How to Remove a Submersible Water Pump

Removing a submersible pump is a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Removing a damaged or weak submersible water pump for maintenance is a task that must be preformed from time to time. In most cases, a deep submersible water pump will require a boom truck and hoist; the pump and pipe are just too heavy to pull by hand. Shallow well pumps on the other hand, with a little extra assistance from a helper, are removable by hand. If you are pulling the pump for replacement, you will need to pull the old pump and locate the horsepower (HP), gallons per hour (GPH) flow rate and voltage rating before purchasing the new one.

Things You'll Need

• Open-end wrench
• Pump removal tool

Instructions

1. Turn off the electrical power supply to the pump by pulling the fuses at the units disconnect box, or turning of its breakers at main electric panel.

2. Remove the ventilated well cap. Loosen the small bolts securing the cap with an open-end wrench; lift it off the wellhead.

3. Attach a pump-pulling tool to the female pipe threads on the top of the pitless adaptor. The pulling tool is a tee-shaped metal bar with male pipe threads on the bottom. The tool's threads screw into the pitless adaptor without joining compound.

4. Lift the well pipe and pump, using the puller, as high as you can in one motion. Have your helper grab the pipe near the wellhead and hold.

5. Continue pulling out the submersible pump and pipe using a hand under hand motion until the pump is out.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a friend to help; they will make the job much easier.

• You can make your own removal tool with a 1-inch steel tee and a few pipe nipples.

• Be very careful; do not damage the electric cable in the removal process.

References

• YouTube: Installing Our Well Pump
• Docstoc: Deep Well Submersible Pump

Resources

• Flotec: Owner's Manual