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Some Cistern Pump Advice?

reamick | Posted in General Discussion on April 26, 2012 09:31am

I’ve just moved back to the farm house I grew up in to be with my parents.  I’m finding there’s LOTS of things that are long overdue for maintenance, repair and/or replacement.  And I’m finding a lot of things are not really done to code.  Or even safely.  So I can use all the help I can get.  

Our water supply for non-drinking water is a rain water fed cistern, which is located in the basement of our house (we live in the Prairies in Canada, freezing is a big issue).   There are large pressure tanks, one for cold and one for hot.  There is an ancient pump pulling the water from the cistern to the pressure tanks.  It’s not in the cistern, it sits on dry land outside the tank.  I’d really like to replace the pump, but I’m not sure what I should be looking for – booster pump, pool pump, centrifugal pump….?  

Does anyone have recommedations for pump manufacturers?  I generally prefer to do it right the first time, with the best equipment I can find so I don’t have to deal with fixing/replacing in the near future.

 

Thanks

 

Michelle

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  1. reamick | Apr 28, 2012 11:58am | #1

    Sigh.

    There's TONS of odd things on the farm.  Some dangerous, some just odd.  I'm thinking of starting an anonymous blog, as the friends I have shown pictures to think it's all HILARIOUS.  And they're really happy they're not living in it.  

    Thanks so much for the advice.  The pump sits outside the cistern, about 4ft from the top of the cistern.  It's fed with plastic pipe that comes out of the cistern, over the cistern wall, and down to the pump.  So would that mean a shallow well pump would be the best option?

    Michelle

    1. DanH | Apr 28, 2012 01:02pm | #2

      Probably a shallow well pump, yes.  There is very little "head", though, so the pump need not be anything exceptional, other than it needs to deliver whatever volume you want. 

      Don't forget the foot valve, though.  There should be one in there, but if you pull the pipe you should probably install a new one.

      1. DanH | Apr 28, 2012 01:05pm | #3

        However, if there does happen to be a small hose (roughly 3/8" diameter) running from the pump to a funny-looking valve on one or both of the tanks (in addition to the big pipe) then the tank is most likely a bladder-less one and you should probably replace the tank(s).

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