Can You Use A Pool Pump For A Well Pump? Know The Truth!

A swimming pool pump is an integrated appliance to keep the pool’s water safe and clean. As it does the swimmingly job, many homeowners tend to give it a second job and wish to utilize it to remove excess water from the well. But is it a safe decision? Can you use a pool pump for a well pump?

A pool pump can only circulate water from the same water level or 1-2 feet deeper. It won’t be able to pump water from a deeper well. So, there are some limitations to it. Initially, it seems like money-saving as the pool pump is a flexible tool suitable for versatile use. Hence, it can eliminate the need for well pump.

Read more to learn the possibility and consequences of your thoughts and decide intelligently.

Can You Use A Pool Pump for A Well Pump?

As we’ve mentioned earlier, you can’t use a pool pump for a well pump. A pool pump doesn’t have the efficiency to pull off the same caliber as a well pump. So there are some limitations you can understand, right? Let’s get to it.

The Limitations of Using a Pool Pump for a Well Pump

The key intention of designing a pool pump is to filter, sanitize, and circulate the water in pools. But pulling water from a deep well is the opposite of maintaining a pool. The functions that make the pool pump incapable of being used as a well pump are:

Lack of Power

Circulating water in the pool doesn’t require much power. Therefore, a pool pump with a 3/4 HP to 1HP motor is enough for any shape of pool, whether it’s rectangular, round, oval, or kidney-shaped.

Though you can use a more powerful pool pump, it’ll only consume extra energy and put additional pressure on the filters and pipes.

But pulling water from a well requires around 1/2 to 2 HP. So, a typical pool pump won’t be an appropriate choice.

A pool pump can only pull water from 1 to 2 feet deep, while a well pump can pull from 10 to 400 feet deep.  Plus, a pool pump is mostly preferable for moving water from the same level, it wouldn’t be wise to let it pump more than 15 ft.

Water Flow

Apart from dealing with the water in the well pit, a pump needs to handle the water flowing into the pit while priming water from a well. The water flow rate rises along with the volume. It means the pool pump won’t keep running for long.

Sucking Sand

Most swimming pool bases are tiled and undoubtedly contain fresh water. But there can be a sand bottom when it comes to wells, especially shallow wells. And during priming water, the sand can shuck through the pump, causing a clog.

Tiresome Operation

It’s quite easy to circulate water from the pool to the desired distance using a pool pump. But the depth of the well will make the same operation time-consuming and will cause lots of effort.

It’s especially true for running the pump, where you’ll need plenty of water and a degree of persistence to make the pump and hose full of water.

The most challenging step here is putting the output hose in a large bucket full of water and dropping the inlet hose into the well. Then you have to turn on the pool pump before all the water comes out of the bucket. It means the starting and re-starting tasks will be much more difficult.

Consequences of Using A Pool Pump for A Well Pump

Utilizing a pool pump for a well pump can damage your appliance. The following are a few likely situations you may face if keen to do so:

The Pool Filter Won’t Function   

If the well is dirty, it’ll clog the pool filter and prevent it from working efficiently. It can also cause a low-pressure gauge reading.

Though you can restore the pump’s performance by cleaning the skimmer basket, it won’t be an effective solution. The reason is that the dirty water will clog the basket continuously and interfere with the water flow. 

Inconvenient Operation

Due to circulating water from deeper than the capability, the pump can cause low-pressure operation. It means the machine won’t pull the water as you desire and may cause other disturbances as well.

The best way to check whether the low-pressure issue is resolved or not is that read the pressure gauge. If you find the pressure is below 12 PSI, it’s a clear sign of a low-pressure issue.

Remember, the pressure gauge of the pool pump should read 12 to 17 PSI to keep the pool pump running conveniently.

Weird Noises

Using a pool pump in sand well can also produce irritating noises. The clogged suction line or skimmer generates these sounds and will test your patience. Sometimes, the pool pump creates loud noise due to the worn bearing. Read about how to block pool pump noises

If the sand or debris from the well reaches the impeller, the machine can make a humming noise.

FAQs

What pump is best for use in a well?

When searching for the right pump for the well, it’s worth considering the depth of the well. A shallow well jet pump or a centrifugal pump is the perfect choice for a well that is less than 25 feet deep. But if the well is 25 to 110 feet deep, go for a jet pump. If the well is even deeper, a submersible pump will be your best option.

How big of a pump is required for a well?

The size of a pump is referred to in GPM. An 8-12 GPM pump is preferable for a home with 3 to 4- bedrooms. In general, one GPM is considerable for every water fixture in the home to measure the right size pumps. Common home fixtures include dishwashers, clothes washers, showers, and water spigots.

Can I use my pool pump for a pond?

Yes, but pool pumps are noisier than pond pumps. To keep the noise at a reasonable level, you’ll have to house the machine in a shed. Plus, it’s also essential to maintain the pool pump’s balance at the pond’s water level for efficient operation.

Final Words

So, can you use a pool pump for a well pump? Typically, pool pumps are suitable for light-duty work like pushing water a minimal distance upward and downward from a pool.

Conversely, a well pump comes with a heavy-duty design to pump water from hundreds of feet of depth. Though a new well pump can cost you hundreds of dollars, it will be better to use the appliance for what it was intended for.