Well Pump Check Valve Placement

Correct placement of sump pump check value.

Well pump check valve placement.

Although installers have different opinions in deep wells we recommend that check valves be installed every. Many well pumps have built in check valves. Check valves are probably the most misunderstood valves ever invented. The closer the check to the pump the less water that will reverse flow drain out when the pump shuts off.

On a submersible well pump installation if your well water pump does not have a built in check valve many submersible pumps do have a check valve a line check valve should be installed in the discharge pipe within 25 feet of the pump and below the drawdown level of the water inside the well. There is risk of water hammer in the upper check valve if the lower check valve fails. Most times if not always i prefer to put the check valve as close to the pump as possible for numerous reasons. I will move the valve a bit.

For sewage applications a ball check valve is popular to use as they stand up better to the tough conditions. In a sewage system you are generally dealing with solid and semi solid liquids. Hello i ve lived in my home for about 4 5 years and have always wondered if the random cycling of my well pump could be do to me not having a check valve between the pump tank and the well pump. See diagram properly located and operating check valves hold water pressure in the system when the pump.

If you mention check valves to most plant personnel the typical response is they don t work. Another check valve may be installed in tile horizontal piping at tile surface or just below the well seal or pitless adapter as required by local codes. The house was pre existing but i really question the ability of the pump to hold the pressure in let alone to not have any small leaks in the piping all the way up from the well in the ground. Than neccesary and the pump does not discharge from the well.

Sizing for the application not the line size. With no check valve that discharges to a floor drain. With a swing check valve these solids can make this function not work well over time. Buy a check valve.

Even if a pump does have a built in check valve we recommend that a check valve be installed in the discharge line within 25 feet of the pump and below the draw down level of the water supply. A ball check valve is much less likely to be effected by these.