An Introduction to 2 Types of Water Well Pumps

Water wells are the primary source of water for 15 percent of the U.S. population - over 43 million people. Water wells vary in size, depth, and design based on the specific needs of each home, and the types of well pumps vary as well.

Using a water well is the most affordable way to provide your home with clean water. However, if you use well water for the first time, you may not be familiar with well pump usage, service, and repair. Learn more with this introduction to the three types of water well pumps, as well as their strengths and weaknesses, to help you get the most out of your water well.

1. Submersible Pumps

As you might infer from their name, submersible pumps go below the surface of the water in your well. Submersible pumps come in several sizes for use in both shallow and deep water wells. While above-water pumps use suction to pull water up from a well, submersible pumps push water upward instead.

Utilizing a push design allows submersible pumps to be made with very simple constructions. Most submersible pumps consist only of a hermetically sealed electric motor, an impeller to draw in water, and a tube to transfer water to the surface. A simpler design means fewer possible points of failure, so submersible pumps often last several years longer than other types of well pumps.

2. Hand-Crank Pumps

A hand-crank pump is any device that you must operate manually to draw water from a well. Hand pumps were one of the first mechanical solutions for extracting well water. Unlike other types of well pumps, hand-crank pumps are not meant to be relied on for everyday usage in modern homes with well water. However, a hand-crank pump is always good to have in the event of a power outage.

Most hand-crank pumps use a valve and a piston or diaphragm to extract water by creating suction. Deep well hand pumps are even usable for wells hundreds of feet underground. These pumps connect to a machined cylinder at the bottom of the well that pushes water upward when a person cranks the pump.

No matter what type of water well pump you have, it will benefit from regular inspections by a well pump repair professional. Well pumps usually do not require much in the way of care and maintenance, but a few issues can appear from time to time. Get in touch with Action Well and Pump today so you can rely on our team of professionals for all of your water well and well pump service needs. We look forward to helping you soon.