Hand Operated Water Pumps

Benefits Of Hand Pumps

Residents across Alachua County, Gilchrist County, Columbia County, and surrounding areas use hand pumps to provide water to their homes and farms. Today’s hand pumps are sleeker and more technologically advanced than ever. Here are some of the key benefits of hand-operated water well pumps in Gainesville:

• Dependability – Most hand pumps last for decades. Should a motorized well pump fail, the manual pump provides a reliable backup system to ensure a constant supply of water.
• Adaptable – Hand pumps can be detached to be moved to different wells or prevent water theft if you’re away from home for a long duration. Hands pumps can also be swapped for motorized pumps at a later date.
• Low Cost – Hand pumps are a cost-effective alternative to motorized pumps. They also require little maintenance beyond replacing the seals every three to ten years.
• Safe – Because your family’s health is what’s most important, our hand pumps meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards for water quality.

Types Of Water Hand Pumps

There are several types of hand pumps available. At North Florida Water Systems, Inc, we provide deep well pumps and community pumps, based on how each pump is used. For help choosing your next hand pump or to schedule reliable and encompassing water well service, please contact us to get in touch with our water pump experts.

Deep Well Pumps

Deep water wells are usually deeper than 35 feet, and sometimes they extend much further than that. At those depths, strong suction is required to bring water to the surface through pumps, which is the reason deep well hand pumps typically have long handles and small diameter pipes — the smaller the diameter, the greater the lift (pumping strength) but the lower the capacity. In many cases, hand pumps installed on deep wells are used as backup systems for motorized pumps.

Community Pumps

Many playgrounds, dog parks, and community amenities throughout rural North Florida depend on public wells for their water supply. At North Florida Water Systems Inc, we install hand pumps to fit the needs of our local communities. Whether a pump is part of a creative and fun exhibit where children play, or it’s a vital source of clean drinking water for families, we have affordable hand pumps for water wells to meet all needs and budgets.

How Does A Hand Water Pump Work?

Water hand pumps are manually operated pumps used for bringing water from the underground to above ground. Hand pump water well appliances are comprised of a handle, pump rod, water outlet, piston, piston valve, foot valve, rising main, and suction lift. While there are several different types of water well pumps available, the most commonly used type of hand pump is a positive displacement pump, which features reciprocating plungers or pistons. In a piston pump, the piston is fitted to the non-return valve, or piston valve, and it slides up and down in a vertical motion within a cylinder, which is fitted with a non-return value (foot valve).

The application of force on the handle of the water pump causes vertical movement of the pump rods, which are connected to the piston. As the piston pump moves upwards, the piston valve closes and a vacuum is created in the space below the piston valve. The piston valve then draws water into the opening cylinder through the foot valve. Water located above the piston, which is elevated by the closed piston valve, is simultaneously displaced upwards. In a suction hand pump, water flows outwards through the delivery outlet, while in a hand pump with a submerged cylinder, water is forced upwards through the rising main.

When the piston moves downwards in a hand water pump, the foot valve closes in order to prevent back-flow of water and the piston valve opens in order to allow the piston to move downwards within the cylinder and through the water.

Common Causes Of Water Pump Breakdowns

To ensure the proper function and extended lifespan of your water pump, it’s important to schedule regular well maintenance and inspection services. Water pumps typically wear-out over time and with regular use, but in some cases — such as the following — your well water pump may require professional repair.

Sputtering Water

If water produced from the pump sputters or spits, it may be due to the presence of air in the system. Air in the pipes typically results from a malfunctioning pump, or a crack or break in the water pipe located above the pump. In order to properly diagnose and remediate this issue, the well must likely be pulled and inspected by technicians with a professional well drilling company.

No Water

If the pump fails to work or if no water is produced from the pump at all, the water supply may be too low — typically due to a lack of rainfall or the presence of a drought — and the pump may need to be lowered deeper into the well. A lack of water may likewise be due to overuse, which is typical during spring and summer, and it may eventually draw down the water table so that it falls below the depth of the pump.

Poor Tasting (Or Smelling) Water

In some instances, hardware issues — such as old, corroded pipes — may be to blame for poor tasting or smelling water. However, in most situations, the culprits are water-based. Wells may be contaminated with harmless bacteria, silt, sand, and decaying organic matter which originates from the soil above the well. The water must be professionally tested in order to ensure the water is safe to use and consume.

Muddy Or Cloudy Water

The presence of muddy or cloudy water typically indicates a sinking water table and a pump that pulls water from where there is a substantial amount of sand and silt. This issue may likewise indicate that the pump fails to filter out the collected silt prior to pumping the water to the surface. In this case, the pump is likely to wear out more quickly due to the high degree of abrasion of the silt and sand.