It is one thing to require a reliable Waunakee pump repair when your pump breaks down. It’s another when your pump breaks down in the middle of a disaster, like a power outage or a flood.

There are plenty of reasons why a pump could eventually stop working. It could be due to wear and tear, weather conditions, build up in the pipe network, or system changes in pumping requirements. Since a pump system can be incredibly complex yet vital for multiple households, it is imperative that you know where to get the assistance you need when it breaks down.

With that said, Sauk Plains has been a part of the pump and plumbing business since 1934. We are a family-owned business that has grown through the years to provide repair, maintenance, installation, and more to properties in the Waunakee area.

Plumbing can be difficult to understand, and it is easy to get lost in the technical terms. Here’s how we determine the type of pump you would need to replace the one in your water well and alternative pumps to help you prepare for disasters in the future.

3 Factors We Consider For Selecting Well Pump Type

Depending on the size and type of pump you need to have installed, you may find yourself spending anywhere between $1,330 and $5,300. These are what we need to take into consideration when proposing a new pump to install.

Depth of the Water

We need to find out how deep your water well goes. This helps us decide what pump suction head to use and the power requirements for a functional well. The distance can be easily measured by connecting a floater to the string. We then send it inside the well until the floater starts bobbing. The depth of the water that can be pumped out is determined by the length of the rope at that point in time.

Once the depth has been determined, we use the following measurements to find the appropriate pump. There are small water pumps or shallow water pumps for wells up to 25 feet.

If the well has depths between 25 feet and 120 feet, we would recommend installing a deep water pump or high powered water pump. Beyond that, submersible deep water pumps are ideal.

Capacity

Next, we will need to estimate the amount of water required for you home. This is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). From here, we determine the pump flow rate and capacity of the pump. For a standard two bedroom home with a hall and kitchen, about six to eight gallons per minute is necessary for daily operation.

Power

Finally, the last consideration is the motor power of your pump. More power means more suction, which leads to more water in your home. If we refer back to the example of a standard two bedroom home, a one horsepower pump will be able to deliver eight to ten gallons of water for the property. This will supply four to five people.

Alternative Well Pumps in Case of Power Outage

Hand Pumps

In a situation where your area is deprived of electricity for an extended period of time, the well pump will not be able to function and deliver water to your home. This is where a hand pump on your property can come in handy.

Hand pumps can be used to lift water from wells that are up to 300 feet deep. You never know when disaster may strike. So it is recommended that one can be set up as permanently mounted fixtures alongside conventional pumps. Alternatively, you can also get one that can be easily fitted to a wellhead.

Solar Powered Pumps

If you have a garden or a farm, photovoltaic (PV) solar pumps are incredibly useful. PV panels are capable of producing energy from sunlight because of silicon cells. These pumps can provide water for your plants and your home in both hot and cold climates. They usually last for 20 years. However, regular care and maintenance can drastically extend their lifespan and improve performance.

You will need to set up storage tanks alongside these units to ensure that you still have a supply of water even when the sun is not out. When the storage tanks have been filled completely, any energy generated by the solar array (the glass frame enclosing the silicon cells) can be stored in batteries.

One strong advantage to owning a solar pump is that they are portable. You can easily move them from one location to another, which is good for landowners with multiple properties or farmers who need to distribute water across multiple areas.

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Do not take readily available water for granted until it is too late. While electric water well pumps are the norm, it is important to pursue other options as back-up.

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