What is the best hand pump for water wells?
If you are on a well, there are many reasons to invest in a hand pump. Hand pumps can be a great way to access the water you need during an emergency, this is much more desirable than having to store up water in tanks and storage containers. If you are living off-grid then a hand pump may be your only source of clean groundwater. Even if access to electricity is available, a hand pump can offer you peace of mind knowing that you have a backup if you were to ever lose electricity or if your electric well pump failed for any reason. Water is your most important resource, and being able to access it through whatever emergency may come is very crucial.
But which one?
If you are considering a well hand pump, then you are probably wondering where to start and where to look for the best solution. There are many different brands and styles of hand pumps, all with their own pros and cons. We’ll take you through the most popular styles of hand pumps and in what situations they are most useful.
Suction Pump
A suction hand pump is one that you may have seen before. Whether used to pump from a bucket or from the ground, these pumps are very popular for many applications. For groundwater, this pump has one pipe that is driven into the ground, and then the pump head is installed above the ground. The pump uses suction to pull the water from the ground and bring it to the surface.
These hand pumps are simple and often inexpensive to purchase, but they come with a major drawback for most people. With it using suction to pull the water from the ground, it can only reach groundwater at a maximum depth of 20-25 feet for most models. With such a shallow maximum depth, this pump cannot be used by many in areas where the groundwater is deeper in the aquifer.
Cons
Maximum depth of up to 20-25 feet deep
In some cases, the drop piping needs to be driven into the ground by hand
Pros
Inexpensive
Easy to repair
Easy installation
Average Price: $60-$100
Lift Hand Pump Kit
A lift pump differs a lot in design from the suction pump and offers a lot more capabilities. Lift pumps generally use 1-2 pipes that go down into your well, often alongside your current electric well pump. At the end of this pipe, there is a piston that pulls in the water around it and pushes it up into the pipe. With the pump pushing the water up the pipe, it is able to achieve much larger depths than the suction pump.
Lift hand pumps like the pump kit by Epp Well Solutions can reach depths of up to 150 feet deep. This is over 7 times deeper than the average suction pump is capable of. Kits like this have a PVC design for a lightweight and affordable solution. The kit comes with the piston, the pump handle, and all the fittings necessary to install on in a well. You will just need to purchase some PVC pipe at your local hardware store to reach the depth you need for your well.
This hand pump kit’s piston has a slim form factor allowing installation in most wells in tandem with your current electric pump. If you were ever to lose power or have a pump fail, you could still manually hand pump the water from your well. For the depths that they achieve, these hand pumps have an impressive flow rate at 4-5 gallons per minute, depending on the speed of the person pumping.
Cons
Maximum depth of up to 150 feet deep
Cannot be installed easily on wells with a well seal cap
Pros
Kits are inexpensive
Larger depth capability
Easy installation
Can often be installed in tandem with an electric pump
Price: $399.99
Deep Lift Hand Pumps
Some wells have a static water level that is deeper than the 150-foot max of the aforementioned lift hand pump kits. That is where the deep lift hand pumps come in. Generally constructed from metal with a rod and piston design, hand pumps like these can reach depths of up to 325 feet deep. With depths like this, the pump head has a leverage handle to make pumping easier.
Deep lift hand pumps are a great option for anyone where the water in their aquifer is deeper than the 150 maximum of the lift hand pump kits. Unfortunately, due to the metal design and all the extra components needed to reach those depths these hand pumps can be quite expensive. But, for wells with a water depth greater than 150 feet it is a necessary expenditure.
Hand pumps like this often use piston rod design allowing more compact pistons. The pump can be installed on wells with a smaller diameter than others in tandem with the current electric well pump.
Cons
Much more expensive than other pump options
More moving parts to wear out over time
Harder to install
Pros
Can reach depths of up to 325 feet
Leverage handle for easier pumping on those depths
Can come with a small piston diameter
Average Price: $1,500-$3,600
Conclusion
Whether you are looking at a hand pump as your sole tool for retrieving groundwater, or as a backup in case your electric pump no longer works, there are many options. Whether your water level is at 5 feet or 300 feet you can prepare today. Why wait until you cannot access your water to invest in a hand pump solution? Have peace of mind and purchase a hand pump kit today.
