Well, let me tell you, this here well pump, it ain’t rocket science, but it can sure be a pain in the neck if you don’t know what you’re doing. This here is about how to backflush a well pump, you hear? Now, I ain’t no fancy plumber, but I’ve been around the block a time or two, and I’ve learned a thing or two about these here pumps.
First thing’s first, you gotta know what you’re dealing with. That there well pump, it’s like the heart of your water system. Keeps the water flowin’ from the ground up to your house. If it ain’t workin’ right, you ain’t gettin’ no water, plain and simple. And nobody wants that, ‘specially not in the middle of summer when you’re sweatin’ buckets. My god, it so hot!
So, this backflushin’, it’s like givin’ your pump a good cleanin’. You see, sometimes, that there pump, it gets all clogged up with dirt and gunk. Like when you first put that well in, or maybe after a big storm, all that mess from the ground can get sucked up. Then your water starts lookin’ like mud, and that ain’t good for nothin’. I don’t like that.
Now, there’s a few ways to do this here backflushin’. The most common way, they say, is somethin’ called “surging.” Sounds fancy, don’t it? But it ain’t all that complicated.
- Get yourself a hose, a good long one. Long enough to reach that there well.
- You gotta have somethin’ called a “surge block.” It’s like a plunger, you know, like what you use for the toilet, but for your well. You stick that thing in some pipe. It has to be a PVC pipe. Ensure the handle fits tightly.
You see that there well pump, it’s got a pressure switch. You gotta know where that is. It’s got a “cut-in” pressure and a “cut-out” pressure. Don’t ask me what those mean, just know they’re important. And don’t mess with ’em unless you know what you’re doin’. Otherwise, you might mess up your whole system, and then you’ll be in a real pickle.
Then, you gotta let that pump build up some pressure in that tank. Let it do its thing until it stops on its own. After that, you go ahead and open that spigot. You might see some dirty water comin’ out at first, but that’s okay. That’s what you want. You’re gettin’ all that gunk outta there.
Keep doin’ that until the water runs clear. Might take a while, so be patient. It’s like when you’re doin’ laundry, you gotta let the machine run its course. Can’t rush these things. And make sure you have a good spot to get rid of all that dirty water.
Now, they say you should get your pump checked out every year. I remember that. That’s important. It’s like goin’ to the doctor for a checkup. You gotta make sure everythin’s workin’ right before it breaks down on ya. A little checkup can save you a whole lot of trouble later on. That’s what they always say, and I reckon they’re right about that. I am so old now!
This well pump backflush thing, it ain’t somethin’ you wanna do every day. But if your water’s lookin’ dirty, or if your pump’s actin’ up, it might be time to give it a try. Just remember what I told ya, and be careful. And if you’re not sure about somethin’, it’s always best to ask someone who knows what they’re doin’. There’s no shame in askin’ for help.
You know, this reminds me of the time ol’ Jebediah’s well went dry. Poor fella didn’t know what to do. His pump was all messed up, and he was haulin’ water from the creek. It was a real mess. He got one of the boys down the road to come take a look at his pump. One boy from my village. And he got that thing workin’ again in no time. Saved ol’ Jebediah a whole lot of trouble. He is very thankful.
So, there you have it. That’s about all I know about how to backflush a well pump. It ain’t the most excitin’ thing in the world, but it’s somethin’ every homeowner should know. Keep that pump clean, and it’ll keep your water flowin’ nice and clear. And that’s all that matters, ain’t it? Clean water is a blessin’, that’s for sure.
If you have any problems, you better call somebody who knows what they’re doin’. Don’t go messin’ around with things you don’t understand. You could end up makin’ things worse. Just be smart about it, and you’ll be alright. This well pump stuff ain’t as hard as it looks, but it ain’t exactly a walk in the park either.
