Question About Wells

[Nyboy]

Does anyone on a well have a hand pump for backup in a power failure? http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/cast-iron-pitcher-pump?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Ridgerunner]

I grew up with one of those on a cistern on out front porch. They need to be primed to get the suction unless they've improved that somehow. Just pour some water down into it to create that suction as you pump. In the winter we'd pour boiling water down it to unfreeze it. Ours was pretty dependable but you did not want to run out of water before it was primed. They may have made improvements to them in those many decades since ours to where they no longer are as simple and dependable as they were.

I remember one winter day going out to get water caring some boiling hot water. Our dog was laying right in front of the screen door but I did not see him. I pushed the screen door open, it hit the dog and bounced back, spilling that hot water down my sternum. It raised a pretty good blister all the way down. I popped that blister a couple of days later when I leaned over a chest freezer to get something behind it. I was probably 12 or so at the time.

I forgot to mention. Those are only good for about 25 feet deep. Don't expect to do any good with a well that is deeper.