How to pull a pump out of a well: advice from professionals. What to do if the pump is stuck in the well Deep pump is stuck in the well

Lifting a deep-well pump installed in a well to organize water supply to suburban area, the event is necessary. It is produced when it is necessary to carry out repairs or maintenance, and when the situation arises when it is completely replaced with a new one. As practice shows, this difficult operation does not always end successfully. If the pump is stuck in the well, and this is precisely the case that leads to lifting failure, then many owners country houses When faced with it for the first time, they begin to panic. Because they don't know what to do.

The situation is truly unusual. It seems that there is a well, there is a cable by which you need to pull the pump, but it does not move. Therefore, the question arises of how to pull the pump out of the well, what options are available, is it possible to carry out a rescue operation with your own hands, or is it better to turn to professionals. Let's figure it out.

Causes of jamming

Basically, all the reasons leading to this difficult situation are a consequence of the human factor. If technological issues were violated during the installation of the pump, then there is a high probability that already in the process of dismantling it, such a difficult situation will appear, or rather, a big problem. Here are a few reasons why a pump might get stuck in a well.

Electricity supply cable sagged

Experts note that this is the most common type of pump jamming. The thing is that the pumping unit itself is supplied with three flexible products: cable, electrical cable and a hose through which water is supplied upward from the well.

So the cable can be twisted around the body of a submersible pump, a loop is formed that increases the diameter of the installation itself. And since there is a very small distance between the pump and the walls of the well, the cable protrudes like a wedge. Moreover, the loop is two cable diameters on one diameter of the pump housing. Therefore, when lifting, you should not pull the equipment too hard, as this can lead to tearing of both the cable and the cable. After which it will no longer be possible to get the stuck pump out. We will have to fill in the well and drill a new one next to this one. And these are unforeseen, quite serious expenses, both temporary and financial.

What can be done in this case. Option one is to try to push the pump back into the depths. The main thing here is to free its body from the wound cable. Sometimes it works the first time. True, experts believe that this situation It is better to prevent it than to try to subsequently remove the entire installation with great difficulty, wasting time and effort. Therefore, it is recommended to attach the electrical cable to the hose using special clamps. The hose is always in a tense state, so it will not allow the cable to sag and fall below its mounting level.

Attention! You cannot attach the cable to the cable. During the tensioning process, the clamps may break.

The pump must be lifted carefully, carefully monitoring the tension of the three flexible elements. In this case, both the hose, the cable, and the cable must come out of the well at the same time.

Siltation of the well

Often, wells or wells are left unused for a long time. To start them up again, you must first check the pump, clean it and, if necessary, carry out repairs. Therefore, you need to remove the pump from the well.

And since it did not work for a long time, its walls probably silted up or collapsed. That is, a soil plug has formed on top of the pump, which is very difficult to overcome. What to do in this situation.

Experts recommend not pulling the pump upward. It's useless. In addition, the cable may come off, which will lead to the closure of the well. The optimal solution is to loosen the installation, while either raising it or lowering it. Since the pump is installed in a water layer, the water itself, gradually penetrating between the silt deposits and the pump body, begins to work as a lubricant. Plus, this is how you can wash away silt and soil deposits. A little more patience and you can pull the unit out. The main thing is not to break the cable and other networks connected to the device.

There is another radical option. You just need to pump water into the well under high pressure, which will wash away the mud plug. You can pump it through a hose with a pump or invite a fire truck. But, as in the previous case, it is better to prevent such an unpleasant situation. It is necessary to monitor the well and carry out periodic preventive measures. And it will always be ready for use. By the way, the frequency of prevention is once every three years. Not that often, so it's best to spend a few hours on it.

It should be noted that siltation also occurs in working wells, especially if they are drilled in calcareous soils. To avoid this, you need to clean the well more often.

Mechanical reasons

In this situation, there are mainly flaws casing pipe. Namely:

  • Due to the movement of soil layers, a dent may form in the pipe, concave inward.
  • Or maybe its edge will be flattened in the same way.
  • A poorly executed weld can create a bulge that can cause jamming.
  • If instead threaded connection welding was carried out using couplings, which disrupted the alignment of the connected pipes.

The rise of the pump will be accompanied by a mechanical shock and a characteristic sound. It is simply impossible to confuse it with something else. At the same time, the pump goes down easily, but does not go up. By the way, the cause of this problem could be a tool or part of a fastener that has fallen down. In such a situation, it will not be possible to remove the pump from the well on your own. Don't even try. You will have to call specialists who, using special equipment, will try to solve the problem.

Someone claims that in this case it is possible to pull a deep submersible pump out of a well by rotating it around its axis. A questionable decision that will most likely lead nowhere.

  • You can’t skimp on the fastening cable. Perfect option, if the cable and its fastening to the pump are made of of stainless steel. Such a device will withstand heavy loads and last a long time.
  • Do not use cables or hoses made from pieces. The connection is the weakest points that break most often.
  • Needs correct alignment when assembling pumping unit and wells their diameters. A small gap between them creates more problems. Of course, it is necessary to take into account that small pumps are more expensive than their larger counterparts. But if you take into account the cost of a new well and deep-well pump, it will be many times more expensive than buying an expensive pumping unit.
  • It is mandatory to install a cap at the entrance to the well. It will ensure that the hole is tightly closed, which means that no foreign object will get inside the well.

The problem of a stuck pump in a well is not as rare as it might seem. Craftsmen have been using it for a long time different ways to overcome this obstacle. Here are just a few options for how to do the lift.

  • The broken cable must be pulled out; inside the well it is already useless. Then you need to lower the “cat” into the well, this is a metal device with three or four hooks. You should try to use the “cat” to catch the torn piece of cable or hose. If the hook catches on the place where the cable is attached to the pump, then this is a great success. But this happens very rarely.
  • Sometimes it becomes necessary to push the pump down and then try to lift it in the resulting void. To do this, you can use a crowbar that is attached to the cable; here you will need welding to first attach the rings to the crowbar, and then tie the cable to them. So, the crowbar is thrown down, it hits the pump body, thus pushing it down. It is clear that this method can be used if the pump has already become unusable and will need to be replaced with a new one. The fact that the depth of the pumping unit is small is also taken into account.
  • There is another option for pushing the installation into depth. This requires a thick-walled pipe of smaller diameter than the casing. An eyelet is welded on it, for example, from a nut, to which a separate cable is tied. Next, a cable, hose and cable are passed through the pipe, connected to the pump inside the well. After which you need to sharply lower the pipe into the well so that it hits the pump itself. Under its weight, the installation will begin to move down. Then you can try to pull out both the pipe and the pump at the same time. Auxiliary pipe length: 1-1.5 m. Therefore, the weight of the entire pulled load can be more than 50 kg.
  • If the cable is not broken, then you need to tighten it to the limit. Then tap it with a hammer or a piece of pipe. If there is any slack, it needs to be tightened. And do this until the pump can be pulled out easily.

By the way, the removed pump needs to be cleaned with water pressure and checked for serviceability. How effective are these methods? Many of them are actually very effective. It’s not for nothing that they are recommended by home craftsmen who have already tried them, probably more than once. But why do they use these methods without calling specialists with equipment and tools? It's all about the high cost of the services offered. Unfortunately, calling a specialist is sometimes equivalent to drilling a new well and installing a deep-well pump with all connections. So is it worth starting all this? You can try to overcome the problem with your own hands and with small means.

Bottom line

It is not necessary to allow the pump to become jammed inside the well. You need to do everything possible to keep it working and the pump itself to work. And, as mentioned above, every three years you need to clean the well, pull out the pump, check its fastening, technical condition, if there is a need to replace worn parts with new ones. Often, specialists even change the power cable, because in difficult operating conditions it is the cable that fails first.

The cause of a big headache for some private home owners is pumping equipment stuck in the well. That is why it is important to know how to remove the pump from the well correctly. If you do it incorrectly, the structure may be damaged. In addition, in this way it will be possible to destroy the well.

Items that will be needed:

  1. Cable.
  2. Clamps.
  3. A piece of steel pipe.

To remove the pumping equipment, you will need to free it from silt or sand. You can clean the well yourself using special pumps vibration type. This procedure must be carried out with great care, taking into account the fact that the pump may become clogged. The sequence of actions is as follows:

  1. The pump power cable is disconnected from the network.
  2. Vibrating equipment is lowered to the bottom of the well.
  3. The second pump with a hose connected to it is lowered into the water so that it can draw it in. This device should be located above the first pump.
  4. The pumps are turned on and then smoothly lowered as the contaminated water is pumped out of the well.
  5. The jammed pump is pulled out smoothly.

Causes of jamming

The reasons why it is not possible to quickly pull the pump out of the well may be different. The most common situations are:

Scheme for cleaning a well from accumulated sludge using pumps.

  1. The cable is sagging.
  2. The well was covered with silt.
  3. Significant damage to the pipe walls occurred.
  4. Any foreign elements have entered the pipe.

Lifting the pump from the well will require a lot of effort and special training, so you will need to be patient.

The gap between the pipe walls and the equipment may be only a few centimeters, so it will not be possible to see what happened without the use of special equipment. You will need to figure out the problem based on the symptoms.

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Elimination methods

A significant obstacle when removing a stuck pump can be the small diameter of the well.

The most common and easily fixed problem is when the pump gets stuck during lifting and does not pull up despite great effort. The thing is that the cable sagged, as a result of which it got wrapped around the pump structure. In this case, you will need to carefully lower the pumping equipment down, identify the weak part of the cable and lift the pump again. While performing these actions, you need to ensure that the cable, cable and cord do not sag.

Avoiding cable sagging is quite simple. It must be secured to the cord with clamps. For any lifting of pumping equipment, they will need to be removed and then new ones installed. You should know that these are simple steps compared to the effort required to pull out the pump.

If you cannot get the pump out of the well at sandy base, this means that the well is silted, the pump is held back by sediment, which in most cases reaches two or more meters. In this case, you will need to “swing” the structure using a cable. It will need to be pulled up and then lowered until the pump can be pulled out of the sludge. Water will begin to enter the gap, and the sediment will be washed away after a while. After this, the pump will need to be carefully pulled out. This problem can arise if the well is not cleaned for 3-5 years. Regular cleaning will reduce the likelihood of silting of the well to a minimum.

Proper placement of equipment in the well will help prevent sediment accumulation on the pipes and pump end.

It may also be that the pump cannot be pulled out of the well onto the limestone. Wells on limestone are not subject to ordinary siltation, so this means that “reverse siltation” has occurred. The reason is that the equipment is too deep, causing water to stagnate. Calcium and iron salts in the water will combine with oxygen and turn into sediment, which will gradually accumulate on the pipes and the end of the pump. In this case, there is no need to try to flush the water source to get rid of the damper. The sediment is dense, so you will need to move the pump slowly and carefully. The equipment must be turned on so that the water can quickly erode the sediment. In the future, attention should be paid not only to periodic flushing of the well, but also to the thoughtful placement of equipment in it.

If the pump gets stuck in the middle of the well and a knocking sound is heard, this means that the movement of the pump is hampered by damage to the pipe, which can occur for the following reasons:

  1. The joint has come apart.
  2. A dent has appeared.
  3. The edge is flattened.

In this case, you will need to carefully start rotating the pump. The equipment may end up in a dangerous place, but there can be no guarantee that the problem will be resolved successfully.

If the pump suddenly gets stuck in the middle of the well, this means that some element (bolt, stone, etc.) fell into the well and fell into the gap between the pump and the wall, causing the equipment to jam. In this case, it is best to turn to professionals, because it is very difficult to solve this problem on your own.

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Lifting the unit

Owners country houses in an attempt to save some money Money When using the services of specialists, trying to pull the pump out of the well on their own, they may perform incorrect actions. Most often the following is done:

All actions to remove a stuck pump must be carried out using a strong metal cable, capable of handling heavy lifting.

  1. Too much effort, as a result of which the cable most often breaks. All actions to remove a stuck pump must be carried out carefully. Even when installing the equipment, you will need to buy a high-quality steel cable that can withstand heavy loads.
  2. Using hooks and other devices to pull out a pump with a broken mount. If they come off and remain in the well, then the task of pulling out a jammed pump will become even more difficult.
  3. Attempts to move a stuck pump using a crowbar attached to a rope or cable. This tool can easily destroy a well. In this case, it will be almost impossible to restore its usual operation.

You should know that there are some tricks that help you remove the pump without the help of specialists. For example, you can select a cable, tension it and secure it. From time to time the cable needs to be tapped. If slack begins to appear, the cable must be selected, tensioned, and then tapped again. These steps need to be performed for several days.

You can also try pushing the pumping equipment down using a weight. To do this, you need to take a piece of steel pipe, which is approximately 1 m long. A metal “eye” is welded to the top of the pipe, onto which a separate cable is fixed. After this, the cable, wire and hose of the equipment will need to be inserted inside this pipe.

To avoid pump suction, it is necessary to monitor the serviceability of the caisson and the quality of the water coming from the well.

The device is lowered down so that the pump can move under its weight. When this happens, you will need to carefully remove all the elements from the well at the same time. It is worth considering that the weight of the structure can reach 50 kg.

If the pump is stuck tightly in the well, then there is no way to get it out. In this case, all that remains is to turn to professionals. If you use special devices, for example, an underwater camera, then they will be able to accurately determine the problem and find The best decision. However, you need to remember that these services are expensive. In addition, not every well with a jammed pump can be repaired.


07.07.2015

If a deep-well pump breaks and gets stuck, it is always unpleasant. In addition, such a problem is not always easily and successfully solved. Often the pump can become jammed so tightly that it will not lift or push through. Similar situation may result in the loss of both the most expensive pump and an equally expensive well. To exclude such an outcome of events, preventive measures should be carried out at least once every three to four years. The frequency depends on the type of water intake used, the condition of the water-lifting water supply system, and the safety material. If you still need to get the pump out of the well, then this should not become a significant difficulty, since the Istok company is able to successfully solve even the most complex problem.

How to get a stuck pump out of a well?

When a decision is made to lift a well pump from a water intake on your own, the consequences can be very different. Moreover, many of them end up even worse than before the work began.

So, the most common negative situations when a stuck pump is lifted from a well:

  1. Sagging occurs during lifting electric wire. It provokes the formation of loops that overlap the pump housing. As a result, the cable becomes jammed between the walls of the casing and the pump casing. This situation will end in failure even when using a winch. There is only one outcome - a break in the cable fastening.

To exclude such an outcome, you should fasten the electrical wire with bundles to the water-lifting pipeline.

If a deep-well pump is lifted not by a cable, but by a pipe or wire, then it is necessary to control the simultaneous exit of all elements from the casing so that none of them are weakened. Otherwise, you can get a very disastrous result.

  1. A shallow well (most often “in the sand”) has not been used for a long time. During this period, active siltation occurred. Sometimes the sludge level can reach up to two meters above the pump position. In this case, when you try to remove the pump, a jam occurs. In this case, you can try the “rocking” method. If you manage to move the pump slightly and water penetrates into the resulting cavities, then the chance of removing the equipment while continuing to swing increases.
  2. When trying to remove the pump from the well, it suddenly rests and does not move upward. There are no sagging wires or cables. In this case, a casing shear situation may occur. You can only remove it on your own if you try to slowly move it upward while simultaneously rotating the pipeline around its axis. Perhaps he will slip around the obstacle and continue moving.
  3. Foreign objects falling from above. In such a case, when the movement begins, stopping occurs immediately. This is a very complex situation and will most likely require video diagnostics. Basically, independent attempts lead to the cable breaking. It is best to immediately contact professionals and solve the problem as quickly and painlessly as possible. The specialists of the Istok company are able to quickly remove the pump from the well and the price will definitely please you.
  4. A situation in which the cable broke and the pump fell into the well. In this case, the internal cavity is also examined with special video equipment to determine its location and condition. In this case, it is necessary to determine the possibility of capture by fishing tools.

Professional removal of stuck pumps from wells

The Istok company specializes in servicing water intakes of all types. We are confident that proper maintenance of pipes and pumping equipment can significantly extend the service life of a structure and prevent various types of breakdowns that lead to lengthy, expensive repairs and restoration. It should be understood that every well needs professional maintenance. Otherwise, unprofessional actions lead to unnecessary breakdowns and defects.

If you have already encountered one of the listed problems, then immediately call our company. We will help you remove the pump from the well, service it, restore water supply and do everything necessary to prevent the problem from recurring. Contacting our organization facilitates fast, high-quality work with minimal costs.

Modern technological equipment allows you to remove pumps in even the most difficult situations. Statistics show that almost 80% of lost wells are associated with inept extraction attempts. We hasten to assure you that only our specialists know reliably how to remove a jammed pump.

The situation with stuck equipment is very common. The first thing that comes to the owner’s mind is the idea of ​​self-extraction. But we strongly advise you not to do this, because it’s easy to make the situation worse. Most right action specialists from the Istok company will be called. As a result, you will receive prompt assistance at an adequate price.

How to place an order at Istok?

To avoid unprofessionalism, you should inquire in advance about the qualifications of the master who accepts the order and plans to visit the site. In this case, you can confidently ask simple questions:

  • What are our technical capabilities?
  • What skills do our craftsmen have and what is their experience?
  • What difficulties might workers encounter during extraction?
  • What guarantees can we provide?

We will answer each of them with confidence and professionalism. Many years of experience activity allows us to provide a guarantee for the quality of the services provided, and hundreds of satisfied clients are the guarantee of our qualified activities.

Don't delay solving the problem, call right now!

Ecology of consumption. Lifehack: Submersible pumps used to supply water from wells drilled on site require periodic lifting...

Submersible pumps used to supply water from wells drilled on site require periodic lifting to preventive maintenance and minor repairs. Also, the rise of pumping equipment is also associated with the replacement of an outdated unit with a more powerful device.

However, the operation of removing a submersible pump from a well pipe is not always successful. It also happens that the pump gets stuck tightly in the pipe. Well owners who are faced with such a problem for the first time do not know how to remove the pump from the well without breaking the cable.

Reasons for pump jamming in the well body

Basically, all the reasons leading to the occurrence of this unpleasant problem are due to the human factor. When, during pump installation, the technological requirements for fastening elements of pumping equipment are violated, and due attention is not paid to their workmanship, it is difficult to expect a favorable outcome during pump dismantling.

1. Sagging electrical cable

For this reason it happens greatest number cases of equipment jamming. This happens by biting a slack electrical cable in a loop that is tightened around the pump body.

In this situation, you should not pull the device with all your might, as this will not lead to success. But what you pull on may break. Then it will be difficult to do anything on your own.

Experts who have lifted pumps from wells more than once advise in this case to try pushing the device back. Repeating the attempts, try to feel the slack and at this moment continue to slowly rise.

In general, “it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it.” In order to avoid encountering sagging electric cables in your practice, it is necessary to fasten it with special clamps to a pipe or hose at the installation stage of the system. Moreover, it is not recommended to attach an electric cable to the cable, since when it is tensioned, the clamps may fly off.

When lifting the pump, you must also ensure that the cable and hose exit simultaneously to the surface. There should be no slack in either the cable, the cable, or the hose.

2. Siltation of the well as a result of long-term downtime

There are often cases in practice when a long-term shutdown of a well leads to severe siltation. The resulting layer of sludge becomes an insurmountable obstacle to the pump. When a pump is stuck in a well for this reason, experts recommend starting to rock it, during which the device is either raised or lowered.

What does this lead to? Water may gradually begin to erode silt deposits. In the end, it is possible that the path up will become clear, allowing the pump to be removed outside. The main thing is not to rush things and do not be overly active in order to prevent the pump from jamming.

There are also non-standard way combating silted wells. It is necessary to involve firefighters in solving the problem, who, with the help of a hose lowered into the well, will be able to wash away the silt deposits. The released pump will move smoothly upward.

To prevent the process of silting of a well, it is necessary to carry out preventive cleaning, the frequency of which should be once every three years.

3. Solid obstacle - complex barrier

There may be a solid obstacle in the path of the pump movement, which will act as a wedge. Such a barrier could be:

  • a dent in the pipe caused by soil movement;
  • flattened edge of the pipe;
  • burrs from a sloppy weld;
  • a defect in the assembly of a sedimentary column, in which instead of a threaded connection of pipes, they are welded, allowing axial displacement.

Meeting such an obstacle is accompanied by a characteristic hard knock, while the downward movement of the pump occurs freely.

Is it possible and how to pull the pump out of the well in this situation? There are known cases when rotation of the pump with the help of a pipe around its axis helps to go around an obstacle that stands in the way. However, a 100% probability of freeing the movement of the device is not guaranteed. This could be a one-time success. But it's worth a try, in case specific situation the problem will be solved this way.

A tool, fastener part, or other foreign object that accidentally falls into the well can also become a solid obstacle. In this case, the pump stops abruptly and unexpectedly during ascent. This happens when a solid object gets into the gap between the well wall and the pump, which leads to jamming. In this case, the downward movement is free, and the upward jamming intervals vary depending on the selection of the cable. The object will not be able to slip through, the gap is too narrow. Therefore, experts advise stopping and calling specialists. The special equipment they have is capable of removing the interference from the well.

4. Reverse siltation effect

This effect is observed in wells drilled in limestone soils. As a result of long-term operation, a sedimentary layer forms above the pump location, turning into a “plug”. To stop this process, clean the well every three years.

  • A stuck pump in a well with a broken cable as a result of the applied efforts can be pulled out metal device with pins, popularly called “cat”. Hooking the pump directly is considered great luck. Most likely, you can grab the end of a cable or hose while trying to pull the equipment up.
  • To push down a stuck pump, some inventors manage to use a crowbar tied to a cable. The main thing is to tie the crowbar tightly so that when you throw it into the well, you don’t leave it there. Of course, this can be done if the old pump is no longer intended to be used, because the probability of its damage is very high. It may work at a shallow depth of the pump.
  • Weld an “ear” to a meter-long section of pipe. After passing the cable, hose and cable through the pipe, lower the pipe on a separate cable into the well. Under the pressure of its weight, the pump can slide down and hang freely on the cable. Next, the pipe and pump are simultaneously pulled out of the well. Since the weight of the structure can reach 50 kg, the work must be carried out with an assistant.
  • If the pump suspension has not yet been torn off when trying to forcefully remove the equipment from the well, you can fix it taut and periodically tap it. If any slack occurs in the cable, re-tension it and tap again. These actions can be carried out over several days. This is a method for those who are especially patient, but in some cases it is crowned with success.

What pushes people to invent in various ways solutions to the problem with a stuck pump? The answer is simple: the high cost of services from companies specializing in this area.In some cases, their cost reaches the cost of installing a new well. Therefore, in order to save your budget, you need to do everything possible in advance to prevent the pump from jamming.

1. Do not skimp on the quality of the cable used to suspend the submersible pump. It is advisable to purchase a cable and fastenings for it made of stainless steel.

2. Try not to use pieces of hoses and cables spliced ​​together inside the well. After all, during lifting, these weak points can separate, the pieces can bend and jam the rising device.

3. It is advisable to buy pumps with a minimum diameter in order to increase the gap between the walls of the well and the equipment casing. It is clear that pumps with a small thickness are more expensive than their larger counterparts. However, if you compare the difference in the price of pumping equipment with the cost of a new well, then buying a thinner device becomes not so unprofitable. Replacing the pump in the well will reduce the likelihood of the device jamming again.

4. Install a factory-made head on the well that fits tightly to the walls of the well pipe. This part will prevent debris and various random objects from getting inside the well.

And do not forget to carry out preventive cleaning of the well. published

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It may be necessary to remove a well pump submerged tens of meters for various reasons. And during the ascent, an unpleasant situation often arises when the unit gets stuck or, even worse, falls down. What to do if the pump is stuck in the well and how to lift it in the easiest and most convenient way in a safe way? There are several reasons for such troubles, which will determine the choice of actions to remove equipment. Under no circumstances should you panic and use brute force: this may result in damage or loss of equipment (the cable may break and the unit may fall down), water intake equipment, and even complete loss of the well.

Borehole pumps are manufactured in such a way that their geometry matches as closely as possible cylindrical shape casing pipe and its diameter. The average diameter of the pumping equipment body is 10-15 cm, and usually there is a small distance between the walls of the well and the unit - only 2-4 cm. Therefore, pumps can get stuck quite easily.

Fig.1 Modern borehole pumps

How to get the pump out of the well if it is stuck? It all depends on the reasons why the equipment remains inside despite efforts made to remove it. The most common factors that prevent the smooth removal of pumping equipment are:

  • wrapping a broken or sagging cable around the equipment casing;
  • siltation due to prolonged lack of maintenance;
  • various damage to the casing;
  • objects falling between the walls of the unit body and the well.

Before pulling the pump out of the well, it is recommended to observe the situation while attempting to remove the equipment. Based on some indirect signs, it is possible to determine why the unit cannot be removed outside. If possible, a special video camera is used, which is immersed in the well and transmits the image to a PC monitor, allowing you to determine exactly why it is impossible to remove the unit.

Cable wrapping

When lifting stuck pumping equipment, the power cable is often in a free state without additional fixation, which is why it sags. When removing equipment, the broken wire is often wrapped around the housing, forming a loop, which makes lifting the unit up impossible. The main sign that winding has occurred is the complete immobility of the unit, which remains in place even with considerable effort when trying to lift it.


Fig.2 A wrapped pump cable is one of the common reasons problems when extracting from the well

There is no need to forcefully pull or pull the cable: it will break and the device may be lost forever. This problem can be solved simply: you need to lower the equipment back to its previous depth, loosen the cable to increase the diameter of the loop, and then carefully pull the pump up again. In most cases, the equipment is pulled out on the first or second try.

Siltation of the well

If the well has not been cleaned for a long time, then it is very likely that the pump has become stuck in a layer of silt, and it will be blocked by a thick layer of sand, clay or limestone, which can be up to several meters thick. To remove the pump in such a situation, you need to be patient.

The method of releasing equipment from under a thick layer of sediment takes time: it is necessary to slowly remove it, gently “swinging” and moving the cable up and down so that particles of sand or clay gradually sag along the edges of the case. Once the sediment is washed away with water, the pump can be easily removed. In the future, it is necessary to regularly clean the well to avoid re-sucking of the equipment into the sludge layer.

Damage to the casing wall

At long-term operation wells often experience various damages. If during lifting the pump gets stuck in any area, and when you try to lift it you feel a mechanical obstacle and hear the sound of impacts, then the problem is damage to the pipe. on her inner surface a dent, chip, weld divergence or other similar damage could form.

To safely remove the equipment, it must be rotated to allow it to clear the obstacle. However, in this case there is no guarantee that the pump will come out on its own. In some cases, the situation may turn out to be hopeless, and it will be necessary to drill a new well.

Hitting objects

If during the operation of a well some object falls into it - a bolt, a pebble - then this can firmly block the unit and, unfortunately, it is very difficult to cope with such a problem without the help of specialists. In most cases, you have to call a team with probing equipment. If you're lucky, specialists will offer the optimal solution, but most often you will have to sacrifice technology.

The pump came off and fell inside

If the cable holding the equipment breaks and submersible pump fell into a well, then careless and unprofessional actions on the part of the well owners can lead to irreparable consequences. Therefore, it is better in this case to also call specialists armed with special equipment and a set of cables for extraction. Even if you believe in your strength, lifting broken pumping equipment from the bottom of a well or well will be technically difficult.


Fig.3 Crane for removing the pump from the well

Since the depth of the wells is usually several tens of meters, for lifting you will need a specially shaped load, a crane or one or two winches, a long thin cable, special gripping devices (cats), metal wire, and canvas gloves. During the lifting process, it will be necessary to take care of protection against falling foreign objects.

All this requires a balanced and thoughtful approach, and optimal solution in 99% of cases there will be a call to specialists. Don’t risk the well, but trust to raise it fallen pump professionals!