Peerless Pump ELS - Checking the Well or Sump; Developing the Well

4
2005 Doctor Martin Luther King Jr Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Rev 07-2021
CHECKING THE WELL OR SUMP
Before any attempt is made to
install the pump, the well or sump
should be carefully checked to determine
that the casing is of the proper diameter,
depth, and straightness.
A suggested method of doing this is
to lower into the well a pipe that is the
same diameter as the bowl unit of the
intended pump and 1½ times the length
of the bowl unit.
If this test pipe can be lowered into
the required depth, it may be assumed
that the sump is suitable for the pump.
Do not install the pump in a well
into which the test pipe cannot be
lowered to the required depth.
DEVELOPING THE WELL
Developing the well and freeing it
from sand is part of the well driller’s job,
and should be done with a test pump
reserved for this service. These
instructions are provided as a guideline
only.
If a test pump is not available and
there is no alternative except to use
the new pump, raise the impellers at
least 3/16 inch above their normal
running position. (See Impeller
Clearances on pps. 35-39). Once
started, the pump must not be stopped
until the water is free of sand.
Despite these precautions, the pump
may still be damaged by water-borne
abrasives.
If, for any reason, the pump is
stopped while pumping water containing
sand, the pump may become “sand-
locked”. Sand-locking is the condition
that occurs when the clearances between
the impellers and bowls are packed with
sand, which settles in the bowl unit after
the pump stops rotating and the water
drains back into the well.
If a sand-locked pump is
restarted, severe damage may result.
If a pump is accidentally stopped
while pumping sandy water, sand-
locking may be overcome by the
following procedure:
1. As soon as the pump shaft stops
rotating, raise the impellers to their
top position.
2. Alternately raise and lower the
impeller a small amount to loosen
the trapped sand.
3. Rotate the shaft alternately clockwise
and counterclockwise by applying a
wrench to the drive coupling. This
too has the effect of loosening the
sand, permitting it to fall back into
the well.
4. If a separate water supply is
available, flush the pump with clear
water.
If all attempts to free the impellers
fail, it will be necessary to pull the
pump. The obstruction can then be
cleared by back-flushing, or, if neces-
sary, by disassembling the bowl unit.