Truer words haven't been spoken in a while (~ 22:00). The trades are dying out and skilled tradesmen are increasingly rare. I left my decade long job in IT earlier this year and am seeking new gainful employment in a trade. I come from a family of both blue and white collar workers and know the value of a hard day's work and the detriment of a cushy desk job. I've long felt the need to actually DO something, instead of sitting in front of computer screens all day. Plus I love working with my hands and getting mechanically involved. I think the more that people like you that put out interesting and informative videos, it could help our collective future. There's bound to be plenty of kids growing up now, who should be encouraged to seek out skilled trade professions as opposed to going straight to college. I also think there should be a lot more options for people to gain experience with on the job training before making a decision on whatever path they wish to take.
I paused this video to state the EXACT words you just said. I am the owner of a small Auto repair shop. Talk about a dying breed. I can't find anyone decent that wants to work!
Part of the problem that I hear nobody talking about is skilled labor wage erosion that has been going on for decades. For example: My father was a tool and die maker. He retired in 1992 with a wage of about $19.50 / hr. About 6 years ago I did an inflation adjustment of that $19.50 / per hour. I would have needed to make $33.50 / hour to be equivalent to my fathers $19.50. I think I was making about $23 to $25 / hr at that time. Now add the fact his health insurance was paid by the company and He got a pension when he retired - he is still receiving it now 28 years later. When I semi retired in 2022 I made $30 / hr which is less than my fathers inflation adjusted wage 30 years ago. Does anyone see the problem here???
I noticed you were using different wire on this install than what I’ve seen, some people apparently use single wires and I can see where that would be more likely to wear or become damaged. Why not put the wire or the whole wire and water line in a protective sheath?
@moms762 I think he said this install was only about 200 ft and the pump isn’t gonna go thru that much wear bc it’s basically overrated for this well, otherwise I think that’s a fine idea
As one who has retired from 35 yrs. working as an Aircraft Technician for what is now the largest airline everything you and the gentleman customer are absolutely correct. Only about 25 percent of those who attend college will retire from the job their degree was in. I did go to college because my college was paid for by the company my father's work place after his death. I graduated as a mechanical engineer. I worked some other jobs before I was hired to work as an engineer. That job lasted 11 yrs. Then that plant was shutdown by the EPA, because the company decided not to upgrade a 135 yr. old plant. But the silver lining was because the government ordered the closure I was able to go back to college and get my licenses for Airframe and Powerplant, with another Aviation Maintenance degree. For many years I was enjoying great pay, excellent benefits and many perks along the way. Saw good and not so good places around the world, have good friends who will retire soon. Not really looking for another job but offers come in. Just find an interest, study about it, ask lots of questions, then jump in with both feet and do your very best everyday.
Did that I 1963. Grade 10, let me in to what used to be “Provincial Institute of Trades”, now called George Brown. Five month course. I’m a farm-boy, used a torch and welding machine when I was 12. Had a great teacher in grade 9-10 that taught us drafting in shop class. Very handy in my entire career. My first job was a small shop in T.O., making steel frames for various trailers, cages for carrying small animals, etc., all for $1,15 / hr. They were in trouble as most of their product was poorly welded, causing frequent returns. None of the employees had any kind of welding experience. They couldn’t use a jet rod properly, let alone 6010 d 6012 for 16 ga. material. The owner was pissed. I wound up repairing a bunch of defects, the real bad ones, I’d cut apart and redo. When he saw what I was doing, he was surprised that I could do all that, with just a measuring tape, a tri-square and soapstone. I repaired over a dozen defects that day and the next morning, I got laid off, he’d lost the contract as he was too late on delivery. So, I went to the unemployment office and there was an opening for a welder fitter at a truck repair outfit. Got hired!! Great place to work! They had two shops, side by side, the smaller shop was for new vehicle. We’d installed 4 wheel drive packages, snow plows etc. the other shop did repairs to older vehicles, like dump trucks, heavy plows etc. we had a contract with a truck firm that had 35 short single axle trailer trucks. We extended frame, cutting it behind the cab, added fish plates, a push axle and remounted the 5th wheel at axle level at the very rear, bumper height. This was so they could transport 3 extra cars . Apparently, they used to trucks all over the country. One day, the big boss decided to meld the 2 shops under one manager and laid off the one in the small shop. They got rid of the wrong guy. Had enough one day, grabbed my my lunch bag, threw it in the garbage, backed my car in the shop and packed my tools. Of course the Manager came running out, with questions, I just told hi I didn’t work for power hungry idiots and left. The big boss called me a few hours later, looking for a story. I just told him outright that you made the wrong choice and I’m making mine. He tried to even double my wages, but, I had already decided to move out of the big city.
Great video. I use to manufacture that tape that you were wrapping the wires with while working at GE Insulating Materials Section back in the 70`s & 80`s. They use to call it SPT Tape and it use to be part of what they called a Termi-kit that the linemen used to splice high voltage cables together. For large cables it was in the shape of a pennant but we use to make fifty foot one inch rolls. Its rated for 50,000 volts and fuses to itself together after wrapped on a cable. Once its on you had to cut it off. After applied there was no unwinding it. In my day people use to look up to people in the blue collar trade occupations. I loved working with my hands. That changed in the 90`s where the trades were looked down on in favor of white collar occupations. Very sad. We have nearly two generations of people that can not turn a nut and a bolt together let alone working under the hood of their vehicle or figure out whits wrong in their breaker box.. Videos like these have value for those who want to understand how things work and how to fend for themselves. Keep the videos coming.
Heat shrink kits cost $1 and I have used a ton and never had a problem with a connection. Probably used over 200 of them maybe more. How much is the tape? is it comparable price wise? Is it just a preference thing?
You are so right. There are more young people getting "disability" payments at my local social security office than retired people. 99% are scammers. But the government gives it to them and they don't work.
Telecom guys use that tape for part of an underground splice system. It is self-vulcanizing, meaning that if you wrap it under tension it will basically become one solid piece of soft rubber. We use it to build up the outer diameter of the underground cable to the point where we can get a good seal where the splice case seals clamp around the cable. For something not in a hard case, such as a high-voltage splice, the problem comes in with the fact that it IS soft, and has no abrasion resistance. The solution is to overwrap it with cloth friction tape,
Retired after 30+ years from a major US Metro City Water Dept, gravity supplied by mountain rain water reservoir, not pumped well water. I'm not familiar with well water systems and considering moving from the city to rural where private wells are utilized. OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE DETAILED VIDEO! Your parents did a good job teaching work ethics. God Bless you son, and your family! Respectfully, Rev Carl
Two words concerning the "rubber" tape. The tape is "self amalgamating". Over a short period of time it firms itself into a solid piece. Absolutely can not come apart like regular electrical tape. The word for adhesive that will only stick to itself is "cohesive". Self amalgamating tape is a good example. Contact cement like you would use to laminate Formica to a counter top base. Once properly dried it will only stick to itself. As the new owner of a somewhat iffy well setup, I appreciate all of the information you are providing. Thank you .
I thought I was the guy asking the questions, just last week. Plus the story of “i run my 2gal pump with 4 kids, “ true story. I told my contractor that the welll “storage by size of water column over the pump” I learned a lot last week and also by this video
I work for my dad's buddy's well company and we use a wheelbarrow tire with no air and with a homemade steel bracket the we rigged up and welded that we use for pulling pumps I like your little rig there to
Very Informative. Sadly the trades are dyeing. You have to be good with your hands and your head. Take pride in a job well done...we used to call rubber tape splicing tape.
Your video's have been a big help for us. Getting ready to install our well pump in the next couple weeks. Your video's have pretty much answered all our questions going into this. Thanks
Really enjoying your videos. My dad has been in the well business for over 50 Years. My grandpa and uncle were before him. It’s nice to see pride in your work. Have you ever thought about crossing your worm Clamps? He taught me to always install them in the opposite direction. He says it gives the connection extra strength. I don’t know, just a suggestion. Beyond that we do all the same steps. He has an old cable tool rig. I would love to have a rotary. But that’s not in the cards. Well business around here is drying up, due to municipal water.
As a land surveyor we can design from the main FM box to a grinder pump at the residence. People don’t understand what grinder pumps are. Never flush a towel, etc.
Another awesome video! I’m basically getting a 1 man well and pump operation running in a remote part of Central America and these videos are so helpful. Thanks again!
Spot on observations. I educated myself to do fix it mechanical for my vehicles. My mechanic friends give excellent insight as well. Thanks for your expertise with pump systems. I’m installing a 250 foot well pump and your tech knowledge helps me a lot. Thanks a lot 👍
You tell him. 3 gallon a min is the minimum for a house. Its funny people always like to test the pump man's for some reason I'll never get it. The poper need a good 20 feet at least to read right over price so are Sounders never really read right for 800$ tools it's a shame. Still to this day your the only pump guy on RUclips that I can't find one thing wrong in your work. I would mind working with you and I hate work with a lot of pump man. Being one my self. My school In 00 they took auto and meat lab out I'm class o2. yup I also use tape to splice people always question it. 3m brand it's not cheap and the yellow heat tape 28$🤑 a roll. My company only install pipe were told poly hose is a east cost thing. Nice work have a great one till the next one 👍👌✌️⛲
Nice, clean install, and it is great that you are helping to educate folks about the private well/pump business! There are just two additional things I'd ask for if I was having that job done. 1) Install a check valve right on top of the pump, as the built-in check valve on the pumps tend to be pretty low quality. Better to spend an additional $50 or $100 when the pump first gets hung than pay to have the pump pulled later to have a failed check valve 'fixed' by adding a new one. 2) I think adding a union to the PVC work at the well head would be a good idea. It makes pulling/reinstalling the pump much easier if the need arises, and it is pretty short money to add. I had always been told that it is a good idea to use a safety cable from the pump to the well head. I just had a new well and pump installed about a year ago, and the pump man told me to save my money when it comes to the safety cable. Even though my pump is hung at 400 feet, he told me that the poly drop pipe and the wire were all that were needed since he uses thicker poly pipe than you find at the big box stores. Does this sound about right to you?
Your're right about the check valve, I would do the same. If I were installing a pump at 400 feet it would be hung on either schedule 80 PVC with stainless couplings or on galvanized pipe. The contractor is correct about the poly pipe, the stuff at the box stores is usually 100 pound test, well drillers use 160, 200, or 250 depending on the supplier.
You have to be able to do it all.i worked in coal mine for 28.bur also built houses worked on cars and had my own electrical business for 7 years.you have to do it all.
You've intrigued me, I realized I spent half my day watching you work various pump issues and installs and subbed. The plastic waterproof tape is called self-amalgamating tape, it's the same type of tape you would use when you're up a tower securing cable glands and inline splices on cable connections for antennas or wireless/cellular equipment. It sticks to itself and it gels up after a while which then makes the strip into a contiguous "lump" of sealant and is very waterproof. It's a pain to try and unstick, usually we have to use a boxcutter to slice it up. I feel you're totally accurate on the trades bit. It's not even that the trades are hard or challenging, it's that people just don't care anymore which bothers me to my core. Even tech people feel it, ever watch a non-tech encounter an error message and literally flip out? I think we (all of us) have gone from a society of curiosity and invention, to just accepting what is without any drive to change it and it bugs me (personally) to no end. Let me look at a thing and see if I can fix it, then if I can't, call in the pro for reinforcements. Back in the day, I learned real quick how to get familiar with a car as my dad was a mechanic. While I'm nowhere near his skill, I have the drive to learn and have learned a great many things from plumbing, electrical, automotive, and more. In this age of technology, information is readily available but people don't want to use it. They lack the drive to learn anything new.
Thanks for such a Kick A$$ message! I think many people like you & myself notice the big change in the world. Unfortunately it's going to get worse before it gets better. That's why I created my channel, to teach others the things I'm knowledgeable on & also passionate about. I've been working on wells for over 17 years, its all a family business (those are rare too!). I also am a self taught engine builder & avid road coarse racer. Basically if its mechanical, I want to tear it apart and understand how & why something works. Until our Youth can develop that type of mindset, we all will continue to circle the drain. All I can do is spread my knowledge, help teach others & hope that one day things will better. Less computerized & more physical!
@@h2omechanic I'm only 25 and noticed that the major trades are disappearing plus I started my own lawn Maintenance business and I know you are a well driller but is their any advice you could give me on running a business
@Will put business card everywhere and get 100 signs made for your business (like reality signs) or little signs bring in 80% of our business. Don't try to cut prices to get work, do quality work and you'll end up with good customers that actually pay their bills. Once ppl stop paying you, never keep them as a client. You get paid & grow off of being productive, you shouldn't have to spend time trying to get paid for a job after calling the customer 4+ times. Time truly is money, sometimes take a loss & walk away from the frustration. Hire people you can trust, who drive good & understand how to respect your equipment. Lastly, pay your employees Well! A good paid employee will never leave a good job where he/she is shown appreciation! Keep your vehicles clean, & equipment maintained routinely. Your employees should wear a uniform (looks more professional than a football jersey) . Customers like professionalism and polite people who treat them with respect. As for me, I don't look at other plumbers/drillers as my competitors, bc at the end of the day they are the ones most alike to myself. Most would help me out in a pinch & were all out here working to provide for our families. The world can only be a better place if we all develop a similar mindset on how to treat others, but it all starts with you! Figure out a direction you want to go in, set a standard and explain it in detail to anyone you hire, so they can represent your business the way you expect. Hope this helps! Now get out there & grow your business!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I've only recently come across your channel, I'm watching a lot of these informative videos which I believe may be really helpful in deciding to take up this kind of work for myself here in Europe, maybe, so in advance, thanks and keep them coming.
Thankfully. Someone who takes pride in their work. The little things. Explains everything to the customer. Nice neat glue. Concisely taping. Small things that make a job professional. If you put detail into the small things, people know you put detail into the big things.
My relative whom I met at a family reunion works high up at British Petroleum. Only 5 months ago he said, "Go to school for 9 months. To become Certified Welder cost about $4500. We only require 3 things to start at $96 K. Be Certified, Show up to work on time and Do what we tell you, that's it ". "One year probation then you get Overtime" " Then the Sky is the limit. Work as much as you want." " We need plumbers and electrons too". Why in the heck would you trade $125K of debt after 5 years of College. When that Welder or Plumber or Electron over there is already $500K ahead of you at the same age. Probably owns his own business too. Just Say'n Thanks for all the information on wells. Big thumbs up !!!
Protect your eyes bro and honestly it's better to go to be to school to be a sparkie. Better pay, you get left alone on the jobs most of the time and they have the "best" working conditions besides if you got an operator on site. Actually, it's best to be an operator. Set up and wait, take a nap, shut down the site for a few hours and repeat while getting paid the whole time lol
@@AB11305my grandfather and father were both Ironworkers. Both said that being in the Operators Union was like printing money. Easy job, best paying on site with only one downside. You really hold people’s lives in your hands. Screw up and you can kill people easy. One did screw up and dropped a beam on my father. Basically crippled him to some degree. Only because he was in the union and they protected him and his job did we not really suffer as kids. Sadly, not sure unions would be as good today… this was in the 70’s and it only went downhill from there.
My well in WI is 550 feet and the pump, hanging on 2” iron pipe is at 475 feet. The driller said that I am in a Lake Superior stream that would be impossible to pump dry.. In 45 years, I only had to replace the 4” pump once. The water is ice cold and absolutely clear with a refreshing sweet taste. I needed 80 feet of casing because I am sitting on top of 40 feet of gravel.
had to giggle when you were talking about knowing the basics and said "or have some common sense" ha ha. How many IT professionals does it take to change a light bulb? , IT professional, where is the port ? ha ha Thanks, first time on well water and educating myself so I have some basis for an intelligent conversation. So thanks for the posts. Very very helpful.
Want to thank you for all the good info. My well stopped pumping a week or so ago and working on finding the problem when I get back home nx week. Why no safety line from the top to the pump, Ps my pump was only replaced 2-3 years ago. But he used a nylon line from the top of the pitless adapter down to the pump. well info 168-175ft 1-1/2 Hp pump and 1-1/2 in line. again, Thank you for the info.
My parents had geothermal open loop system and the hard water took out the coil. When they had it fixed they spent the money to have loop closed. Between geothermal and wet field we had a nice mud hole in woods to play in. It's a lot dryer now. This house mom has never had well issue. Old house I don't remember exact reason but had to get well slammed down deeper. I remember the trk there as kid (7?) and it was noisy. Nieghbor built house and I was there watching them drill well and push pvc case down
Aviation uses a tape similar to that for sealing pitot tubes for operational checkouts. Might be the same stuff you're using. It was called F4 tape... a silicone tape.
Yup! Very similar! My Father aka Boss Man was in the Air force for 6 Years, in Air craft Fabrication and he said the same thing, that used to use that stuff. Cool you made that correlation! 😎
Wow, I've watched a dozen+ more of your productions, learned from them all. (even wrestled with a few) This one pulls it all together, nice review then for me.... ps, I'm in awe of your thinking on just why you share this experience and counsel for all of us.... Amen.
Lowes used to carry that tape but they stopped several years back. It's also used for sealing wireless antenna connections. They have something similar now that is also self sealing, but not as good as that stuff.
A pump does not work harder if its deeper down a well, the lifting head starts from the water height in the well, its better to run the pump a bit deeper to get more reserve. Upside of the grunfoss pump with the soft start is its easier for a generator to start the pump if the power goes out.
True, but if the well draws down it has to be able to pump from that level. Put it at 300ft, and it draws down to 250 but is a 200ft pump, you'll have issues.
I've been watching your videos for a while and just came across this one and heard what you said about the school shop classes going away and that you like to teach. Have you ever thought about talking to the school and maybe bringing on an interested student, during their summer break, as a paid employee for the experience? You could get a long term employee out of the deal in the long run.
@fierohoho I did that for 3 years starting when covid hit. I brought on 2 high-school junior's. 1 ended up working for 3 summers after that. I wish I had more time to go in multiple directions bc I love teaching others My craft.
I use the rubber tape and then liquid electrical tape and second rudder then second application of liquid electrical tape and have never had any problems great content
I like to see some of the things you've found we dig in the landscape and find cool things some things look like arte to me like that piece in the end on that pipe . I guess we find Momentos on the property that reminds us of what we built. self sustaining land. Thank you.
yap that tape is used by mechanics to repair radiator hoses as a temporary fix but some leave them on till the vehicle dies. you can get it in deferent width at auto parts store.
Man at 22:00 I felt that to the core. They are pushing all these kids to go to college, sit in a cubicle, and have zero real world skills. I honestly believe that’s why the suicide rate is so high. People need to see their work and what they accomplished. Hands on work is rewarding and no one is doing it. Plumbers are making more than office workers but it’s not a white collar job so it’s looked down upon. The kids that learn trades are seen as the screw ups. I hate the world we live in right now.
I remember the day if your tv quit you took it to the shop and they fixed it for 20 ir 30 bucks. We now have built in obsolescence , just go buy another one
I guess the pump you installed didn't require any kickers?? Also, when glueing the pvc you didn't use a primer. Not required?? Enjoyed the video. Thanks.
My pump is only in 4 ft of water 3 ft of ice usually when it gets 5 ft I've got to move the pump out 12 ft on the ice 100 ft heated garden hose. Lake Ontario New York
If the container doesn't leak light, then any 200w light source will put 200w of heat into that container. When light hits a surface, what's not reflected is turned to heat.
That's not a sqe. It's an SQ. No constant pressure box/sensor. But your right, I just started selling them. Maybe you can create content for people to learn about your services
I do t think the math works out at the 6 minutes mark. If you have water at 30 feet and you put the pump at 50 or 250 the pump load will be the same. Gravity will equalize the water pressure. Even without turning the pump on the water will come up by itself to 30 feet. Whatever height of water you have inside the well hole the same height will be in the pump pipe. The load will increase when you start to suck the well dry and the static level drops to like 200ft. It would make more sense to put it deeper in a slow producing well and put it higher in a high producing well.
Looks like it's a colder climate. I'm curious why you didn't use a pitless adapter to hang that pump? Wouldn't you risk the water line at the top of the wellhead freezing being aboveground?
Frost depth in his area is only code 12 inches. Bury the black roll pipe at 24, it'll never freeze. As far as the well head goes, every time the pump kicks on and then shuts off, as the well recovers the water pushes out 55-58 degree air from downhole up thru the port on the well cap and keeps it from freezing. The well tankl house has an electric heater in it with thermostat set to 40 degrees. Yes the system could freeze in a cold January if there was an ice storm and extended power outage for a few days. But that's what backup generators are for. That's one downside of having your own well. If you don't have any power, you will have max like 20 gallons in that bladder tank and then you're out of water. Pitless adapters are required where I live, because in my area frost depth is 32 inches. So here you have to bury water lines 48" deep to have a margin of safety. Code is only minimum requirements, and only gives a minimal margin. Sure you could go 40" but what if there's a polar vortex or w/e they call it, and the temp drops to 20 below zero when you're on vacation and your house has no water leaks, with no water flow the pump won't ever kick on, and everything will freeze in 2-3 days.
i can't understand why you don't tie a rope on the pump in the US and use the water pipe as support. How are you going to pull it? It might slip. And what if it breaks?
Really should have ran the wire in conduit. If anything happens when digging in the future, you can replace the damaged conduit and re run the wire. Sharing the knowledge from experience.
super useful videos. Once the pump hits the bottom of the well, how high do you leave it?. (for sediment or mud avoidance). awesome skills man, im learning a lot with you.
@@h2omechanic So I picked up a set of those cutters from HD, you're right they're pretty nice for $13. I know they aren't new technology but I'm old school so they are for me. I got them mainly for cutting the 1" 160# poly pipe that I use around here. I tried them on some scrap pipe and most all my cuts were not real straight. I know they don't need to be perfect, but these are pretty bad. Your cuts seemed to be very straight, is there a trick or technique to it that I'm missing? It seems like it smashes the pipe a little before it starts cutting causing the not so straight cut. Teach me teacher..... .😁
Very nicely done, any reason the well was put where it was or just getting away from the old location a good distance? Guessing the well head heats off the electrical box installed at it or is there no need for that? Long videos are nice to see all the steps explained thanks!
Truer words haven't been spoken in a while (~ 22:00). The trades are dying out and skilled tradesmen are increasingly rare. I left my decade long job in IT earlier this year and am seeking new gainful employment in a trade. I come from a family of both blue and white collar workers and know the value of a hard day's work and the detriment of a cushy desk job. I've long felt the need to actually DO something, instead of sitting in front of computer screens all day. Plus I love working with my hands and getting mechanically involved.
I think the more that people like you that put out interesting and informative videos, it could help our collective future. There's bound to be plenty of kids growing up now, who should be encouraged to seek out skilled trade professions as opposed to going straight to college.
I also think there should be a lot more options for people to gain experience with on the job training before making a decision on whatever path they wish to take.
I paused this video to state the EXACT words you just said. I am the owner of a small Auto repair shop. Talk about a dying breed. I can't find anyone decent that wants to work!
same with plumbers and electricians
Part of the problem that I hear nobody talking about is skilled labor wage erosion that has been going on for decades. For example: My father was a tool and die maker. He retired in 1992 with a wage of about $19.50 / hr. About 6 years ago I did an inflation adjustment of that $19.50 / per hour. I would have needed to make $33.50 / hour to be equivalent to my fathers $19.50. I think I was making about $23 to $25 / hr at that time. Now add the fact his health insurance was paid by the company and He got a pension when he retired - he is still receiving it now 28 years later. When I semi retired in 2022 I made $30 / hr which is less than my fathers inflation adjusted wage 30 years ago. Does anyone see the problem here???
I noticed you were using different wire on this install than what I’ve seen, some people apparently use single wires and I can see where that would be more likely to wear or become damaged. Why not put the wire or the whole wire and water line in a protective sheath?
@moms762 I think he said this install was only about 200 ft and the pump isn’t gonna go thru that much wear bc it’s basically overrated for this well, otherwise I think that’s a fine idea
As one who has retired from 35 yrs. working as an Aircraft Technician for what is now the largest airline everything you and the gentleman customer are absolutely correct. Only about 25 percent of those who attend college will retire from the job their degree was in. I did go to college because my college was paid for by the company my father's work place after his death. I graduated as a mechanical engineer. I worked some other jobs before I was hired to work as an engineer. That job lasted 11 yrs. Then that plant was shutdown by the EPA, because the company decided not to upgrade a 135 yr. old plant. But the silver lining was because the government ordered the closure I was able to go back to college and get my licenses for Airframe and Powerplant, with another Aviation Maintenance degree. For many years I was enjoying great pay, excellent benefits and many perks along the way. Saw good and not so good places around the world, have good friends who will retire soon. Not really looking for another job but offers come in. Just find an interest, study about it, ask lots of questions, then jump in with both feet and do your very best everyday.
Did that I 1963. Grade 10, let me in to what used to be “Provincial Institute of Trades”, now called George Brown. Five month course. I’m a farm-boy, used a torch and welding machine when I was 12. Had a great teacher in grade 9-10 that taught us drafting in shop class. Very handy in my entire career. My first job was a small shop in T.O., making steel frames for various trailers, cages for carrying small animals, etc., all for $1,15 / hr. They were in trouble as most of their product was poorly welded, causing frequent returns. None of the employees had any kind of welding experience. They couldn’t use a jet rod properly, let alone 6010 d 6012 for 16 ga. material. The owner was pissed. I wound up repairing a bunch of defects, the real bad ones, I’d cut apart and redo. When he saw what I was doing, he was surprised that I could do all that, with just a measuring tape, a tri-square and soapstone. I repaired over a dozen defects that day and the next morning, I got laid off, he’d lost the contract as he was too late on delivery. So, I went to the unemployment office and there was an opening for a welder fitter at a truck repair outfit. Got hired!! Great place to work! They had two shops, side by side, the smaller shop was for new vehicle. We’d installed 4 wheel drive packages, snow plows etc. the other shop did repairs to older vehicles, like dump trucks, heavy plows etc. we had a contract with a truck firm that had 35 short single axle trailer trucks. We extended frame, cutting it behind the cab, added fish plates, a push axle and remounted the 5th wheel at axle level at the very rear, bumper height. This was so they could transport 3 extra cars . Apparently, they used to trucks all over the country. One day, the big boss decided to meld the 2 shops under one manager and laid off the one in the small shop. They got rid of the wrong guy. Had enough one day, grabbed my my lunch bag, threw it in the garbage, backed my car in the shop and packed my tools. Of course the Manager came running out, with questions, I just told hi I didn’t work for power hungry idiots and left. The big boss called me a few hours later, looking for a story. I just told him outright that you made the wrong choice and I’m making mine. He tried to even double my wages, but, I had already decided to move out of the big city.
West Virginia needs you , I was raised on a well , Oldtimers all passed , Can't get qualified help , Had a crew come in and destroyed my well ,
Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge with kindness and compassion!
👍✌️
Great video. I use to manufacture that tape that you were wrapping the wires with while working at GE Insulating Materials Section back in the 70`s & 80`s. They use to call it SPT Tape and it use to be part of what they called a Termi-kit that the linemen used to splice high voltage cables together. For large cables it was in the shape of a pennant but we use to make fifty foot one inch rolls. Its rated for 50,000 volts and fuses to itself together after wrapped on a cable. Once its on you had to cut it off. After applied there was no unwinding it. In my day people use to look up to people in the blue collar trade occupations. I loved working with my hands. That changed in the 90`s where the trades were looked down on in favor of white collar occupations. Very sad. We have nearly two generations of people that can not turn a nut and a bolt together let alone working under the hood of their vehicle or figure out whits wrong in their breaker box.. Videos like these have value for those who want to understand how things work and how to fend for themselves. Keep the videos coming.
Very interesting and your comments about the trades is spot on.
Heat shrink kits cost $1 and I have used a ton and never had a problem with a connection. Probably used over 200 of them maybe more. How much is the tape? is it comparable price wise? Is it just a preference thing?
Is this why he only wrapped the wires in tape?
You are so right. There are more young people getting "disability" payments at my local social security office than retired people. 99% are scammers. But the government gives it to them and they don't work.
Telecom guys use that tape for part of an underground splice system. It is self-vulcanizing, meaning that if you wrap it under tension it will basically become one solid piece of soft rubber. We use it to build up the outer diameter of the underground cable to the point where we can get a good seal where the splice case seals clamp around the cable.
For something not in a hard case, such as a high-voltage splice, the problem comes in with the fact that it IS soft, and has no abrasion resistance. The solution is to overwrap it with cloth friction tape,
Love learning about wells, some day I might have to use this knowledge. Thanks!
Thank God For the H2O Mechanic 👍🏽👍🏽
Your right,getting harder to find people that want to learn/work,at 71 yrs old I'm stilling baling hay ,,,great video👍👍
Retired after 30+ years from a major US Metro City Water Dept, gravity supplied by mountain rain water reservoir, not pumped well water. I'm not familiar with well water systems and considering moving from the city to rural where private wells are utilized. OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE DETAILED VIDEO! Your parents did a good job teaching work ethics. God Bless you son, and your family! Respectfully, Rev Carl
Two words concerning the "rubber" tape. The tape is "self amalgamating". Over a short period of time it firms itself into a solid piece. Absolutely can not come apart like regular electrical tape. The word for adhesive that will only stick to itself is "cohesive". Self amalgamating tape is a good example. Contact cement like you would use to laminate Formica to a counter top base. Once properly dried it will only stick to itself.
As the new owner of a somewhat iffy well setup, I appreciate all of the information you are providing. Thank you .
You deserve 100k and more subs! Love your well videos! You do a great job. Thanks for all the information. Keep it up please!!
I thought I was the guy asking the questions, just last week. Plus the story of “i run my 2gal pump with 4 kids, “ true story. I told my contractor that the welll “storage by size of water column over the pump” I learned a lot last week and also by this video
I work for my dad's buddy's well company and we use a wheelbarrow tire with no air and with a homemade steel bracket the we rigged up and welded that we use for pulling pumps I like your little rig there to
Very Informative. Sadly the trades are dyeing. You have to be good with your hands and your head. Take pride in a job well done...we used to call rubber tape splicing tape.
Your video's have been a big help for us. Getting ready to install our well pump in the next couple weeks. Your video's have pretty much answered all our questions going into this. Thanks
Really enjoying your videos. My dad has been in the well business for over 50
Years. My grandpa and uncle were before him. It’s nice to see pride in your work.
Have you ever thought about crossing your worm
Clamps? He taught me to always install them in the opposite direction. He says it gives the connection extra strength. I don’t know, just a suggestion. Beyond that we do all the same steps. He has an old cable tool rig. I would love to have a rotary. But that’s not in the cards. Well business around here is drying up, due to municipal water.
As a land surveyor we can design from the main FM box to a grinder pump at the residence. People don’t understand what grinder pumps are. Never flush a towel, etc.
Nice job! Thanks for the education👍
Another awesome video! I’m basically getting a 1 man well and pump operation running in a remote part of Central America and these videos are so helpful. Thanks again!
Spot on observations. I educated myself to do fix it mechanical for my vehicles. My mechanic friends give excellent insight as well. Thanks for your expertise with pump systems. I’m installing a 250 foot well pump and your tech knowledge helps me a lot. Thanks a lot 👍
You tell him. 3 gallon a min is the minimum for a house. Its funny people always like to test the pump man's for some reason I'll never get it. The poper need a good 20 feet at least to read right over price so are Sounders never really read right for 800$ tools it's a shame. Still to this day your the only pump guy on RUclips that I can't find one thing wrong in your work. I would mind working with you and I hate work with a lot of pump man. Being one my self. My school In 00 they took auto and meat lab out I'm class o2. yup I also use tape to splice people always question it. 3m brand it's not cheap and the yellow heat tape 28$🤑 a roll. My company only install pipe were told poly hose is a east cost thing. Nice work have a great one till the next one 👍👌✌️⛲
Loving everyone of your vid’s! Learning so much feels empowering!
You are a good teacher. I’ve learned a lot watching just a few videos of yours.
It great to zoom with a expensive phone until you drop it in the well
They should insulate those walls that'll help
Nice, clean install, and it is great that you are helping to educate folks about the private well/pump business! There are just two additional things I'd ask for if I was having that job done.
1) Install a check valve right on top of the pump, as the built-in check valve on the pumps tend to be pretty low quality. Better to spend an additional $50 or $100 when the pump first gets hung than pay to have the pump pulled later to have a failed check valve 'fixed' by adding a new one.
2) I think adding a union to the PVC work at the well head would be a good idea. It makes pulling/reinstalling the pump much easier if the need arises, and it is pretty short money to add.
I had always been told that it is a good idea to use a safety cable from the pump to the well head. I just had a new well and pump installed about a year ago, and the pump man told me to save my money when it comes to the safety cable. Even though my pump is hung at 400 feet, he told me that the poly drop pipe and the wire were all that were needed since he uses thicker poly pipe than you find at the big box stores. Does this sound about right to you?
Your're right about the check valve, I would do the same. If I were installing a pump at 400 feet it would be hung on either schedule 80 PVC with stainless couplings or on galvanized pipe. The contractor is correct about the poly pipe, the stuff at the box stores is usually 100 pound test, well drillers use 160, 200, or 250 depending on the supplier.
This was a great video! your explanations are great! Thank you for these. Very informative, as usual.
You have to be able to do it all.i worked in coal mine for 28.bur also built houses worked on cars and had my own electrical business for 7 years.you have to do it all.
You've intrigued me, I realized I spent half my day watching you work various pump issues and installs and subbed.
The plastic waterproof tape is called self-amalgamating tape, it's the same type of tape you would use when you're up a tower securing cable glands and inline splices on cable connections for antennas or wireless/cellular equipment. It sticks to itself and it gels up after a while which then makes the strip into a contiguous "lump" of sealant and is very waterproof. It's a pain to try and unstick, usually we have to use a boxcutter to slice it up.
I feel you're totally accurate on the trades bit. It's not even that the trades are hard or challenging, it's that people just don't care anymore which bothers me to my core. Even tech people feel it, ever watch a non-tech encounter an error message and literally flip out? I think we (all of us) have gone from a society of curiosity and invention, to just accepting what is without any drive to change it and it bugs me (personally) to no end. Let me look at a thing and see if I can fix it, then if I can't, call in the pro for reinforcements.
Back in the day, I learned real quick how to get familiar with a car as my dad was a mechanic. While I'm nowhere near his skill, I have the drive to learn and have learned a great many things from plumbing, electrical, automotive, and more. In this age of technology, information is readily available but people don't want to use it. They lack the drive to learn anything new.
Thanks for such a Kick A$$ message! I think many people like you & myself notice the big change in the world. Unfortunately it's going to get worse before it gets better. That's why I created my channel, to teach others the things I'm knowledgeable on & also passionate about. I've been working on wells for over 17 years, its all a family business (those are rare too!). I also am a self taught engine builder & avid road coarse racer. Basically if its mechanical, I want to tear it apart and understand how & why something works. Until our Youth can develop that type of mindset, we all will continue to circle the drain. All I can do is spread my knowledge, help teach others & hope that one day things will better. Less computerized & more physical!
@@h2omechanic I'm only 25 and noticed that the major trades are disappearing plus I started my own lawn Maintenance business and I know you are a well driller but is their any advice you could give me on running a business
@Will put business card everywhere and get 100 signs made for your business (like reality signs) or little signs bring in 80% of our business. Don't try to cut prices to get work, do quality work and you'll end up with good customers that actually pay their bills. Once ppl stop paying you, never keep them as a client. You get paid & grow off of being productive, you shouldn't have to spend time trying to get paid for a job after calling the customer 4+ times. Time truly is money, sometimes take a loss & walk away from the frustration. Hire people you can trust, who drive good & understand how to respect your equipment. Lastly, pay your employees Well! A good paid employee will never leave a good job where he/she is shown appreciation! Keep your vehicles clean, & equipment maintained routinely. Your employees should wear a uniform (looks more professional than a football jersey) . Customers like professionalism and polite people who treat them with respect. As for me, I don't look at other plumbers/drillers as my competitors, bc at the end of the day they are the ones most alike to myself. Most would help me out in a pinch & were all out here working to provide for our families. The world can only be a better place if we all develop a similar mindset on how to treat others, but it all starts with you! Figure out a direction you want to go in, set a standard and explain it in detail to anyone you hire, so they can represent your business the way you expect. Hope this helps! Now get out there & grow your business!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I've only recently come across your channel, I'm watching a lot of these informative videos which I believe may be really helpful in deciding to take up this kind of work for myself here in Europe, maybe, so in advance, thanks and keep them coming.
You are right about it being a dying profession, I've been trying to get a well contractor to come out for over 2 months now!
it's self-fusing silicone tape. it has several nicknames. Good stuff.
Thankfully. Someone who takes pride in their work. The little things. Explains everything to the customer. Nice neat glue. Concisely taping. Small things that make a job professional. If you put detail into the small things, people know you put detail into the big things.
With black poly I was always told the clamps should be flipped opposite of each other. One ends up pulling clockwise and the other counter clockwise.
My relative whom I met at a family reunion works high up at British Petroleum. Only 5 months ago he said, "Go to school for 9 months. To become Certified Welder cost about $4500. We only require 3 things to start at $96 K. Be Certified, Show up to work on time and Do what we tell you, that's it ". "One year probation then you get Overtime" " Then the Sky is the limit. Work as much as you want." " We need plumbers and electrons too". Why in the heck would you trade $125K of debt after 5 years of College. When that Welder or Plumber or Electron over there is already $500K ahead of you at the same age. Probably owns his own business too. Just Say'n Thanks for all the information on wells. Big thumbs up !!!
Protect your eyes bro and honestly it's better to go to be to school to be a sparkie. Better pay, you get left alone on the jobs most of the time and they have the "best" working conditions besides if you got an operator on site. Actually, it's best to be an operator. Set up and wait, take a nap, shut down the site for a few hours and repeat while getting paid the whole time lol
@@AB11305my grandfather and father were both Ironworkers. Both said that being in the Operators Union was like printing money. Easy job, best paying on site with only one downside. You really hold people’s lives in your hands. Screw up and you can kill people easy. One did screw up and dropped a beam on my father. Basically crippled him to some degree. Only because he was in the union and they protected him and his job did we not really suffer as kids. Sadly, not sure unions would be as good today… this was in the 70’s and it only went downhill from there.
My well in WI is 550 feet and the pump, hanging on 2” iron pipe is at 475 feet. The driller said that I am in a Lake Superior stream that would be impossible to pump dry..
In 45 years, I only had to replace the 4” pump once.
The water is ice cold and absolutely clear with a refreshing sweet taste.
I needed 80 feet of casing because I am sitting on top of 40 feet of gravel.
Congrats, you are a real pro. I like your videos,very clear explanations of what you are doing and why. GERRY G. from canada.
Hello, I appreciate your video. What is the type of black roll of tube are you using to the pump?
I'd definitely be protecting that well head with steel pipe ballards out at the end of that driveway
When people say that they expect a more complicated system, run Forest run!
had to giggle when you were talking about knowing the basics and said "or have some common sense" ha ha. How many IT professionals does it take to change a light bulb? , IT professional, where is the port ? ha ha Thanks, first time on well water and educating myself so I have some basis for an intelligent conversation. So thanks for the posts. Very very helpful.
Want to thank you for all the good info. My well stopped pumping a week or so ago and working on finding the problem when I get back home nx week. Why no safety line from the top to the pump, Ps my pump was only replaced 2-3 years ago. But he used a nylon line from the top of the pitless adapter down to the pump. well info 168-175ft 1-1/2 Hp pump and 1-1/2 in line. again, Thank you for the info.
My parents had geothermal open loop system and the hard water took out the coil. When they had it fixed they spent the money to have loop closed. Between geothermal and wet field we had a nice mud hole in woods to play in. It's a lot dryer now. This house mom has never had well issue. Old house I don't remember exact reason but had to get well slammed down deeper. I remember the trk there as kid (7?) and it was noisy. Nieghbor built house and I was there watching them drill well and push pvc case down
Its self amalginating tape. Im suprised it waterproof at depth.
Aviation uses a tape similar to that for sealing pitot tubes for operational checkouts. Might be the same stuff you're using. It was called F4 tape... a silicone tape.
Yup! Very similar! My Father aka Boss Man was in the Air force for 6 Years, in Air craft Fabrication and he said the same thing, that used to use that stuff. Cool you made that correlation! 😎
That is why we moved from Indiana to Arizona!
Wow, I've watched a dozen+ more of your productions, learned from them all. (even wrestled with a few) This one pulls it all together, nice review then for me.... ps, I'm in awe of your thinking on just why you share this experience and counsel for all of us.... Amen.
Try to find a decent plumber or Well contractor that doesn't scam ppl...its hard. Very few of us left. I teach to guide those who can't find help.
Lowes used to carry that tape but they stopped several years back. It's also used for sealing wireless antenna connections. They have something similar now that is also self sealing, but not as good as that stuff.
A pump does not work harder if its deeper down a well, the lifting head starts from the water height in the well, its better to run the pump a bit deeper to get more reserve. Upside of the grunfoss pump with the soft start is its easier for a generator to start the pump if the power goes out.
True, but if the well draws down it has to be able to pump from that level. Put it at 300ft, and it draws down to 250 but is a 200ft pump, you'll have issues.
Very nice and informative work. Keep up the great content. Crazy canuck!
Nice install
I've been watching your videos for a while and just came across this one and heard what you said about the school shop classes going away and that you like to teach. Have you ever thought about talking to the school and maybe bringing on an interested student, during their summer break, as a paid employee for the experience? You could get a long term employee out of the deal in the long run.
@fierohoho I did that for 3 years starting when covid hit. I brought on 2 high-school junior's. 1 ended up working for 3 summers after that. I wish I had more time to go in multiple directions bc I love teaching others My craft.
Excellent video man. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
I use the rubber tape and then liquid electrical tape and second rudder then second application of liquid electrical tape and have never had any problems great content
We always use a rope on our pump as well just as backup if your pump breaks off of the water pipe
true,share the knowledge with us,i thnk we r the same from what you where telling the customer,big ups,Witmankasie in Botswana.😇😇
And that was 2008, I can't even believe how it's going today, hope it gets better real soon
I like to see some of the things you've found we dig in the landscape and find cool things some things look like arte to me like that piece in the end on that pipe . I guess we find Momentos on the property that reminds us of what we built. self sustaining land. Thank you.
You 100% right man . Good job 👋👋
Good job 2all . Nice work, and from what I seen it was safely executed
🥶🐲.
Man, what a wealth of information
Beautiful job/work!
I have a submersible pump in my lake in the winter with a bubbler.
I had one once the bubbler died
Telephone company used that tape on drop wire splicing years ago. We called it Dr tape.
Good job...we do it pretty much the same way in Calif.
300 feet is where the best water is in my area.
Great job. I'll be a little smarter to be dangerous. Thanks again.
Thanks!
Seen this before old video
yap that tape is used by mechanics to repair radiator hoses as a temporary fix but some leave them on till the vehicle dies. you can get it in deferent width at auto parts store.
Man at 22:00 I felt that to the core. They are pushing all these kids to go to college, sit in a cubicle, and have zero real world skills. I honestly believe that’s why the suicide rate is so high. People need to see their work and what they accomplished. Hands on work is rewarding and no one is doing it. Plumbers are making more than office workers but it’s not a white collar job so it’s looked down upon. The kids that learn trades are seen as the screw ups. I hate the world we live in right now.
I remember the day if your tv quit you took it to the shop and they fixed it for 20 ir 30 bucks. We now have built in obsolescence , just go buy another one
I used to work in well houses a lot and one time we had to dig out a ton of garbage and the well pit was full of black scorpions!
I guess the pump you installed didn't require any kickers?? Also, when glueing the pvc you didn't use a primer. Not required?? Enjoyed the video. Thanks.
That was the best. Thank you.
My pump is only in 4 ft of water 3 ft of ice usually when it gets 5 ft I've got to move the pump out 12 ft on the ice 100 ft heated garden hose. Lake Ontario New York
Wonderful
Thanks for sharing your skill & knowledge
If the container doesn't leak light, then any 200w light source will put 200w of heat into that container. When light hits a surface, what's not reflected is turned to heat.
you have a lot to learn about Grundfos sqe pumps.
That's not a sqe. It's an SQ. No constant pressure box/sensor.
But your right, I just started selling them.
Maybe you can create content for people to learn about your services
Based comment
Great job! Well done!!
That’s a great video!
Uses liqui tight with non outdoor rated box.
thank you
I do t think the math works out at the 6 minutes mark. If you have water at 30 feet and you put the pump at 50 or 250 the pump load will be the same. Gravity will equalize the water pressure. Even without turning the pump on the water will come up by itself to 30 feet. Whatever height of water you have inside the well hole the same height will be in the pump pipe. The load will increase when you start to suck the well dry and the static level drops to like 200ft. It would make more sense to put it deeper in a slow producing well and put it higher in a high producing well.
What size is that black poly tubing? And where do you buy it?
Looks like it's a colder climate. I'm curious why you didn't use a pitless adapter to hang that pump? Wouldn't you risk the water line at the top of the wellhead freezing being aboveground?
Frost depth in his area is only code 12 inches. Bury the black roll pipe at 24, it'll never freeze. As far as the well head goes, every time the pump kicks on and then shuts off, as the well recovers the water pushes out 55-58 degree air from downhole up thru the port on the well cap and keeps it from freezing. The well tankl house has an electric heater in it with thermostat set to 40 degrees. Yes the system could freeze in a cold January if there was an ice storm and extended power outage for a few days. But that's what backup generators are for. That's one downside of having your own well. If you don't have any power, you will have max like 20 gallons in that bladder tank and then you're out of water. Pitless adapters are required where I live, because in my area frost depth is 32 inches. So here you have to bury water lines 48" deep to have a margin of safety. Code is only minimum requirements, and only gives a minimal margin. Sure you could go 40" but what if there's a polar vortex or w/e they call it, and the temp drops to 20 below zero when you're on vacation and your house has no water leaks, with no water flow the pump won't ever kick on, and everything will freeze in 2-3 days.
i can't understand why you don't tie a rope on the pump in the US and use the water pipe as support. How are you going to pull it? It might slip. And what if it breaks?
Really should have ran the wire in conduit. If anything happens when digging in the future, you can replace the damaged conduit and re run the wire. Sharing the knowledge from experience.
grew up in Iowa on a farm with well water and I do miss that taste!
EXCELLENT KNOWLEDGE ‼️ TY
Excellent video. Very informative!
super useful videos. Once the pump hits the bottom of the well, how high do you leave it?. (for sediment or mud avoidance). awesome skills man, im learning a lot with you.
Best one yet.
Thanks! I'll be uploading more work videos like this along with current projects I'm working on. I just enjoy teaching and sharing information 😀
@@h2omechanic Hey, what was the brand of those tubing cutters you were using in the video, I could use those for sure.
@@makoman67 Husky. $13 @ Home Depot.
@@h2omechanic thanks
@@h2omechanic So I picked up a set of those cutters from HD, you're right they're pretty nice for $13. I know they aren't new technology but I'm old school so they are for me. I got them mainly for cutting the 1" 160# poly pipe that I use around here. I tried them on some scrap pipe and most all my cuts were not real straight. I know they don't need to be perfect, but these are pretty bad. Your cuts seemed to be very straight, is there a trick or technique to it that I'm missing? It seems like it smashes the pipe a little before it starts cutting causing the not so straight cut. Teach me teacher..... .😁
New on teh block , nice work from Alberta Canada
Thank you very much
Very nicely done, any reason the well was put where it was or just getting away from the old location a good distance? Guessing the well head heats off the electrical box installed at it or is there no need for that? Long videos are nice to see all the steps explained thanks!
Anymore new well drilling
Hey, I drive a Tesla. Most reliable car I've ever owned.