a larger scale could draw water from a deep well? Lets say 50 feet?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks Jeff. I'm really not sure about a 50 foot well. I mean, I think it would pump water, but I don't know how efficient it would be vs the effort. For a deep well, a proper machined hand pump would probably be ideal.

[@mrmotofy]

hand well pumps that can do that distance. But requires a special equipment.

[@luckytrece4985]

The rounder in the inner check can be replaced with rubber as the check from the bottom

[@marybarnum4279]

My static water level is around 45 ft. Would this set up be effective at that depth?

[@jessicag630]

6:43 Is the link in the description not available anymore?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I'm not sure why it's not there. This is the link: kzbin.info

[@Odns5]

Good

[@cbdyna]

Cool vid. Does that rubber check valve go back flat every time and it has held up through bunch of water drawls?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks. Yes, and yes.

[@ArtStoneUS]

That's a great idea if you already have water sitting in a bucket!

[@playsinclay]

Well, it is great for me because my bucket will have a screened large hole in it and sunk into my creek, so u can pump water from my creek. You have to figure a way to apply what he’s dine to your situation. I could also put it in my 12 ft bored well if necessary. Good job, Great Lakes….

[@romatherapy]

​@@playsinclay great idea! We need to add a screen and a hose to get to our water source

[@krisqueen5939]

🌷I will use it on a 5 gal water bottle, so I don't have to lift it. 😊

[@janiemiller280]

Can this be used as a deep well hand pump? If our electric well pump is out! If made longer?

[@albertmubatsaart5470]

It’s a lift pump and it’s limited mostly by gravity to a maximum of about 10 or so meters i think

[@MiddleEastMilli]

I love it! How do you imagine you might be using this in the future? Thank you!

[@sjr7822]

It is to move water from one place to another

[@MiddleEastMilli]

@@sjr7822 LOL.....go back to sleep

[@janiemiller280]

14:11 14:11

[@jerialice]

My well is 85ft. Will this type assemble draw water that far? Also is there a PEX converter to go down into the well pipe?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I honestly don't know. If you keep pumping and pumping, it would probably go that far. But really, you may want to invest in something more purpose-built for a deep well.

[@stanleymathenge7627]

Up to what depth can the water pump draw water please.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I'm not sure. The pump housing is around 2 feet long before the T-joint, so I guess you could stick this thing into about 2 feet deep of water. If you made it all longer, then I guess it would go in deeper.

[@badrinathrs]

Till how much height does this pull?

[@miked4079]

Anybody have an idea how deep a pump like this can work?

[@user-bubstech]

There are hammer in whells and i thimk they wore 25ft long because that how far a vacuum cam pump wayer by hand so would be the same i forget the na,e of them have a poimt cone on emd amd hammer them down in the ground i know there is a limit with vacuum pump it works different to a pump down a whell that pushes the water with psi mane Google would tell you how high could a vacuum hand pump pump water i belive 25ft

[@keniamojicasalinas9346]

Could you give me the list of materials including the sizes of all of them?

[@sherriatsavinh4995]

Did u glue the cap/ inside plunger on? If not how would it stay on?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I didn't glue any of the fittings together. They stay together pretty well just from compression. The fittings have a very snug fit. It's possible that over time they could come lose, but pressing/twisting them back tight again would take care of it. You certainly could use PVC cement for the fittings if you prefer.

[@musicnick7405]

Does the pump need to go all the way down the housing, or can it be shorter?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

It could be a little shorter, but you'll move less water per pump if you do that.

[@musicnick7405]

@@GreatLakesPrepping thank you. I was asking because I want to use it for a well in my house while I wait for my good pump to get shipped

[@KaluramSaharan-ep5ss]

Kya tel nikal sakte h is se

[@Adriano.33]

Won't push water above the pump level, everything spills out the top

[@offplanetevent]

Marbles work better or anything that is a near a perfect ball shape. There are several ways to make the ball seat too. With a good ball seat it's makes a 100% seal.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

This particular tubing is too big for marbles, but I did play around with a ping pong ball check valve before settling on this version.

[@akbychoice]

Use a ball from an old style computer mouse.

[@MR.KK.VLOGER]

😮

[@YathishShamaraj]

But i still wonder how the water will pass through the first metal washer because it is as big as the chamber 🤔

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

That's the neat part about this design. When the water is being sucked inward, the force of the suction holds the washer in place, covering the holes and allowing for water to be drawn into the pump housing. When pushing it back down, the washer is pushed "open" by suction in the opposite direction, allowing the water to get moved past the valve. The washer being able to move a bit up and down is key to the whole thing working.

[@aserta]

Two issues with this: 1. you exhaust yourself 2. if you'll build one, might as well build it bigger. Lever water pump with 2" pipe.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

On the other hand, this little pump is infinitely more useful than not having one at all.

[@Hankersonphotography]

WHAT ABOUT RUST?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Use stainless steel for the metal parts

[@YathishShamaraj]

All it needs is a windmill to make it automated 😁

[@absolute___zero]

so why can't you just buy a check valve and use it instead of making custom check valve?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Only because I find value in learning DIY solutions to things.

[@FF4642]

Foot valve for a jet pump. Save you time making a foot valve and using an old inner tube that could fail...

[@Steve_MFr]

Hey, that's science. You maggat.

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

This might work to move gas out of a barrel!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

It would work, but I suspect that gasoline or other similar liquids will begin deteriorating the plastic components relatively quickly. PVC and the fittings are designed and rated for water. In an emergency situation, it would certainly work. But I expect that it would ultimately destroy the pump.

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

@@GreatLakesPrepping I thought about that later and I believe you!

[@akbychoice]

Consider that it might create static electricity and ignite gasoline

[@sjr7822]

One of my many pet peeves, size of drilled hole, bolts, screws not given in video which is odd because every piece of PVC size is given

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I thought about this very thing while I was making the video. I decided not to bother giving the exact sizes of nuts/bolts that I used, because exact sizes aren't imperative. I eye-balled all of these and just used what I had in my "spare fasteners" bin. I guess I wanted to convey in the video that this device can really be "thrown together" for the most part.

[@akbychoice]

Irrelevant information, he stated he used what he had on hand. There are no set rules for most of this build.

[@glennr9913]

But it needs to be long enough to reach the water table of your well. It would be great if you explained how to make one that's 50+ feet deep. Otherwise, why would you need it?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I guess it seemed obvious to me when I made this video that I wasn't building a replacement for a 50+ foot well pump. This is a basic, small hand pump to move liquid from "here" to "over there". Rain barrels, buckets, etc. There are a lot of uses for a small water pump besides 50-foot deep wells. It sounds like you are in need of something other than what this video happens to be about.

[@glennr9913]

@@GreatLakesPrepping It looks like your design might work for pumping manually from a well if it were extended. That seems like a worthy prepper project for anyone with a well. I think I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the video.

[@petermccool9396]

Research clayton cylinder. I had 80' deep well with a similar suction pull setup.

[@krisqueen5939]

🌷I will use it on a5 gal water bottle, so I don't have to lift it. 😊

[@canberradogfarts]

Next time, lead with tbw actual build sequence. WITHOUT TALKING!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

There are multiple features within the youtube player that allow you to skip forward in a video. You can scan ahead to any point, and I have also provided "chapter" bookmarks that will jump you instantly to different parts (including "How to Build" and "Demonstration" in this particular video). It took you longer to complain than it would have to skip ahead in the video that I spent many hours making for you to view for free.

[@mikeboston421]

why in the fock would you use that metal washer instead of using another piece of inner tube for the valve, you'd get way more water in each pump action, the washer just decreases the volume you can pick up, its beyond me why you'd have two different types of valve, the inner tube rubber is way better

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

The metal washer piece needs to be rigid for this design to work (within the confines of what my tools and capabilities require). Take another look. Maybe you can describe exactly how a thin, flexible piece of rubber would work in the washer's place. Help me understand.

[@atomizer2665]

@@GreatLakesPrepping Glue the rubber to the washer to create a better seal :) If you dont want to make one from pvc pipe you can buy a "whale easybailer" hand bilge pump reasonably cheaply. The larger one with a 27" barrel will easily pump 5gpm and can lift water to at least 15ft.

[@FLORIDA-LAND-NEAR-DISNEY]

can the garden hose be 3' higher than your handle? Asking because I have a shallow well and want to shower under it. also wishing I could pull the handle downward (while standing upright) vs pull it up while bent down.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I don't see why it couldn't pump 3 feet vertically. It just may require more manual pumping, but I believe it will do it.