How to Diagnose a Water Hand Pump

Hand water pumps have been around for centuries from early wooden ones carved from tree trunks to modern cast iron and steel. They all operate the same way by raising water from a shallow well to the surface. These pumps all have the same basic components, a seal in the pump for creating suction, a pipe for conducting water and a check valve for holding the water in the pipe. Diagnosing the hand water pump is a logical progression beginning on the surface.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket of water
• Philips screwdriver or slotted
• Channel lock pliers
• Leather seal replacements
• Two large pipe wrenches
• Teflon thread tape
• Leather gloves
• Rope

Instructions

1. Pour the bucket of water into the hand pump as if you are going to prime the pump. Do not stroke the pump. Allow the water to sit in the pump and pipe for 10 to 15 minutes. If the water remains at the same level, give the pump 10 strokes to start the water up the pipe. If water continues to come out on the 10th stroke the pump is fine. If the water fails to flow, pull the pump head apart with the appropriate screwdriver and channel lock pliers.

2. Inspect the leather seals on the stroke rod, and if the leather is worn or cracked, replace the leather seal. Reinstall the pump head and repeat Step 1. Water should be flowing from the pump. If water still is not flowing from the hand pump you may be sucking air into the water suction chamber.

3. Remove the hand water pump from the pipe that goes into the well using the two large pipe wrenches. One wrench should be placed on the pipe and the other on the thread portion of the hand pump. Remove in a counterclockwise direction. Inspect the pipe threads on the hand pump to make sure they are not cracked or excessively worn. Pour another bucket of water into the pipe. If the water level remains the same, air is being sucked into the pump at the pipe connection. Apply Teflon thread tape to the pipe threads--about four or five rounds--and reattach the hand pump. Try priming the pump again and if the water level does not remain the same, the pipe may be cracked or the check valve is sticking.

4. Pull the water pipe from the well with the help of a couple of friends. Be sure to wear leather gloves as the pipe will be slippery. You may want to securely tie the pipe to something sturdy with the rope so the pipe does not fall back into the well.

5. Inspect the check valve for proper operation and the pipe for any cracks or breaks. The check valve should only open in the up position and close in the down position. The spring on the check valve should be in good working order.

6. Reinstall the pipe, check valve assembly into the well and replace the hand water pump. Be sure to use the Teflon tape on all threaded connections and tighten the pipe with the pipe wrenches.

Tips & Warnings

• Some shallow wells have a well point which is a metal tube with very small screens to filter sand and debris from the water. These well points can become clogged over time and have to be cleaned every so often. You will have to pull the pipe out of the well to clean the well point.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish