How Does a One Line Jet Pump Well Water Pump Work?

Sequence of operation of a well and pump system using a one line jet pump
- Installation and troubleshooting for one line jet pumps used for private well water supply
WATER PUMP, ONE LINE JET - separate article
Questions & answers on single line jet pump installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair
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Single line jet pumps on wells: This article describes the sequence of operating steps in a one-line jet pump water system. The process of diagnosis and the costs of the repair are explained.

How a One-Line Jet Pump Well Water System Works - Sequence of Operating Steps

Consumer advice on saving money on water supply repair costs includes a review of the parts and labor costs of a typical well pump and pressure tank replacement case. Carson Dunlop's sketch (at page top) shows the main parts of a one-line jet pump well installation. Readers of this document should also see our other diagnostic guides for water pumps, wells, motors, in table form:

ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE - table format and text.
SHORT CYCLING DIAGNOSIS TABLE - table format. Also see SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP - text.
WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE - table format. Also see WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - text.
WATER PUMP PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TABLE - table format. Also see WATER PUMP PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TABLE - text

See WATER PUMP, ONE LINE JET for a description of the function of each component of a one-line jet pump system. Readers should also see IDENTIFY WELL PUMP TANK COMPONENTS. Nearly all well pumping systems, one line jet pump, two line jet pump, or submersible well pump, require a foot valve installed at the bottom of the well piping. If your building has water pressure problems, see WELL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS. Readers whose wells simply run out of water should also see How to Test Well Water Quantity and see How to Get More Water From a Well.

What happens when you turn on the water at a faucet in a building whose water is supplied by a one-line jet pump? (See the sketch at the top of This article for the basic components of a one-line jet pump system.) Our photograph (left) shows a one-line jet pump installed in a home.

Notice that there is a horizontal pipe with a check valve? That's the pipe leading to the water source. (We explain this check valve at WELL PIPING CHECK VALVES.)

The vertical pipe rising from the pump is the jet pump outlet connection that sends pressurized water to the water pressure tank and onwards to the rest of the building.

The following steps describe normal operating of a building well pump and water supply system. Other cases in which the well pump controls are not working properly, there is a problem with the controls, pressure tank, pump, or well itself are discussed at WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE & COSTS and at WELL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS.

Turn on building water at a plumbing fixture: open a sink valve, tub valve, or flush a toilet.
Water runs out of the supply faucet, into the fixture, down the drain
Water pressure and flow are being supplied to the building from a water pressure tank. If we didn't use a pressure tank, because water is not very compressible, the second water was turned on, water pressure in the system would drop below the pump cut-on pressure, the pump would turn on, and probably bring water pressure up to the cut-off pressure quickly, causing short cycling and burning up pump controls or a pump motor. See WATER TANKS HOW THEY WORK.
Pressure in the water pressure tank and in the building piping system drops down to the well pump cut-in pressure. Typically this is 20 or 30 psi on a residential water system.
The well pump pressure control switch senses the pressure drop, closes an internal electrical relay switch to turn on the well pump. See WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCHH.
The well pump motor runs, drawing water back into the building from the well by "sucking" water up from a shallow depth (a one-line jet pump can't draw water from much below 25 feet)
Water is forced into the building water pressure tank and simultaneously into the building piping and on to the plumbing fixtures.
If the pump sends water into the building faster than water is flowing out of the open faucet or plumbing fixture, the pump will "get ahead" of the water flow, successfully pressurizing the water tank, causing the pressure switch to turn off the pump (see step 10 below).

OR
If the pump cannot send water into the building faster than water is flowing out of the open faucet or plumbing fixture, the well pump will run continuously and water will flow out of the open faucet or plumbing fixture at a rate limited basically by the pump's water delivery flow rate in gallons per minute. You'll also find this condition if a building water supply pipe bursts. We say "basically" because the well piping and building piping and faucets themselves offer some back-pressure against the pump's flow rate. In this case, the well pump will continue to run until the building faucets or plumbing fixtures are turned off. At that point ...
The well pump pressure control switch senses that water pressure has increased to the cut-out point, opening its switch and turning off electrical power to the well pump. The well pump has re-pressurized the building water tank and piping up to the cut-out or cut-off water pressure.
The foot valve closes (at the bottom of the well piping) and/or a check valve located in the building on or close to the well pump closes, preventing water and pressure from flowing backwards down into the well, losing building water pressure and possibly losing pump prime. See WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES and see WELL PIPING CHECK VALVES and if necessary, WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE.

How to Diagnose Poor Well Water or Pump Water Pressure

For our complete water pressure and pump, well, and piping problems diagnostic article list, see WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE & COSTS and WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR. Separately we also provide a WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE. The following articles pertain if you have a private well, pump, and tank system for your building or if your incoming community water supply pressure and flow are just too low to start with:

Water Tank Problems? See WATER PRESSURE TANK REPAIRS. Examples of water tank problems include poor water pressure or the well pump rapidly turning on and off (short cycling).
Water pump problems? Examples of water pump problems include poor water pressure or no water pressure at all. See

WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT - poor building water pressure or flow
PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR - pump is not delivering water at all or water pressure is poor
WATER PUMP RELAY SWITCH - submersible pump has stopped working
WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE - well pump keeps losing prime - pump runs but gives no water
WATER PUMPS & TANKS & WELLS - complete list of articles
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES - complete list of well pump controls and switches, identification, diagnosis, repair
WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY - maybe water pressure is fine and it's the gauge that's bad?

Water piping or well piping problems? If your water pump keeps losing prime, a shallow well jet pump well line could have a bad foot valve (in the well WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES) or there may be a bad check valve on well piping at or near the water tank or near the above-ground water pump (CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY) and so be losing prime. A leak in the well line piping itself can also lead to loss of prime.
Well Problems? Do you run out of water or after running water for some interval water pressure and flow are poor? Well problem diagnosis starts at WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS. Before assuming that there is no water in the well, check to see if the water pump is working properly, including loss of pump prime (WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE) and a bad or leaky well piping foot valve (WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES).
Bad water pump or water tank pressure regulator control? See WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR (not usually installed on private well and pump systems, often present on municipal water supply systems that use an in-building local water pump and pressure tank to boost pressure). Water pump pressure regulator switch diagnosis and repair steps include these:
- How to Adjust Water Pump Pressure: The detailed, step by step procedure for inspecting and adjusting the water pressure control switch is discussed in detail at ADJUST PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL.
- Diagnosing Water Pump Short Cycling on and off: If your water pump is clicking on and off too often or quite rapidly see SHORT CYCLING.
- Diagnosing Water Pressure Drops without explanation when the pump stops, see Water Pressure Falls Slowly, Erratic Pumping: bad pressure control switch, building water running or leak, bad pressure gauge, bad check valve, bad foot valve.
- Diagnosing & Repairing Lost Air in the Water Tank: The problem of lost air in the water pressure tank along with how to correct that condition are discussed beginning at SIGNS OF AIR LOSS.
- Diagnosing & Repairing a Water Pressure Control or Water Pump Control Switch: We discuss diagnosing and repairing a water pressure control switch that sticks "on" or "off" or simply won't operate, at water pump Pressure Switch Repairs.
Bad Hot Water Pressure? See HOT WATER IMPROVEMENT especially if the building cold water pressure is acceptable but hot water pressure and flow are poor. Accumulated debris in a water heater, and debris from a corroded or disintegrating hot water tank dip tube or hot water tank sacrificial anode can also block the hot water outlet opening, resulting in low hot water pressure in a building.
Bad cold or hot water pressure and flow just at certain plumbing fixtures? See our discussion of Poor water pressure just at certain plumbing fixtures just above.
Problems with water treatment equipment can cause loss of water pressure or no water flow: a clogged water filter, or a malfunction in water disinfection or other water treatment equipment can cause a reduction in water pressure or even a complete stop in water flow in a building. See WATER FILTERS for details about clogged filters, and see WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES for our complete list of types of water treatment equipment.

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Technical Reviewers & References

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John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
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Thanks to our reader, Carole Cimitile, 2/17/2009, for reminding us that small problems like faucet o-rings, clogged faucet strainers and similar local plumbing fixture defects can have a big impact on hot water flow, cold water flow, or both hot and cold water flow and pressure problems.
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Ace Jet Pump Installation Manual, instructions from Water Ace Pump Co., web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.waterace.com/pdf/R510%20R520%20and%20R100%20Jet%20Pumps%20Manual.pdf
Consumer hotline: 800-942-3343 - instructions for the installation and maintenance of
Water Ace shallow well pump Model R510 1/2 HP
Water Ace deep well pump Model R100 convertible 1HP and
Water Ace deep well jet pump Model R250 convertible 1/2 hp.

Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment

Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
Life Expectancy of Water Pumps - Well Pumps: how long should a water pump last? What affects pump life?
Life Expectancy of Wells & Water Tanks how long should a water well and its components last?
Shock or Chlorinate a Well, How to - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
Water pressure tank failures & water pump short cycling diagnosis and repair

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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

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