Pump Frequently Asked Questions

How deep can Simple Pump™ pump from?
How much water does it pump?
Will I have to take out my existing electric submersible pump?
Can I install this myself?
What parts will wear out?
How hard is it to pump water?
What are Simple Pumps™ made of?
What size well does Simple Pump™ fit in?
How long does it take to install?
How well does Simple Pump™ work in freezing temperatures?
How long have you been in business?
How do you ship international orders?
Is there any lead in the Simple Pump™?
How do I determine the depth to groundwater or static water level?
What is the difference between well depth, groundwater depth or static water level?
Can the pump really develop enough pressure to fill my pressure tank?
How do I determine the depth to groundwater or static water level?

Q. "How deep can Simple Pump™ pump from?"

A. Because of Simple Pump's™ mechanical lever arm design, the average person can easily pump from depths up to 200 feet. We estimate that the maximum effective pumping depth is approximately 350 feet due to accumulated sucker rod stretch. Click here for Simple Pump™ power options.

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Q. "How much water does it pump?"

A. Pumping rates from the Simple Pump™ vary directly with the frequency and length of strokes of the lever arm. In normal operation, Simple Pump™ delivers up to 5 gallons per minute.

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Q. "Will I have to take out my existing electric submersible pump to install the Simple Pump™?"

A. In most applications, the Simple Pump™ will readily fit in your existing domestic well without removing or disrupting your existing pump and motor.

NOTE: There are 3 pump installation configurations that are problematic for the normal homeowner and may require the assistance of a pump installer to complete the installation:

1. When the existing pump discharge pipe protrudes from the top of the well cap. In this configuration, the existing submersible pump and discharge piping is entirely supported by the well cap. The pump and string of discharge piping, depending on the pump's depth setting, can be very heavy requiring mechanical assistance to lift the assembly. In this instance, contact a qualified pump installer for assistance.
2. Some deeper submersible pumps were installed using what are commonly referred to as "torque arrestors" or "centering guides". These fittings act to keep the discharge piping from the submersible pump in the center of the well and reduce the twisting effect, or torque, caused by the pump turning on and off. It is difficult to determine if an existing pump assembly is equipped with a torque arrestor or arrestors. Under normal applications, the drop pipe assemblies freely slide into the well casing. During your Simple Pump™ installation, if you have difficulty sliding the drop pipe into the well, there may be a torque arrestor in place that the Simple Pump™ is hitting. If you encounter this condition, carefully remove the Simple Pump™ assembly from the well casing and contact a qualified pump installer for assistance. The Simple Pump™ will still fit, but will require special alignment of the drop pipe assemblies to fit through openings in the torque arrestor(s).
3. Another problem arises with small diameter wells (4" and smaller) or well casings that are not vertically aligned. The size of the pump's discharge piping relative to the well's casing diameter will determine the ability to easily install the Simple Pump™ assembly. The largest diameter of any of the Simple Pump™ components is 1 5/8" and will normally fit beside the pump's discharge piping in a 4" diameter well. If, during the installation process, you encounter difficulty or binding as the drop pipes are sliding into place, you may need to contact a qualified pump installer to provide assistance.

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Q. "Can I install it myself?"

A. If you possess average mechanical ability and are somewhat familiar with the installation of routine plumbing or irrigation piping, you can easily install Simple Pump™ within 2 hours. You'll only need minor assistance. The second time you install a Simple Pump™ system (helping a friend or neighbor) you will be able to complete it within an hour.

If you are not quite that adept in mechanical applications, we strongly recommend that you contact a qualified pump installer or licensed plumbing contractor to assist you.

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Q. "What parts will wear out?"

A. Simple Pump™ is constructed of durable materials that will not easily wear out. The pump assembly, pump head, pump cylinder, and check valves are all stainless steel. The pump rods are aerospace-quality fiberglass with fused stainless steel ends. And the drop pipe is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Schedule 80. Finally, the pump's lever handle assembly is solid, aircraft-grade T6061 aluminum.

There are a series of 3 working u-cup seals at various locations in the pump assembly. These are made of a durable rubber product referred to as "Buna-N". If ever needed, replacement u-cup seals can be purchased directly from Simple Pump™.

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Q. "How hard is it to pump water?"

A. With the Simple Pump™, pumping water from normal depths is easy. The lever handle that is standard equipment with our pump system works on common leverage principles and provides a leverage ratio of 3.3:1. The actual force required is dependent on the total length of drop pipe assembly. For a standard installation of 100 feet, it takes approximately 10 pounds of downward force - a child can easily do this. At 200 feet, it takes approximately 13 pounds of downward force.

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Q. "What are Simple Pumps™ made of?"

A. Components of the Simple Pump™ system are manufactured from stainless steel, aircraft-grade fiberglass, and aluminum. The pump assembly, pump head, pump cylinder and check valves are all stainless steel. The pump rods are aerospace-quality fiberglass with fused stainless steel ends. The drop pipe is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Schedule 80. And the pump's lever handle assembly is solid aircraft-grade aluminum.

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Q. "What size well does Simple Pump™ fit in?"

A. The largest component of the Simple Pump™ system is approximately 1 5/8" OD. As a stand-alone application, the Simple Pump™ can be installed in a 2" diameter well casing. Usually, the Simple Pump™ can be installed in domestic wells with nominal diameters in excess of 4" without removing the existing submersible pump or its discharge piping.

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Q. "How long does it take to install?"

A. Simple Pump™ is designed for a person with average mechanical ability to easily install. You'll only need minor assistance. A typical installation can easily be completed within two hours without any special tools. After installation, you can help your neighbors with theirs and it will take less than one hour per installation.

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Q. "How well does Simple Pump™ work in freezing temperatures?"

A. The Simple Pump was designed similar to a non-freeze hydrant and allows the upper column of water to bleed off to a depth below the frost line. This keeps the pump from freezing. We have many pumps operating 24/7 without difficulty in high-wind, freezing temperatures reaching -17°F (-27°C). Proper precautions should be taken each fall to ensure that the weep hole has not become obstructed.

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Q. "How long have you been in this business?"

A. The Simple Pump™ Company was established in 1999. The design is the direct result of collaborative efforts between two engineers. One of the designers is a mechanical engineer who has been involved in the design and manufacturing of large scale mechanical equipment for nearly 25 years. He owns and operates one of the machine shops that produce some of the pump components. Another mechanical engineer with over 25 years of experience, owns and operates Simple Pump™ company on a day-to-day basis.

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Q. "How do you ship international orders?"

A. We use the respected international carrier or freight forwarder that works best in your area. This includes USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL and Vantage Point Services. For international orders, the sucker rods can be shipped in shorter lengths.

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Q. "Is there any lead in the Simple Pump™?"

A. The pump assembly and its component parts are manufactured from lead-free materials and are Safe Drinking Water Act compliant. Simple Pump™ components are also in compliance with the even more stringent California proposition 65 requirements.

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Q. "How do I determine the depth to groundwater or static water level?"

A. Depth to groundwater is difficult to accurately determine without the benefit of a well sounding device. You can approximate the depth to groundwater from the well driller's drilling log when the well was initially drilled. If you don't have this information, contact a local well driller or practicing engineer to have the water depth confirmed by sounding or other measurement technique.

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Q. "What is the difference between well depth, groundwater depth, or static water level?"

A. Well depth is defined as the full depth that the well was drilled or cased. "Depth to groundwater" and "static water level" are synonymous phrases and define the depth or distance from the top of the well to the level of water within the well. This distinction is important because the static water level is the depth from which water is pumped irrespective of the depth that the pump is set. We normally recommend, accommodating natural groundwater level decline, that Simple Pump™ be installed to a depth at least 27 feet below the static water level.

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Q. "Can the pump really develop enough pressure to fill my pressure tank?"

A. Yes. Simple Pump™ has been manufactured to very stringent tolerances, which lets the pump develop sufficient pressure to fill a residential pressure or bladder tank.

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Q. "How do I determine the depth to groundwater or static water level?"

A. Depth to groundwater is difficult to accurately determine without the benefit of a well sounding device. You can approximate the depth to groundwater from the well driller's drilling log when the well was initially drilled. If you don't have this information, contact a local well driller or practicing engineer to have the water depth confirmed by sounding or other measurement technique.

NOTE: If you want to determine your static water level yourself, you'll need: a small fishing weight, a 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" diameter bobber, several feet of a lightweight fishing line or kite string.

Instructions:

1. Attach the weight to the end of the line or string. Affix the bobber 1 inch above the weight.
2. Remove the well cap and lower the weighted end with bobber into the well casing.
3. When the bobber reaches the water level, the line will go limp. You'll feel a slack in the line.
4. At the point where you feel the slack, mark the line at the top edge of the casing (you can tie a small knot in the line, use tape or a marker)
5. Pull the line back up from the casing. Measure the length of the line from the bobber to the marked line. This is your static water level.

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