How to DIY Install a Well Pump with Poly Pipe

Wondering how to install a well pump on your own? We'll go over the process in 5 easy steps. 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 submersible pump yourself and have access to potable water right from your own yard!

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
• Torque arrestors (recommended)
• Heat gun or torch for the waterproof shrink wire sleeves (if you use a lighter, be careful!)

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

• Wiire extension: Use 10-3+G wire (3 conductors, 1 ground) to extend the wire to your desired depth up to 550 feet; if you are setting your electric motor more than 550 ft deep, use 8-3+G wire instead to reduce voltage drop.
• Pipe: Attach to your pump end to reach the 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 to establish a reliable water line.
• 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 submersible pump, but it is preferable to allow the rope to take the pressure off the pipe and wires once you’ve dropped the submersible 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 the main parts necessary for installing a submersible pump on our site. Each item is specifically designed for long-lasting performance.

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 an FNPT female pipe thread. You’ll attach a threaded nipple and external check valve, which prevent water from backflowing even when the pump stops running. See the diagram below for an example of how to connect each piece.

Then, you'll push one end of the poly pipe over the barbed end of the hose barb. Secure torque arrestors on the riser pipe above the pump to keep it centered and shielded from torque recoil during operation.

Step 2: Wire Spice

RPS Water Pumps utilizes brushless AC pump motors powered by 3+ G submersible pump cable, usually at least 12 or 10 gauge. This is common for most residential water pumps. 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 wire to the necessary length. One end of the wire will be spliced to the end of the pump, and the other end will connect directly to the 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. Tape it to the wiring and pipe every 20 feet for stability.

Step 4: Lower the Submersible Pump Down Well

Now, you have a submersible pump connected to an "umbilical cord" bundle of wire, pipe, rope and plumbing. These are typical components used with deep well pumps. 

Install a Well Seal at the top of your well, thread the 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 and prevent them from running dry.

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 well pump 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 submersible pump on when the tank needs more water.

Make Sure You’ve Got the Right Pump

Before you buy or install, it’s crucial to get the right size pump for your well’s depth, water needs, and household use. Our free Well Pump Sizing Calculator walks you through a few simple questions and recommends the best pump kits for your project. Avoid headaches, save money, and make sure you’ll get the water flow you need.