Can I use a sump pump as a way to provide running water in my house

I’ve had a point well in two houses. Down about 20 feet. Just use a shallow water jet pump with a pressure tank and check valve. I use the same type of pump to water my lawn from the lake.

As far as I know, sump pumps don’t lift water. You would have to have the pump submerged it water for it to prime.

King Of all plants wrote:

I live off grid and the only thing I really need running water for is my sink. I have a shallow well dug and I’d like to find an easy and convenient way to connect the well to my sink. I’ve looked around the internet and I can’t find anyone talking about this. Is this possible and how would I do it?

No. Unless you wired up some kind of switch the pump would run all the time when submerged in a well even when the faucet was turned off. This would quickly wreck the pump motor.

Also as others have mentioned the lifting capability of a sump pump is limited. They will lift about 10 to 12 ft total. After that pump and capacity goes way down.

What you need is a shallow well pump. These pumps have a pressure switch on them which turns them on only when there is a demand for water from an open faucet. The other advantage to a shallow well pump is that they are mounted at the surface so they are easier to maintain and keep clean. Most shallow well pumps have a lifting capability of about 25 ft.

The other option would be to get a small pitcher pump. These hand operated pumps work just fine and will lift water from below 25 ft.

Go get a pressure tank and pump. I use them all day at work as a Portable water pump. Just need a hose to feed it and then a filter on the end so it doesn’t sit and suck anything in. Very simple. 150 bucks, will pump water 4 stories up before you need a booster pump in line.

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curious,,,,,,,says he lives off grid and only needs water for a sink…..any flush toilet…….electricity>>>>> must have internet????

just asking not looking to start nuttin.

glenn57 wrote:

curious,,,,,,,says he lives off grid and only needs water for a sink…..any flush toilet…….electricity>>>>> must have internet????

just asking not looking to start nuttin.

Phone are pretty crazy these days. Guessing he has solar for electric.

Pitcher pump is how I’d do it. If I’m off grid I don’t want to depend on electric to get my water but that’s just me.

glenn57 wrote:

curious,,,,,,,says he lives off grid and only needs water for a sink…..any flush toilet…….electricity>>>>> must have internet????

just asking not looking to start nuttin.

Since when does off the grid = no electricity?

I am caretaker for a fishing camp in the Canadian sub-arctic. The camp is most certainly off the grid. We have electric lights, pressurized running water and hot water, and flush toilets. All of it runs with no use of gas generators.

^^^^^ like i said wasnt meaning to start anything…..just simply asking how off the grid without some of that can be. i’m not the least bit sold on solar……..and if he is GREAT for him and you!!! i simply was wondering how its done.

when my parents first bought the cabin and for the longest time…..in this scenerio we where off the grid also…….outdoor toilet, no electricity, no running water and everything we had was propane ran. heat was a 2 burner fuel oil stove!!!!

when mom and dad said they were going to put in electricity..borhter and i fought it……..then he told us its his cabin……..never mind!!!!!!

Bearcat89 wrote:

Go get a pressure tank and pump. I use them all day at work as a Portable water pump. Just need a hose to feed it and then a filter on the end so it doesn’t sit and suck anything in. Very simple. 150 bucks, will pump water 4 stories up before you need a booster pump in line.

I have this pump and some land I camp at with a 20ft sand point well, works great.

glenn57 wrote:

curious,,,,,,,says he lives off grid and only needs water for a sink…..any flush toilet…….electricity>>>>> must have internet????

just asking not looking to start nuttin.

I have a portajohn that I have serviced whenever I need it done along with power to run any electric needed. Its not exactly off the grid buts its not much different that many camp sites

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I live in New Hampshire so I don’t think I can keep a shallow well pump outside during the winter.

Well, I rather use an outhouse than a toilet. It works for me because I can compost it and grow stuff with it. Yes I have electricity (solar) and internet (starlink).

No help but I’m curious – when did you start to live off grid ? Care to share your living quarters ? Pictures would be great . How often do you Go to town for supplies if at all ? Is it just you alone living there ? I’m genuinely curious and not judgemental how you live – maybe borderline jealous though !

Well, me and my girlfriend started out in a 10 x 12 shack make of 1/16th of an inch steel walls. We lived in it for 3 years until I finally got a real house made.

I made the house with nothing but a chainsaw and a rechargable screw gun. Its a 24 by 24 lean-to with a second floor loft 12 by 24. I made it mostly out of 7 inch thick birch that came up after loggers cleared the land. The main supports are very thick pines. Here in my area there are no codes or permits

Slowly but surely Ive been making improvements. learning and working on the land is literally my full time job, but I also don’t pay bills. It’s still not perfect but it’s definitely on its way.

yea, It was very tough at first because where I live has no phone service and town is a 20 minute drive. It’s definitely not very comfortable at first unless youve got money to spend.

pump can be inside the house, it can be as much as 25ish feet above water level in well, just need the intake hose with a foot valve to be submerged

pump will manage a long horizontal distance but can only suck 25ish feet verticaly