Essential Tools for Servicing Well Pump Equipment (Your favorite DIY'ers Christmas Wishlist)
Today’s Blog is for the DIY’ers that like to take care of their own well pump equipment. As a guy that works on wells, cars and around the house, I’d be delighted to get any of these items under the Christmas tree. These are the tools we actually use on a daily basis at Oakville Pump Service as we troubleshoot and repair centrifugal and submersible well pump equipment. One great thing about most of these tools is that they are extremely versatile and can be used for many different type of projects around work and the house! Another fantastic thing is that most of these tools pull double or triple duty meaning that there is less clutter and more function in the tool bag.
Please note that Amazon links have been provided to show illustrations of products mentioned in this blog. These links are not intended to show the exact product for your specific application, rather a generic visual example of the product referenced. While purchasing these items is possible, please do so after having done your own due diligence and understand that these links may generate Amazon commissions. If you are not familiar with electrical safety procedures then you should not attempt working with the electrical equipment mentioned in this blog as it represents a significant hazard of electrical shock.
Knipex pump pliers can grab and hang onto just about anything! This model works particularly well for piping from 1/4” to 1.5” in diameter or bolts/pressure switches/pressure transducers that have a hex pipe connection port. You can also buy a larger pair that work better than a pipe wrench! They change size rapidly and I’ve never broken or worn a pair out. Stop buying cheap junk that you throw away, get something that is made well and works well too!
A sturdy, capable Electrical Meter is essential for testing winding resistance, motor run & start currents as well as for proper voltage or short circuits to ground. Fluke makes meters that can take the punishment of the daily grind and keep on working. The Fluke T6-600 is a great affordable option that will take care of most meter needs. The Fluke 378FC is what our “Super-Tech’s use to troubleshoot more advanced pumps that use solar power, when were testing for pump efficiency inrush/starting current, or industrial 3-phase pump equipment.
A decent pair of sturdy wire cutters/strippers are essential when cleaning up wires with poor connections. This new Knipex tool combines comfy handles, wire strippers (#20-#10), wire cutters, and plier jaws at the tip in a hard to beat combo! Alternately there are the Knipex Electrical Installation Pliers that are very similar, but have #12/14 wire stripping slots and a crimping slot.
A set of tools is lacking without a decent screwdriver. This Wiha 11 in 1 is perfect for a pump technician because it also incorporates several common sized nut drivers that are needed for adjusting pressure switch settings and some screws in electrical panels.
One tool that sets well pump technicians apart from plumbers or electricians is their ability to check the depth of a well or the amount of water in your well. This is often key to understanding water shortages or problems with a pump that is underperforming and needs to be replaced. There are several devices that can be used for this job, but the most common is a “well sounder” or “well probe”. Most pump technicians will carry well sounders that can go to 800 feet or more, but a well sounder that long isn’t necessary for wells that are not that deep. Good well sounders give an audible and visual alert when the probe enters the water, have a graduated measurement so depth can be measured, and a stainless steel probe that is smooth, skinny and heavy enough to give let the operator know when the probe is resting on the bottom or dangling in the water above the bottom of the well.