How to DIY Install a Well Pump with Poly Pipe

We'll go over the process in 5 easy steps below. It used to be that you had to pay top dollar to hire a pump contractor to install a submersible well pump, but now with flexible poly pipe, lighter motors, and easy-to-assemble kits, it's simple for you to install a water pump yourself and save a bunch of money!  DIY( Do-it-yourself) can be broken down into a few easy- to-digest steps.

Tools You'll Need

• Wire stripper/crimper
• Screwdrivers (flat & phillips head)
• Electrical tape (for attaching wires to drop-pipe)
• Teflon tape for tight thread connections (recommended)
• Two adjustable wrenches
• Heat gun or torch for the water-proof heat shrink wire sleeves (if you use a lighter, be careful!)

Necessary Equipment: wire, pipe, & rope. These depend on the depth you set your well pump.

• Pump wire extension: use 10-3+G wire (3 conductors, 1 ground) to extend the pump wire to your desired depth up to 550 feet; if you are setting your pump more than 550 ft deep, use 8-3+G wire instead to reduce voltage drop.
• Pipe: attach to your pump end to reach desired depth (black poly pipe is most common and easiest to work with). We recommend using 160 psi–rated poly pipe for depths up to 300 ft.
• Polypropylene rope (doesn’t decay): cut to desired depth and attach to the pump as a safety line. The pipe and the wire will also hold the pump, but it is preferable to allow the rope to take the pressure off the pipe and wires once you’ve dropped the pump

Recommended Equipment

Something to seal the top of your well casing. For freeze prone areas, use a pitless adapter with a well cap. If you're in a warmer climate a well seal with associated thru-plumbing is your best bet.

RPS has all of the main parts necessary for installing a water pump available on our site.

   We do sell a ‘One and Done’ kit in three sizes (100’, 200’ and 300’), which includes all of these additional items already assembled, packed together and shipped directly to your doorstep. This can be very convenient if you live a long way from a hardware store or are short on time.We love the DIY spirit of our customers and we’ll help you with whatever solution works best for you!

Step 1: Connect Plumbing and Pipe  

The well pump’s outlet is FNPT female pipe thread. You’ll attach a threaded nipple and external check valve, which stops water from back flowing. See the below diagram for an example of how to connect each piece of plumbing. 

Then, you'll push one end of the poly pipe over the barb end of the hose barb. 

Step 2: Wire Spice

RPS Water Pumps utilizes brushless AC motors powered by 3+ G submersible pump cable - usually at least 12 or 10 gauge. The pump has a 6 foot pigtail of wire that needs to be extended to your desired length, enough to reach the location of the starter box above ground. Included in your kit are crimps and heat shrinks for extending the pump wire to the necessary length. One end of the pump wire will be spliced to the end of the pump, and the other end will connect directly to screw terminals in the pump control box.

Step 3: Attach Safety Rope

You’ll attach a safety rope to the stainless steel eyelet at the top of the pump. The safety rope will be taped together with the pump wire and pipe as a bundle, wrapping electrical tape every 20 feet.   

Step 4: Lower the Pump Down Well

Now that you have a submersible pump connected to a "umbilical cord" bundle of wire, pipe, rope and plumbing. 

Install a Well Seal at the top of your well, thread the pump wire and safety rope through the auxiliary hole, and connect piping to the thru-plumbing,  In freezing climates, we recommend using a pitless adapter to keep pipes underground.

Step 5: Set Up Control Box + Pressure Switch 

Your RPS Starter Box is the hub between your pump and breaker box). The Starter Box is waterproof and can be mounted anywhere near the well head or on a post. You’ll wire the 3 hot wires and 1 ground wire from 220V pumps into this box. 

If you’re using a pressure tank, make sure you wire up a pressure switch in between the starter box and the breaker box. A pressure switch will shut your well pump off when the pressure tank is full, and turn the pump on when the tank needs more water.