Q- Does my well water level always stay the same?
A- In many cases it does not. Over time your water level (static water level) can fluctuate with the water table or aquifer in your area. This is why we always recommend that you assemble your Flojak hand well pumps so that it extends well below the static level, without contacting any silt or debris at the bottom of your well, of course.
Q- Will your pumps fit into my well without removing the submersible pump?
A- Our pump systems are designed to fit into the well without interfering with, or having to remove the existing electric pump in most cases. Our pumps operate independently from the electric pump and can therefore also operate at the same time as your electric pump. In very small casings, like 2 inch, the opening may be too small for both an electric and Flojak Rigid hand pump. However, the Flojak Ready is an excellent solution for many of these types of situations since it requires less than an inch of clearance to install.
Q- What is the fitting I see just below the ground level inside my well casing?
A-That fitting is called a pitless adapter. It is simple a common plumbing fitting designed to keep the flow of water exiting the well below the frost-line. It redirects the water coming up from your submersible pump, out through the side wall of the casing, and through a trench to supply water. Your hand pump will likely install in your well casing in the space beside the pitless adapter.
Q- I need to select a pump system so how deep should I go?
A- You want to ensure you will avoid silt, sand, or other debris at the bottom of your well, but otherwise select a length that will extend as close to the bottom as possible. 10 to 20 feet from the bottom is generally ok in many cases. The longer your hand well pump, the more water you will have in reserve. As the water table may fluctuate seasonally, the less likely you will be to encounter a water loss.
Q- What information do I need to know before selecting my hand pump?
A- Be sure to check out our well configurator to help you select the right system. Assuming you have the appropriate clearances inside your well casing (About 2 inches for Flojak Rigid and about 1 inch for Flojak Ready), you will need to know the depth of your well. Your driller should have a record of the drilled depth and static water level, and sometimes it is recorded under the well cap. If those methods don't yield the information you need, you can always measure it yourself. Check out our articles section for a simple "How To" for measuring the depth of your well and static water level. Once you determine those two pieces of information, then it's easy - just ensure you select a system that will extend below your static level as far as possible while remaining a reasonable distance above the bottom of your well.
Q- How can I determine if I have clearance in my well to fit a Flojak system?
A- If you have a complex well setup, you may want to consult a professional contractor to help you determine the answer to this question. If you feel comfortable doing some investigation yourself, then you can remove your cap or seal and then insert a 10 to 20 foot length of plastic pipe with an outside diameter which mimics the diameter of the system you plan to install. Flojak Rigid is about 2" at the joint, and Flojak Ready is about 1". If that length of pipe easily clears any obstructions, you are likely good to go.
Q- How can I determine the water level and depth of my well?
A- Check out our other articles for a more in depth set of instructions for doing this. You can easily find this info yourself by lowering a weighted string (tie on a clean metal washer or nut) into your well. Listen for the splash. That’s your static level. Tie a knot in your string and then lower it on down to the bottom. Tie another knot. Pull it up and measure the distance to static water level and the bottom of the well.
Q- Does going deeper make my system harder to pump?
A- The simple answer is probably yes. The bouyancy will help offset the weight of the water and pipe you are lifting, but it will still be heavier the longer your system is. Fortunately, our new and patented Airlift technology on the new Flojak Rigid helps this become a negligible problem.
Q- Will these hand pumps freeze in the winter?
A- The careful removal of any hoses that may have water remaining in them is essential. The water in your pump will drop down below the weep hole which is at about 50 inches from the top. An additional 1/16 inch weep-hole may be drilled further down the pipe to accommodate extreme cold conditions. Always keep the water moving, and check from time to time to make sure the weep hole is unclogged and the system is weeping down properly to help prevent any damage from freezing.
Q- How much water is in my well?
A- If you have a 6 inch casing, there is about 1.5 gallons of water per foot. An 8 inch casing holds 2.6 gallons per foot, or 260 gallons per 100 feet of casing.
Q- Are some wells too deep for a hand well pump?
A- It really depends more on the static water level than the overall depth of the well itself. For instance, a 1,000 foot well could easily have a 20 foot static water level, rendering the total depth irrelevant to the original question.
Q- Can I pump water into my home through a faucet or other inlet?
A- This is very possible, and one of the unique features of Flojak. Use a high pressure drinking water safe hose to pump water into your household plumbing through an outdoor faucet or any other inlet. You can pump to pressurize the water in your well bladder pressure tank to around 30 PSI. This will provide pressurized water directly to your sink, shower or the bathroom.
Q- What if I don't have a well?
A- If you don't have a well, you could drill one in an acceptable and available location. There are also over 20 million active and unused wells all over the country and 2,000 new ones that are drilled each day. Part of your preparation might be to locate 2 or 3 nearby options, and get permission to use them in advance.
Q- Is well water always pure?
A- Unfortunately, this isn't always the case due to a number of reasons. Most well water is filtered naturally by the earth, and is more likely to be good than many other sources, however, it's never a bad idea to test the water in advance. You can also choose to filter any water that needs to be used for drinking with a variety of quality filtration systems that are readily available and able to filter thousands of gallons of water.
Q- What is the shelf life of my system?
A- It is likely indefinite. We manufacture our pumps using medical grade stainless steel and the finest high-impact polymers available. These should resist degradation over time if kept in the proper environment.
Q- May I call for questions or assistance?
A- Absolutely, before, during and after your purchase. Anytime we are open, you can reach our helpful team at 855-4FLOJAK (855-435-6525) M-F, 8:30 to 4:30 PM CST. For evenings and weekends, use the web-form on the contacts page and we will try to respond ASAP.
Q- How long does it take to assemble your systems?
A- A Flojak Rigid takes 20 to 60 minutes to assemble, depending on the length of your kit. Thoroughly reading the installation instructions is critical. A Flojak Ready can be installed in as little as 15 minutes from the time you open the box.
Q- Are these systems made in the USA?
A- Absolutely. We are committed to producing our systems in the USA and providing great jobs for our local community. We are also committed to ensuring that we stock raw materials in high volume in order to sustain a quality supply chain in times of uncertainty.