What Raleigh Homeowners Should Know About Water Well Hand Pumps

Water Well Hand Pump Guide for Raleigh Homes

A water well hand pump gives private-well owners a way to reach groundwater when an electric pump cannot run, including during a power outage. Depending on the well depth and pump configuration, it can serve as a backup or primary water source and may be installed alongside an existing submersible pump.

Why Install a Water Well Hand Pump?

The main reason to add a water well hand pump is simple: your electric well pump cannot move water during a power outage unless it has another power source. A hand-operated system gives you a separate way to bring groundwater to the surface.

Depending on the well and pump, a hand-pump system is: 

• Hand-operated for power outages
• Used as a backup or primary pump
• Installed on shallow or deep wells
• Set up alongside an existing submersible pump
• Used with certain storage, pressure, or solar configurations

Shallow Hand Pumps

Shallow wells that run 25-feet deep or less can be equipped with a pitcher pump. Pitcher pumps look like old-fashioned pitchers and are often seen on properties with historic, older homes. To use a shallow hand pump, you repeatedly pump the handle.  Water is then pulled up through a suction and lift action and pours out through a spout at the top of the pump. 

While shallow water well hand pumps are simple mechanisms, having one installed by a Raleigh well pump installation expert prevents damage to your existing electric well pump.

Deep Well Hand Pumps

Most wells in Raleigh and the surrounding areas of the Triangle are dug several hundred feet deep. In order to effectively access groundwater, your property needs a deep well hand pump installed.

As the pump’s handle is raised, the rods and piston are pushed down, and the bottom ball valve in the cylinder closes off due to the pressure. The upper ball valve then raises and allows water to rush in. Deep well hand pumps are powerful enough to raise water up to 300 feet. Depending on the manual well pump product you choose, your hand pump can even pump water directly into to your home's water storage tank, allowing it to flow through your faucets and water lines.

Like a shallow pump, any deep water well hand pump should be installed by a Raleigh well repair technician to prevent damage to your submersible pump and to make sure the system is connected and running properly.

Simple Pump Systems Installed by A&T Well and Pump

A&T Well and Pump installs Simple Pump systems for Raleigh-area well owners who want a manual way to access water during a power outage or other interruption. Unlike a general hand-pump type, Simple Pump is a specific deep-well system that can be configured around the depth, casing, existing equipment, and intended use of the well.

Matching the Pump to the Well Depth

Simple Pump selection is based largely on the well’s static water level, or how far below the surface the water sits when the well is at rest.

Maximum manual pumping depths include:

• 325 feet with the 100CA cylinder
• 225 feet with the 125CA cylinder
• 110 feet with the 200CA cylinder

A&T Well and Pump considers the well depth, cylinder size, pumping effort, and expected water use when selecting the right setup.

Installation Alongside an Existing Well Pump

Simple Pump systems can be installed on well casings from 2 inches through 8 inches and larger, with well-cap options for several common casing sizes. In many wells, the hand pump can also share the casing with an existing electric submersible pump.

Before installation, the experienced well technicians from A&T check existing casing, drop pipe and wiring, available clearance, static water level, and well-cap configuration. Those details determine whether both systems can operate in the same well without interfering with one another.

Water Through Household Plumbing

A Simple Pump does not necessarily have to discharge water only from an outdoor spout. The system can operate against pressure up to approximately 45 PSI, allowing certain installations to feed a pressure tank or household plumbing.

Durable, Drinking-Water-Compatible Components

Simple Pump systems use materials like stainless steel, machined aluminum, Schedule 80 PVC drop pipe, and fiberglass lift rods, with water-contact components that are lead-free and comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Proper Simple Pump Installation

A Simple Pump has to be fitted to your existing well rather than treated like a stand-alone outdoor fixture. Installation for a Simple Pump system involves setting the cylinder at the correct depth, properly assembling and sealing the drop pipe, fitting the well cap, maintaining clearance from existing equipment, aligning the pump head, and testing the completed system for proper operation.

A&T Well and Pump handles these installation details as part of integrating the Simple Pump with your home's existing water well system. The goal is to provide your property with a dependable backup water source without compromising the submersible pump or other well components already in place.

Contact Us For Hand Water Pump Installation in Raleigh

If you're ready to get a backup hand pump for your well, reach out to A&T Well and Pump. We provide comprehensive well services in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Durham, Apex, and surrounding communities. 

We repair, replace, and install local wells, well pumps, pressure tanks, and provide additional services for water well testing, well water treatment, and water filtration solutions so that your household’s water supply is safe and your well system is safety compliant. 

Contact us today to schedule a well inspection or discuss your water well hand pump installation by calling  (919) 980-0981 or filling out our contact form.