How to Build a Durable Housing for Your Deep Well Pump: Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome back to Base Camp WNC! Today, we’ll show you how to enclose a deep well pump within a sturdy tube housing. This setup ensures your pump stays off the tank’s bottom, prevents sediment from entering, and extends the motor's life by keeping it horizontal. Maintaining the motor’s warranty and reducing bearing wear are key advantages of this design. We’ll also walk you through how to protect the wiring where it exits and properly attach a pull cord for ease of use. Let’s dive into the process!

Why Build a Deep Well Pump Housing?
Deep well pumps are designed to function vertically or horizontally, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications. When used in smaller tanks, such as a 300-gallon cistern, a vertical pump might not fully access the available water. Laying the pump horizontally allows for optimal water flow, keeps the motor cool, and prevents unnecessary sediment from being drawn in. Building a PVC housing for the pump ensures durability, proper alignment, and easy maintenance.

Step 1: Understanding the Pump Assembly
Let’s start with the components of the deep well pump assembly:

1. Pump Adapter and Fittings:
   • A 1 1/4 inch male adapter screws into the pump.
   • A 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch bushing is glued in place for secure connection.
   • A 3/4 inch close nipple connects the components.
2. Check Valve:
   • Installed with the arrow aligned in the direction of water flow. Installing it backward will stop the pump from functioning properly.
3. Hose and Connections:
   • A 3/4 inch 90-degree hose barb connects to a clear, reinforced nylon hose that is food-grade, flexible, and rated for up to 150 psi. This hose will connect the pump to the bulkhead fitting.

Using Teflon tape, all connections are sealed for leak-free performance.

Step 2: Building the Tube Housing
The pump housing is constructed from PVC, slightly longer than the pump itself. The steps include:

1. Drilling Holes for Legs:
   • Quarter-inch holes are drilled for bolts to secure the pump legs. These legs keep the pump elevated, preventing sediment from entering and allowing water to circulate around the motor.
2. Cutting Support Strips:
   • Strips cut from PVC pipe are glued inside the casing to further elevate the pump and ensure unrestricted water flow.
3. Customizing the Lid:
   • The lid features:
     • A 1 3/4 inch hole for the pump adapter.
     • A 5/8 inch hole for the power line, protected with a short piece of PEX tubing to prevent abrasion.

Step 3: Securing the Pump
With the casing ready, the pump is secured as follows:

1. Taping the Pump:
   • Nylon tape is used to secure the well wire to the pump, followed by black electrical tape for additional protection.
2. Protecting the Wiring:
   • A piece of PEX tubing is added to safeguard the wire where it exits the casing.
3. Attaching the Pull Cord:
   • A durable pull cord is attached to facilitate easy installation and removal of the pump.
4. Final Assembly:
   • The cap is placed over the assembly, and the fitting with the check valve is screwed in. All components, including the power line, pull cord, and hose, are aligned for proper functionality.

Step 4: Installation and Benefits
This fully enclosed deep well pump setup is now ready for installation in the cistern. The benefits of this design include:

• Enhanced Water Flow: Ensures water flows across the motor to keep it cool.
• Sediment Management: Keeps the pump off the tank’s bottom, reducing the risk of clogging.
• Durability and Warranty Compliance: Maintains the motor’s horizontal position to reduce bearing wear and meet warranty requirements.

Final Thoughts
This deep well pump housing is a reliable and cost-effective solution for small cistern setups. While I don’t have a downloadable set of plans for this project, you can watch the accompanying video for step-by-step guidance.

If you found this tutorial helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Base Camp WNC. Share this video with your friends, and stay tuned for the next part, where we’ll install the pump and show you how it performs. Thanks for watching, and see you soon!

If we can help with any questions, kindly reach-out to us at our website at:  CarolinaHomesteadPlanner.com.  We offer homesteading consulting and Preparedness support.