Irrigation Well

[Katodude]

So my irrigation well stopped working. It looks like both the bladder and pump are done. The pump is currently a Pentair Sta Right 1hp pump and the bladder is also a Pentair Pro-Source. When they cut the bladder off to drain it (it was full of water) a very slight amount of sand came out. Less than a hand full. The irrigation guy said that could be what blew out the pump and suggested that I have my well inspected or redone. Is a little bit of sand normal or do I really need to have the well checked out?

They also want $2300 to replace the pump and bladder and use a 1.5hp Goulds pump instead of the Pentair pump. Not sure if that is reasonable or not?

Do I bother to try to have the Pentair repaired? Should I insist on another Sta right or the Goulds a good pump?

The well and the whole installation was done in 2014, and the well was dug to about 130 ft deep.

Any advice?

 

[Toxophilite]

Don't know on price, haven't bought an above ground well pump since 1980. But, the last one I had, as every other person in our area, was a Goulds. It was still running in 2017 when I sold the house. 37 years. As for sand in the well, when that happens here to one it's usually one of 2 things. For older galvanized casings, it means the jointing somewhere finally rusted/corroded/electrolysis out, or, sanding in of the well pocket over time down at the casing bottom. PVC casings seem to never fail. For the latter, we run a long air hose to bottom and run air for a day off a compressor, letting it blow water and air out casing. Blows out the casing and blows a clear pocket.

 

[Katodude]

Turns out the well is fine. Got a new Goulds pump for $600 at a local irrigation supply house. Had a guy install it and fix a few sprinklers for $300. All in all not so bad.