pstroud1 - Posted - 02/08/2012:  19:17:51

The reason I didn't say well pump is because thing pumps water from a concrete tank up a hill approximately 200 feet on about a 45 degree angle into a small maybe 10 Gallon tank with a pressure switch on it then into our trailer. I'm guessing the supply line is 3/4", not more than an inch.

I was wondering if a large 24 foot swimming pool pump would do that?

Because we have one that is not being used and I'd hate to buy a new sub pump if that one will work.

We have been using a submersible pump for years but this is the third one to go bad when a frog or lizard gets in the supply line and the water gets low I don't think the pump shuts off and if we're away or don't know it it runs continuously until it burns up. The submersible ones are near $300 for a decent one.

Just wondered if anyone ever tried a pool pump for a water pump?

When i was a kid we had a shallow well pump that worked on top ground fine.

[ I should have mentioned that we would have to put the pump up here at the top and suck the water up as at the bottom it would most likely be under water with some of the heavy rains we get.]

I'm checking pumps and it indicating that a shallow well pump can only suck water 15 -20 feet but that's talking about straight up, that's way i was wondering about the slope, it's only about 50 degrees.?

Appreciate any information.

Paul

Edited by - pstroud1 on 02/08/2012 21:19:28

Brian T - Posted - 02/08/2012:  22:48:30

I don't think that the pump knows the difference between 15' straight up and the same thing on a 200' slope. If anything, the back pressure from all that water in the 200' line would be a grunt to push on.

pstroud1 - Posted - 02/08/2012:  23:26:33

Probably right , We would have to put a check valve at the bottom.
It sound like it's much easier to push water than to pull it.
But I think we did it with a jet pump, I'll have to check on them.
Thanks Brian

OM45GE - Posted - 02/09/2012:  04:09:10

We had a deer camp when I was a kid and used a pump run by a generator to suck the water up from the dug well. I don't know if it was a swimming pool pump or not but I do know that my dad was always b****ing about losing the prime. He had a five gallon jug that he brought from home filled with water and poured it down the line before the pump would work when we got to camp.

He was a  lawyer so I don't know how good his plumbing skills were.

dennis andrews - Posted - 02/09/2012:  13:42:22

Your swimming pool pump will not "suck" the water up the 200 ft. slope. At a 45 deg. angle that's 140' of lift. It will never happen. The pump needs to be located  below at the concrete tank. A swimming pool pump would not have enough pressure to move the water up 140 ft. Plus I believe it would need a flooded suction, as in the water you were moving has to be above the pump.

JMO

Edited by - dennis andrews on 02/09/2012 13:55:37

Kenneth Logsdon - Posted - 02/09/2012:  13:53:35

Submersible at the source (assuming in the conrete reso?) Rig a low water shutoff... Nothing else will have that power.. Jet pumps too much trouble.. i run a horse and a half to pump 600 ft, then two thirds of a mile over a ridge .... no problems... A half horse should do fine for you and I don't think you can find anything else for that money to compare..
The pressure cutoff and the air tank(80gal) are located in the basement of the first house.. and I have an indicator light hooked into the pressure switch that comes on when the pump is on... If the light stays on too long, then I know to check...

pstroud1 - Posted - 02/09/2012:  23:25:45

Thanks dennis and Kenneth both, Guess we'll just get another submersible.
Kenneth, I appreciate the info about an indicator light, that sounds like a great idea and not difficult to do. I kinda knew that a pump can't suck a very far distance and the submersible has been good one holding fine pressure in here.
I might be able, at the same time to rig a cut off switch here in the house if the light stays on.
I think a 1/2 hp and believe it a 115v. I think there is 3 on the pump.
Our friend already pulled the pump out yesterday and said just to call him when we got the new one and he'd put it in. We kinda barter, Linda Lou takes care of one of his dogs all the time for them so John helps us when he can with things. Nice to have good neighbors.
Thanks for the information.

Paul