Jet Pumps, Submersibles and Older Wells Around Navarre

How jet pumps and submersibles differ

A jet pump sits above ground, usually in a basement or pump house, and uses an impeller and a jet assembly to create suction that draws water up from the well. A shallow-well jet pump has a single pipe into the well and works only where the water level is close to the surface. A deep-well jet pump uses two pipes and an ejector down in the well to reach water a bit deeper.

A submersible pump sits down in the well casing below the water and pushes water up rather than pulling it. It is generally quieter, more efficient on deeper wells and less prone to losing prime. The trade-off is that servicing it means pulling it out of the well.

• Jet pumps: easy access, but noisier and must stay primed
• Submersibles: quiet and efficient, but service requires pulling the pump
• Jet pumps suit shallow wells and some older dug or driven wells
• Submersibles need a drilled well with a casing wide enough for the pump

Common jet pump problems

The most frequent complaint is lost prime. A jet pump needs its casing and suction line full of water to work. A leaking foot valve at the bottom of the suction pipe, a cracked fitting, or an air leak anywhere on the suction side lets water drain back, and the pump spins without moving water. Repriming may get it running, but the leak has to be fixed or it will happen again.

Other issues include worn impellers and jets that reduce output, a clogged jet or screen from sediment, failed pressure switches, and motor bearings that start to squeal. Because jet pumps are above ground, many of these repairs are straightforward. If you are not sure whether the issue is the pump or something else in the house, troubleshooting in Navarre is a good start.

Well pits and older wells

Some older properties have a well pit: a concrete or block chamber in the ground around the well head that holds the pump, tank or connections. Pits made it easier to keep equipment from freezing before pitless adapters became standard. Their drawback is that they collect surface water, insects and small animals, and a flooded pit can contaminate the well.

Many owners choose to have the casing extended above grade and a pitless adapter installed so the well head is sealed and accessible above ground. The work involves a qualified well contractor for the casing, and we handle the plumbing and pump side. If your well pit regularly holds water, have it evaluated.

When an upgrade makes sense

If your jet pump is old, loses prime repeatedly or cannot keep up with your household, and your well is drilled with an adequate casing, converting to a submersible is worth considering. We look at well depth, water level and demand, and explain the cost and benefit trade-offs in plain terms. For a shallow well where a jet pump works well, a repair or like-for-like replacement may be the smarter choice.

Service from estimate to final check

We start with a free estimate, diagnose the system and lay out the options. You approve the specifications, we complete the work, and we finish with a quality inspection that includes watching the pump run through several cycles. Leaks on the buried line between the well and house are handled by our Navarre water line repair service, and hard water can be treated with a softener installation in Navarre. For the bigger picture, see our Stark County well service and repair page.