Bison Hand Pump

[BurghGirl]

Well we finally got our power back after the snow storm.  Just wanted to let you know that the $1500 Bison hand Pump we had installed was a total bust.

They said it wouldn't freeze, but it sure enough did...I had to melt snow to water the livestock.  What a complete and utter waste of money.

[ArmaGoof]

Good lord!  Before I realized what category this was in, I thought I'd be reading about some prosthetic device to aid a masturbating buffalo and expected to see it in Off Topic and Humor!  

[BurghGirl]

I guess that really is one way to look at it...a hand job for sure (from my hand to theirs) because I paid for satisfaction, and all I really got was a lick and a promise.

It sucked and I didn't like it one bit.   

[jmhpolar]

Would love to hear their logic on why it "wouldn't freeze" - anything with water in it that gets cold enough will allow said water to freeze.

[Suspect Zero]

Interesting....the water should not stay up at the head. It should slowly drain back down below the freeze line.

[BurghGirl]

I was thinking, if I built a box around it, if that might help it not freeze.  Maybe out of styrofoam?  Any ideas?

[jmhpolar]

I was thinking, if I built a box around it, if that might help it not freeze.  Maybe out of styrofoam?  Any ideas?

I have heard of folks doing this with wellheads but if it's too cold you might want to wire a low-watt incandescent bulb or even a small heating pad to run inside the box as well.  If it's well insulated either one should should generate sufficient heat.

Not the best situation but just insulating the wellhead with no supplemental heat will work only down to a certain temp (I don't know what that is) because then you're depending on maintaining ambient and/or ground high temps throughout.

I'm wondering along with Zero - shouldn't the head have an anti-lock valve to let the water drain back into the well?

[Suspect Zero]

It should drain back, I don't know how it was setup but if you have no alternative you can drill a tiny and I mean tiny hole in the lift pipe about 4ft below the ground level. This will allow the water to drain back to there = no more freezing.

1st I'd call Bison. 

[spacecase0]

I always thought that they meant that it would not break when it froze, \
I second the idea of calling them.

[Onidah]

Here is what the installation instructions, which are available at http://www.bisonpumps.com/deep-well-hand-pump-installation.htm, say:

Additional Installation Tips:

1) If you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures, be sure to drill an 1/8" hole in the 1 1/4" PVC pipe approximately 6' to 7' below the well adapter. If you experience freezing temperatures that could have a frost penetration deeper than 7', drill the hole lower on the 1 1/4" PVC pipe. (See Detail "A")

2) If you experience any deficiencies or malfunction of your Bison Deep Well Hand Pump, please call 1-800-339-2601 for assistance and answers to your specific questions or concerns.



My guess is that whoever installed the pump either didn't drill the hole or didn't drill it below the frost line.

[BurghGirl]

My guess is that whoever installed the pump either didn't drill the hole or didn't drill it below the frost line.

Thanks Onidah!!

I had the thing installed by a local well company since I lack the skills to do something like that by myself.  Now that I'm not so blindly PISSED OFF about it, I'll check into that little hole business.

That actually makes me feel a lot better.  I'd rather it be an error on my end then thinking that I wasted a lot of money on something that doesn't work when you need it.

You guys really do rock!