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FAQs

When we receive inquiries about our hand pumps, typically they fall into one of two categories: 1) inaccurate measuring resulting in incorrect product selection, or 2) installation issues. As a result, the answers to the following frequently asked questions are intended to provide customers with additional insight into questions they may have.

General FAQs

  1. Emergency Back-up: If you rely on well water, you NEED a Bison Pump! It serves as an emergency backup to your electric pump in the event of a power outage. The Bison Stainless Steel Hand Pumps can be installed alongside your existing submersible electric pump, allowing you to switch to manual pumping in the event of an emergency. By utilizing the Pressurizing System, your Bison Pump can provide Pressurized Back Up Water! Bison Pumps offers a variety of well connections depending on the setup of your well. For help figuring out which connection fits your system, use our Build My Pump tool.
  2. Reliability: If groundwater is your primary water source, you need a reliable way to access it. The Bison Pump is made of Stainless Steel (even the down-the-well equipment) so there’s no rust or corrosion. Designed to provide water in the midst of harsh New England snowstorms, it can withstand the elements. Bison Pumps is so confident in the integrity of its products, all pumps come with a Lifetime Warranty.
  3. Support: With a nationwide dealer network and expert knowledge in-house, Bison Pumps is ready to help you find the pump that best fits your well system. All pump systems come with an installation kit included, and the 800# is always available to connect you to a knowledgeable representative who can help with installation or troubleshooting.

We recommend starting with our Build My Pump tool to help determine which Bison Pump System will work best for your setup. The tool leads you through a series of questions about your specific well. After your final selection, the recommended pump system will be determined. You will then be asked a few basic questions, and then presented with an estimate for your recommended Bison Pump System.

Shallow Well FAQs

  • Recheck static water level. Be sure it does not exceed the 25′ vertical lift from the top of the water to the base of the pump.
  • Be sure all suction line fittings are tight and secure (leak-free).
  • If you continue to have problems, call Bison Pumps Tech Support at (800) 339-2601.
  • You have drawn the water down beyond the 25′ maximum suction level.
  • You may have an air lock in the suction line.
  • Be sure that you have removed the brass hose bibb cap on the spout.
  • Be sure there are no obstructions or blockages in the suction line.
  • If you continue to have problems, call Bison Tech Support at (800) 339-2601.
  •  As the Cup Seal around the Lift Rod wears, the Packing Gland Nut must be used to compress it for it to function properly. To do this, turn the Packing Gland Nut clockwise a quarter turn by hand. If this doesn’t stop it, turn it a little more until it stops leaking. Do not over tighten the Packing Gland Nut. If you do over tighten, it will cause difficulty pumping the handle.
  • If you can’t tighten the Packing Gland Nut enough to eliminate the leak and still pump easily, this indicates that the wear parts of the pump are near the end of their useful life. A Model 1900 Maintenance Kit will have the components needed to replace all wear parts.
  • The Model 1900 shallow well pitcher pump outputs approximately 19 ounces per full stroke or about seven (7) strokes per gallon.
  • You connect to the suction line which is typically the larger diameter pipe of the two lines. Be sure to connect on the suction side of the jet pump.
  • No, the pitcher pump does not require routine maintenance. However, there are wear items in the pump which must be replaced at some point. See our Shallow Well Maintenance Kits when that time comes or you can purchase it at the same time you purchase the pump.
  • No, all Bison Shallow Well Pitcher Pumps are self-priming. With a check valve in the bottom of the pump base, the pump retains its prime once achieved.
  • No, our piston uses buna rubber cup seals and a check valve to draw the water.
  • The Bison Model 1900 Shallow Well Pitcher Pumps are suction pumps. By “holding its prime” the pump retains water in the pump body. If this water is exposed to freezing temperatures it will freeze, expand and potentially ruin the pump. If the pump is installed where it could freeze, then you need to include the Drain Back Feature in your pump order. With this feature, you can eliminate the water that gets trapped between the piston and the bottom check valve. With this water eliminated and the water source disconnected, the pump should be safe. However, the pump CANNOT be used again until temperatures have warmed sufficiently to reconnect the pump to the water source.
  • The squeaking is due to friction between the gland nut and the lift rod. Apply some virgin olive oil cooking spray around the gland nut where the lift rod goes into the top of the pump to eliminate this issue.

Deep Well FAQs

  • Did you tighten the packing gland nut at the top of the pump? It should not be overly tight. Untighten slightly, but not enough to let water by it. 
  • Your cylinder may be plugged. Is sand or silt an issue in your area of the country? If so, you may need a silt screen. See Stainless Steel Silt Screens for more information.
  • If your static water level is very deep, you are lifting approximately 1/2 pound of water for every foot. See our Standard Cylinder Selection Chart for pumping difficulty at various static water levels.
  • You may have an air lock in the suction line due to the dropping of your static water level. Wait for the water level to return and try again.
  • As the Cup Seal around the Lift Rod wears, the Packing Gland Nut must be used to compress it for it to function properly. To do this, turn the Packing Gland Nut clockwise a quarter turn by hand. If this doesn’t stop it, turn a little more until it stops leaking. Do not overtighten. If you do overtighten, it will cause difficulty pumping the handle.
  • If you can’t tighten the Packing Gland Nut enough to eliminate the leak and still pump easily, this indicates that the wear parts of the pump head are near the end of their useful life. A Bison Deep Well Pump Head Maintenance Kit will have the components needed to replace all wear parts.

The Bison Pump Deep Well System (pump head, pipe/rod and cylinder) does not require routine maintenance. However, there are wear items in the pump head and the cylinder which must be replaced at some point. See our Maintenance Kits when that time comes.

  • The Bison Deep Well Pump Head is “Frost Free” given a couple of conditions:
    • First is the weep hole, 1/8″ diameter hole that the customer drills into the side of the last section of pipe/rod installed. The hole is drilled just below the customer’s frost line. This allows the water in the pump head to drain out into the well and not freeze. If this wasn’t done properly then water could remain in the pump head and freeze.
    • Second is that the water level in the well must be below the weep hole. If your well is a flowing Artesian Well then it is possible that the water level was above the weep hole. Artesian wells must be drained off prior to the weep hole to prevent freezing.
  • It is possible for the Lift Rod to freeze and stick to the Packing Gland Nut and/or Cup Seal. Put your warm hand around the Packing Gland Nut to see if it will warm it enough to thaw. Do not force it or damage to the Cup Seal could occur if the Lift Rod is frozen to it.
  • The static water level has dropped. Wait for water level to return to prior level. 
  • A drop pipe is cracked and leaking. This prevents the water from reaching the top.
  • Did you purchase the correct cylinder for the static water level depth? See our Standard Cylinder Selection Chart.
  • Water volume is measured by pumping the handle from “all the way up” position to the “all the way down” once you have water flowing. Wait until water stops flowing and immediately pump again.
  • The squeaking is due to friction between the gland nut and the lift rod. Apply some virgin olive oil cooking spray around the gland nut where the lift rod goes into the top of the pump to eliminate this issue.
  • Our pumps have two holes in the well adapter; one has the mushroom vent plug and the other a regular plug for wires to come out the top. If you did not use the hole for the wires, then remove the plug and use that hole to add the chlorine. If that hole is in use, carefully remove the mushroom vent plug to use its hole. Be certain to replace the mushroom vent plug when finished. If this hole is left open, it exposes the well to possible contamination.