Although there are now plenty of other methods of getting well water to the surface, a hand-powered pump is one of the first and simplest methods of doing so. Efficient in terms of energy, they require no hookups for electricity or other power. Especially in cases where the well is being used for livestock or irrigation and may not be located near a source of electricity, hand-powered pumps are a good idea.
Several things need to be considered when choosing your new pump. First and most important is the depth of the well, because pumps are rated as to the distance that they can effectively function at. If you don’t know this measurement, you’ll need to find out. Besides knowing how deep the well itself is, you’ll also need to know the depth to standing water, and the case size (‘case size’ refers to how large in diameter the shaft is).
Once you known the appropriate measurements, you’ll know what kind of pumps you have to choose from. There are several kinds, including those that are appropriate for drinking and those that are more appropriate for irrigation. Some types of pumps have specialized equipment fitted within them that sanitizes the water and an encased system that protects it from further contamination, while others lack this.
In addition to bringing water up from the depths, a pump can provide additional pressure that allows you to continue pumping it to another, uphill location. This is a good idea is you want to connect a hose to your pump in order to deliver water to other places on the property that are above the level of the well. This is especially useful in terms of gardening and other similar situations.
There are other attachments for hand pumps that you can either purchase at the same time, or add on later. If you are at all interested in making use of them, however, it is important to make your initial purchase compatible with your potential future purchases. Windmills and foot pedals are the most common attachments added to hand-powered devices in order to increase the pumping power.
If you have a well and don’t want to use power to get your water up from it, a hand pump can be just the thing. Ecologically friendly and more convenient in many cases than powered device, these pumps can last 15 to 20 years without needing maintenance, and much longer than that with just occasional repairs. Many people find them a great choice.