I was looking at the directions because I’m installing one this weekend. The pump is not supposed to sit on the bottom of the well, but hangs 10 feet above. I know to use a safety rope to lower it.
My question: What holds the pump off the bottom of the well when all is done?
You hang the pump by the pipe. You hang the pipe by a fitting at the top of the well.
Use the pipe to lower the pump into the well.
Are you sure you are ready for this?
Not really. I’ve got the diagram down, but I just can’t figure out what holds it up. You say the fitting at the top of the well? The well cap that fits over the hole with a hole in it for the pipe?
Who ever drilled your well should have put in six or eight inch metal surface casing to protect your well from surface water contamination. Down three or four feet from the top of that casing there should be a fitting on the side of the casing to hang your pipe on.
And then your pump hangs off of that. Isn’t is supposed to also have a cylindrical screen around it on the lower end?
I thought you hung the pump on a nylon rope.
That was an install using black plastic pipe.
You can put rope on the pump to catch it if the pipe breaks and handle it more easily, but the pipe is still supporting its weight.
According to some people, there are bumpers or spacers on the pipe that keep it centered in the casing. According to the all people I keep finding to work on MY well, however, the poor thing just hangs down there and thrashes around on the end of 200’ of polyethylene everytime it starts and stops.
“The pump” generally means a cylindrical assembly comprising a pump, a motor, bearings, fittings, an electrical termination, a cylindrical screen around the lower end, a connection point for the rope, and various other features.
What kind of fittings are on the poly?
It seems like the hose clamps I’ve seen on shallow well pumps wouldn’t take the vibration and stress of movement.
This is exactly why I started the thread.
And, I just looked. My well has no such fitting to hang pipe from. Just a metal cylinder down as far as I can see. I used a jet pump previously.
It’s called a Pitless Adapter. Here are some more details:
http://www.merrillmfg.com/about/installation/products/02-PitlessUnits/PitlessAdapter.htm
That’s it. I didn’t know what it was called.
jtgain
How deep is your well?
40 feet
Send them here?
Success! I think. Pump is in the hole. I put a well cap on and then an elbow. The elbow rests atop the well cap and holds the whole thing up. I don’t know if that is kosher, but it is working right now. I guess if tomorrow, the pump is at the bottom of the well I will know it didn’t work. 
The only concern (other than a drip drip leak where it joins the old pipe, too dark, fix tomorrow) is when the pump shuts off there is a noticeable torque on the pipe above the ground. It only lasts for a split second, but it seems like this would crack the pipe eventually.
But other than that, great pressure. Best shower I’ve ever had in this house. Thanks for all of the help…
BTW…if you did drop a submersible pump down the well, is there any way to get it out? Or are you just fucked six different ways? I can’t imagine how you would go about retrieving it.
you need to have the well properly covered at the top to prevent insects and surface water and rain. you need the pitless adapter to be below the frost line.
if you do things incorrectly you risk your health with contaminated water and long term damage to the quality of your well and aquifer. there can also be legal consequences of doing improperly because of those serious consequences.
I bet that’s where that nylon rope I saw comes into play.
Agreed. However, my grandfather installed this well back in the 60s. There is a 5’ X 5’ X 4’ deep hole in the ground. This is covered with reinforced plywood. At the bottom of this is the 6" well. There was never a cover on the well. Just a jet pump with the dual pipes going into an elbow and down into the well. I would assume that everything is below the frost line and now with my new well cap, it is protected from insects and surface water. I test it twice a year anyways, and I drink the tap every day. Never had a problem.
You would think so. I thought so as well until it chaffed and broke as I was lowering the pipe in the well. No nylon safety for me. The electric cord seems to act as a safety, though…
Like I said, I know enough to be dangerous and to fuck it all up royally, but at least it works right now…
I’ve seen chain, too. 
you have a pit that had a jet pump, that was sealed from contamination.
a submersible pump has to have the casing rise a number of feet above ground level and have a cap specific to that. water is extracted through the pitless adapter which is below ground and sealed.
each pump type has specific methods and regulations to keep it safe.