5 Best Well Pump Reviews and Recommendations

Looking for the perfect shallow or deep well pump? We’ve researched and reviewed 5 of the top models available. Let’s see today five best well pump reviews and recommendations, together with a complete buying guide!

Get the right well pump for your home with our comprehensive guide. Today, we recommend the 5 best well pumps for both deep and shallow wells.

Our top picks cover a range of budgets, so you won’t have to look any further. Take a quick look at the comparison table below, where you can compare the key features before we review each model in more detail. There’s even a buyer’s guide that can make your choice a whole lot easier.

The Top Best Well Pump Reviews

In our opinion, these are the best deep and shallow well pumps available. Take a quick look at the comparison table to see how they compare in the key areas. There are more in-depth reviews of each model after the table.

The Best Shallow Well Pump Reviews of 2020

Read on to see what we think about each of the well pumps we selected for this guide. We’ve split the reviews into shallow and deep well pumps reviews. We’ll start with the best shallow pump reviews.

1. Red Lion PWJET50 – BEST SHALLOW WELL PUMP FOR THE MONEY

• Rating: 4.3
• Price: $
• Well Depth: up to 25′
• Water Flow Rate: 7 GPM

Red Lion makes some of the best shallow well pump models on the market. The Red Lion the PWJET50 is a unit that provides reliable performance at a generous price tag.

It’s a shallow well pump that can handle well depths of up to 25 feet. It is capable of pumping water at a maximum water flow rate of 7 gallons per minute (GPM). This isn’t a hugely powerful flow rate, and while this pump would work well in smaller homes (with just one bathroom), it wouldn’t be suited to anything bigger.

Red Lion PWJET50 Well Pump Tech Specs and Features

• It comes with a 30/50 psi pressure switch that is adjustable.
• It also has an automatic shut-off. This is to protect the 1/2 horsepower engine.
• It can run at two voltage levels of 115 and 230 Volts.
• It comes set to operate at 230V, but this is very easily changed.
• As for the pipe connections, the discharge pipe is 1″ NPT and the suction pipe is 1-1/4″ NPT.
• This is a heavy-duty pump, designed with a 115/230-volt motor with a capacitor.
• It features a corrosion and rust-resistant cast iron casing to ensure years of service and reliability.
• It has a glass-filled thermoplastic impeller and diffuser for high performance and efficient water flow.
• The PWJET50 comes with a 1-year warranty.

Bottom Line

If you have a small home with a shallow well, then this really is the perfect choice. Red Lion water pumps are reliable and efficient. This model, in particular, is also very well priced. If you’re looking for a cheap shallow well pump, then this might be the one!

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2. Red Lion RJS-100-PREM – OUR PICK for BEST SHALLOW WELL PUMP OVERALL

• Rating: 4.3
• Price: $$
• Well Depth: up to 25′
• Water Flow Rate: 23 GPM

This is another high-quality shallow well pump from Red Lion Pumps. However, this model features a much more powerful 1 HP engine and is capable of superior water flow rates.

It is actually rated at a maximum water flow rate of 23 GPM, which  is extremely powerful. This kind of flow rate would be more than capable of handling the water demands of even the very biggest of homes.

This model is part of the ‘Premium’ series and therefore meets the highest of demands in quality. It is contained in a strong and durable cast iron casing that is built to last for years and years. The unit comes with an impressive 3-year warranty, which is one of the best warranties we have seen in most well pumps.

Red Lion RJS-100-PREM Tech Specs and Features

Like the cheaper Red Lion PWJET50 model, it is also capable of handling dual voltages (115 & 230 Volts). The big difference here is in the quality of operation.

• This model includes a capacitor (which stores energy) allowing it to start with more power.
• It also features a glass-filled, thermoplastic diffuser and impeller. These increase performance, engine efficiency, and water flow rate.
• The RJS-100-PREM also comes with a 30/50 psi pressure switch with an automatic shut-off.
• If you find the 1 HP engine is too much for your home, then it also comes in 1/2 HP and 3/5 HP models, that offer exactly the same features.
• In the interests of efficiency, the 1 HP version is probably too powerful for most homes. If you’re unsure, check out our guide to choosing the perfect well pump further down the page.

Bottom Line

This is a high-quality shallow well pump that will meet the water flow demands of almost any home. A 3-year warranty isn’t to be sniffed at either. Ideal for shallow wells up to 25 feet in depth, the Red Lion RJS-100 1-HP Premium Shallow Well Jet Pump will get the job done, as you can also learn from the enthusiast users’ reviews.

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3. WAYNE CWS100 – BEST CONVERTIBLE SHALLOW WELL PUMP

• Rating: 4.0
• Price: $$
• Well Depth: up to 90′
• Water Flow Rate: 10 GPM

The Wayne CWS100 is a convertible well pump that is ideal for wells that are a bit deeper. It can pump water in wells as deep as 90 feet. If the Wayne brand rings any bell, it is because you have heard this name before when you checked out our guide on the best sump pumps to consider this year.

This pump is of high-quality construction and is made of rugged cast iron. The volute (the casing that receives the fluid in a centrifugal pump) is also made of cast iron and features a dedicated priming port so that filling the volute is easy.

WAYNE CWS100 Convertible Well Pump Tech Specs and Features

• This pump comes with 1 HP in power but a 3/4 HP version does exist too.
• This gives a maximum of 10 gallons per minute in water flow, which is more than enough to handle the water demands of the average home.
• It is self-priming;
• It installs easily;
• Like most well pumps, the motor runs at dual voltages of 120/240 Volts.
• The pressure switch is automatic and is pre-set at 30-50 psi.
• It fits a 3/4″ NPT discharge pipe, 1-1/4″ NPT suction pipe, and a 1″ drive pipe. The jet assembly is sold separately.

Like our recommended Red Lion model, this also comes with a really good 3-year warranty. Considering the build quality, warranty, and depth of well it can work with, the price tag is pretty reasonable too.

Bottom Line

This unit is our favorite convertible well pump. A great choice for shallow to medium depth well that is changeable. This is one of the top-rated well pumps, coming with excellent reviews. If you are not a person easily troubled by noise, then you won’t have any issues with this unit. However, you should know that the price tag, reliability, and features of this pump trump the fact that it is, indeed, a bit loud.

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The Best Submersible Well Pump Reviews of 2020

For wells that are deeper than 25 feet, a submersible pump is much more effective. Especially, if the depth of your well exceeds 100 feet. These are the best submersible well pump units of this year. Check out the submersible water pump reviews and make the best choice for your home!

1. Hallmark Industries MA0414X-7A Deep Well Submersible Pump – BEST DEEP WELL PUMP FOR PRICE/VALUE RATIO

• Rating: 4.2
• Price: $
• Well Depth: up to 207′
• Water Flow Rate: 33 GPM

This 1 HP deep well pump from Hallmark Industries packs a massive 33 GPM water flow rate, which they claim to be greater than most other 1 HP pumps. This is due to the patented impeller design, which is said to prolong the life of the unit. It is also said to work impressively in unfavorable conditions.

The unit is made of stainless steel with a heavy-duty cast iron discharge. It has a capacitor that allows it to start strongly, and a thermal protection safety setting. This thermal safety feature stops the unit from overheating in periods of extended use.

The motor is quiet and highly efficient. As it is a submersible unit, it naturally runs quieter than the other models because it is covered in water. This also means you don’t need to prime it before use.

Hallmark Industries MA0414X-7A Deep Well Submersible Pump Tech Specs and Features

• It is a 2-wire deep well model. This means the control box is contained in the actual pump.
• The above-mentioned feature makes it easier to install than the 3-wire models, but it’s a bit more awkward to maintain. If you need to access the control box, you need to hoist the pump out of the well.
• Industrial grade heavy duty, good for home usage;
• Built-in thermal protection;
• The shell and motor shaft comes in stainless steel to ensure corrosion resistance;
• The high quality sealed ball bearings guarantee its excellent performance

If you require something a bit more powerful, Hallmark Industries actually offers a 2 HP model that is capable of working in wells of up to 400 feet deep.

Bottom Line

This pump represents great value and is one of the cheaper, high-quality well pumps available. It is also one of the best well pumps for deep wells you could buy this year.

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2. Red Lion RL22G10 Deep Well Pump – OUR PICK FOR BEST DEEP WELL PUMP

• Rating: 4.7
• Price: $$$
• Well Depth: up to 250′
• Water Flow Rate:  22 GPM

This deep well pump from Red Lion is a bit more expensive than its competitors, but you can be assured of the build quality and reliability. It’s held in very high regard by many happy customers on sites like Amazon.

This 1 HP model can work at well depths of up to 250 feet and gives a maximum water flow rate of 22 gallons per minute. It features a built-in check valve and also a suction screen.

One of the reasons for this model being a bit pricier is that it is a 3-wire pump. This means it has a separate control box that can be mounted on a wall or somewhere nearby the well. It is said that installing 3-wire models is harder, but I haven’t seen any evidence of this with this model.

Red Lion RL22G10 Deep Well Pump Tech Specs and Features

• The installation is really straightforward, and shouldn’t be an issue.
• It features a thermoplastic discharge and motor bracket.
• You can also find 12 GPM and 22 GPM models available.
• The control box of this unit is included and makes the maintenance and overall use of the pump much easier and more convenient.
• It also has a weather-resistant finish and includes a quick disconnect relay.
• The pump is constructed of a combination of stainless steel (shell) and thermoplastic (discharge).
• It is a durable unit that can be relied upon to operate at deep well depths. It won’t rust and it won’t let you down.
• A nice touch is a 3-year warranty, which is one of the best you’ll find for most well pumps.

Bottom Line

This model is a really top quality deep well pump. It might be a bit more expensive, but the extra cost is worth it for the external control box. In our opinion, this is the best submersible well pump around.

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How to Buy the Best Well Pump for Your Needs: A Short Guide

As we promised at the beginning of this article, we will now offer you a short guide on how to buy the best well pump model for your needs this year. We include frequently asked questions, tips, advice, and suggestions, so you can make an educated choice when it comes to well pumps in general! If you remember, we did the same thing when we discussed the best sump pumps on the market or the best hot water recirculating pumps to buy for your home!

Let’s see what you need to know!

Why Get a Well Pump in the First Place?

If you live in a city or town then you have the luxury of having water pumped directly to your faucets. It’s easy, convenient, and we take it for granted.

However, if you live in the countryside, things aren’t as straightforward as we would like. Homeowners can be tasked with providing this infrastructure themselves. They need a well water supply, and an effective pump system to make the water usable, not to mention that you might also need a whole house water filter to keep the well water clean and safe.

Often, this water supply resides many hundreds of feet below the surface of the ground. The only way to transport it up into the house is by using a well pump. There are three types of well pumps, and we will discuss each of them in this guide.

The 3 Types of Well Pumps You Find on the Market

There are 3 types of modern well pumps available right now. Each is suited to a particular type of water table. You should base your choice on the depth at which your water sits. If you want to learn more about water tables and why it is important that you know about them, check out this guide here!

Let’s take a look at the 3 choices in more detail.

1. Deep Well Pump (Submersible Water Pump)

Deep well pumps are submerged underwater and can function in wells as deep as 300 feet.

These types of pumps come in 2-wire and 3-wire varieties.

• The 2-wire model is easier to install, but the 3-wire model is easier to maintain.
• The 3-wire model has the benefit of having the controls above ground. This means you don’t need to raise the pump should there be a problem. The best submersible well pumps use the 3-wire system.

These types of pumps don’t have the same overheating issues that some non-submersible pumps can have.

2. Shallow Well Pump (Jet Pump)

Shallow well pumps are not submersible and are commonly found used for water depths of up to 25 feet.

• As they don’t get the cooling effect from being submerged in water, you should look for a shallow well pump that has an overload guard feature. This will stop it from overheating and the motor from burning out.
• Further features to look for are a tank, or a booster to increase water pressure. These will ensure a more constant water pressure is delivered to your home.

The presence of a tank also means that the pump doesn’t need to turn on and off as frequently. The tank will obviously take up more space and should only be considered if you have plenty of room.

3. Convertible Pumps

These types of well pumps are also non-submersible. They are commonly used in places with a changing water table level. They can work in shallow depths of up to 25 feet, or at deeper levels of up to 100 feet with the ejector. The ejector (or jet part of the pump) increases the pressure so that it can pump water from a greater depth.

How Do Well Pumps Work?

Jet pumps and submersible pumps tackle different well depths in slightly different ways. Let’s take a quick look at how they do it.

How Do Shallow Well Jet Pumps Work

In shallow wells of less than 25 feet of depth a jet pump is the most popular type to use. These are non-submersible pumps that need to be mounted above the well water.

They use suction to “suck” the water up through a pipe. It works quite like a big straw. As the straw sucks water up, a vacuum is created above the water. The vacuum then allows atmospheric pressure to draw the water up the straw.

As air pressure changes with height (elevation), the amount of water that can be drawn will reduce as a well gets deeper. Therefore, these types of pumps ate usually limited to well depths of 25 feet.

The suction that is provided by a jet pump is created by an electric motor that powers a centrifugal pump. The pump drives water through a narrowing pipe that increases the pressure. This is much like the jet spray hose at a car wash.

Jet pumps need to be primed (filled) with water before they can start. They use a 1-way check valve to prevent this water flowing back down the well.

Check out the best shallow well jet pump reviews above. We highly recommend the Red Lion water pumps.

How Deep Well Submersible Pumps Work

Some wells reach much deeper than 25 feet. Some can actually go down as far as a few hundred feet. For these, you need a submersible well pump. These pumps are long and thin and are designed to fit into narrow wells.

The bottom part of a submersible well pump is a sealed motor. This is connected to a power source (above the ground) and a control box. The control box is housed in the pump in the case of a 2-wire system, and above ground in the case of a 3-wire model.

A submersible system features a stack of impellers that push the water upwards. Submersible pumps are more efficient than jet pumps for the same power ratings.

However, they can be trickier to fix if there is a problem, as the pump needs to be raised out of the well. Thankfully, submersibles are pretty reliable beasts, and with a quality model you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. We recommend two of the best deep well jet pumps in our reviews.

How to Choose the Perfect Well Pump for Your Home

It’s really important that you choose best well pump for your home. Besides choosing the right type of pump, you also have to make sure the numbers add up.

Thankfully, making your choice doesn’t have to be difficult.

We’ve put together a list of questions that will ensure that you get the perfect well pump for your home.

There are 2 types of people that are looking for a well pump. Those that are replacing an old unit, and those that are equipping one for the first time. We’ll start with the first time buyers.

A) Buying a Replacement Pump

1. What kind of pump do you currently have?

If your pump is not submerged in water, then you have a shallow well pump or a convertible pump. If the pump has one pipe serving the well then it is a shallow well pump. If there are 2 pipes then this is a convertible well pump. These pumps are commonly used with a tank that equalizes the household water pressure.

Otherwise, you have a submersible pump that probably serves a deep well. This kind of pump is installed at the bottom of the well pit with just the pipe (and possibly a controller) visible.

2. How powerful is your well pump?

Check the label on the unit to find out the horsepower rating (HP) of your current model. If you have a submersible deep water pump then it might be easier to check the official documentation.

3. Are you happy with how your current unit has performed?

A slightly more powerful unit will last longer as it will run less frequently. It is best to only increase the power to the next level though. If you get a model that is too powerful it won’t run efficiently.

Remember that there are two choices of submersible pumps: the 2-wire and 3-wire versions. If you have the 2-wire system, perhaps a change to a 3-wire model would be best as it is much easier to maintain. The 3-wire units have a separate controller, while the 2-wire units have the controls built-in.

B) First Time Buyers

1. Get a report on your well

A well water report will give all the details on your well. One of the most important details when buying a well pump is the depth.

2. Choose a pump based on the depth of your well

Remember there are 3 types of pumps that are each suited to a certain depth of well. Check out this table to put things in perspective.

3. How much power do you need?

Well pumps are rated in horsepower (HP), but they are also rated according to the water flow rate that they can provide. This is measured in gallons per minute (GPM).

This figure is much more useful to rate the size of the pump that you need.

To estimate the water flow requirements of your home you should note the maximum number of water fixtures that would ever be running at the same time. This is the peak water flow rate of your home. The water pump that you choose needs to be able to comfortably handle this number. Check out this guide to dig a little deeper.

For a rough guide to the water demands of your home, use this table.

If you are purchasing a deep well pump, there are a couple more considerations to be made.

Understanding Pressure Tanks

If you’re using a pressure tank then this will reduce the pump’s head. The main factor is the static water level (pumping level), and not where the pump is in the well. Take a look at the diagram below and the figures that represent the Hallmark Industries model that we reviewed.

Installation & Maintenance of a Submersible Pump

Raising a pump from 200 feet well sounds like a pretty daunting task, but it’s not as hard as it sounds.

Replacing and Maintaining a Submersible Well Pump: Guide

1.The first step is the obvious one, and that is to make sure your pump is turned off. You should try to run water for a few minutes to make sure ensure the water pressure is relieved.

2. Next, you want to raise the pump. Notice the connection to the house. It could be a pitless adapter or a union. Also, the type of water pipe. Is it PVC or a flex pipe?

3. To raise the pump we need tools. The key tool here is a T bar. You can assemble this with 5 feet of 1 ” schedule 40 pipe (threaded on each end), with a T on one of the ends, and 2x 6-inch nipples. You will also need a heavy hammer (2 lbs). If your well is very deep, then the help of one or two other people would be great as the pipe could be over 200 feet long.

4. Screw the T tool into the pitless adapter.

5. Next, one person should pull up the T tool, while another pulls the cable (pitless adapter lock). When the pitless adapter has been removed from the pipe, you can remove the T tool.

6. With the T tool removed, you can start pulling the pipe up.

7. When the pump has been collected, the main maintenance tasks should be to check the fittings for rust or damage, and also to clear/clean the inlet. This inlet is a filter that if blocked, could affect the water flow rate. You should also give your pump a test while it is out of the water. Note any unusual noises, smells, or things like smoke.

Best Well Pump Reviews: Bottom Line

That brings us to the end of our guide to the best well pumps. If you have any questions then please get in contact, and we’ll do our very best to help.

Don’t forget to check out our guide to the top 10 sump pumps too.

Follow us on social media so you don’t miss any news on new models or top water filters.

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