Where should I purchase a submersible well pump from?
In this blog, we will explore the various options for purchasing a submersible well pump. We’ll also explore the pros and cons of these options. If you aren’t ready to purchase a new submersible well pump yet, but want to know what size well pump you need, check out this blog! Perhaps you want to know what’s involved in removing/replacing your submersible well pump, if so then check out this recent article.
When it comes to purchasing a submersible well pump it boils down to who the best manufacturers of well pump equipment are and where their equipment can be purchased. With nearly 40 years of industry experience, Oakville Pump Service has found that the pumps from Franklin Pump Systems (FPS), Goulds or Grundfos are good products with good standard warranties. These companies have diverse product lines to meet the various applications and they have stocking distributors to ensure critical components for water supply can be obtained quickly.
The options for where to purchase submersible pumps fall into 3 basic categories: Hardware/Home Improvement Stores, Online, and well pump contractors.
Purchasing a submersible well pump from a hardware or home improvement store can be very convenient and in many cases, a very inexpensive option. The low cost is due to the source of these pumps. These brands often have a very short warranty period because they are manufactured with very low standards and costs in mind. In a hardware store, you may get a helpful sales associate, but it is unlikely they will know how to choose the correct submersible well pump, choose the proper wire/pipe or help you with how many check valves/what type of check valve should be used. Submersible water pump systems purchased and constructed from the local home improvement stores are sources of frustration for many homeowners as they fail frequently and there is little in the way of customer support available.
If you love tickling your computer keyboard to find great deals on the internet, you are not alone! You can find some great pump equipment online at some very decent prices and have the items shipped to your door and then you can wade through some youtube videos to help you install the equipment. You may even find an online retailer that will help you with selecting the correct pump or accessories for the pump. DIY can be a lot of fun! Purchasing a Goulds, Grundfos, or FPS pump online is certainly possible and many people do it because of the perceived cost savings. In many cases, these pumps are being sold in a pseudo grey-market fashion by companies that are supposed to be installing the equipment themselves, not just flipping it online. If there is a problem it is almost impossible to get this equipment warrantied! If you purchase equipment online, you should plan to deal with any warranties for the equipment from the source that you purchased it from and NOT from the manufacturer or other authorized dealers.
Manufactures such as FPS, Goulds, and Grundfos typically sell their equipment through authorized local distributors and well pump contractors. Their websites have tools to help you find the qualified contractor(s) in your area. Why do they make customers go through these extra steps? What it boils down to is that they want to give you a better experience than you have with the other options that were just discussed! A submersible well pump system is comprised of many different components such as pump, motor, control box, pressure switch, pipe, wire, etc…. These components must be chosen properly in order for them work together correctly. This will result in the equipment performing as expected and lasting for many, many years! These high quality manufactures know that when you take one of their high quality well pumps and stick it down in the ground on a small flimsy pipe with a wire that is too small/spliced together in a manner that is not waterproof…the motor will fail or the pump may break off the end of the pipe! Quality pump manufacturers offer specialized training and certifications that help licensed well pump contractors design and install this equipment correctly in a manner that will minimize problems and maximize performance, efficiency & equipment life! Authorized dealers and installers of submersible well pumps, like Oakville Pump Service, often have the ability to offer significantly extended manufacturer warranties because of the high standards that are used in both designing and installing the equipment.
If you want to properly install high quality well pump equipment in Pope Valley, Angwin, Calistoga or other parts of the Napa Valley, give our hard working crew at Oakville Pump Service a call today at (707 944-2471!