# How to Compare Well Pump Replacement Quotes Without Missing Scope

Source: https://brictale.com/water/pumps/compare-well-pump-replacement-quotes
Published: 2026-09-03
Audience: Homeowner
Published by Brictale, a consumer home-intelligence publication. https://brictale.com

## Short answer

Compare well-pump quotes as complete system scopes, not horsepower labels. Require each bid to state the pump model and curve at your flow and total dynamic head, well depth and drawdown assumptions, drop pipe and check valves, cable and controls, pressure-tank settings, commissioning measurements, permits, exclusions, and warranty. Put unresolved assumptions in writing and hold any bid that cannot show how the proposed pump meets the duty point.

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# How to Compare Well Pump Replacement Quotes Without Missing Scope

Compare well-pump replacement quotes as complete system scopes, not as competing horsepower labels. A defensible bid identifies the failed condition or diagnosis, the required flow and total dynamic head, the pump and motor, well and drawdown assumptions, drop pipe, check valve, cable, controls, pressure tank, commissioning measurements, permits, exclusions, and warranty. If one quote says “replace pump” and another names every component, they are not yet comparable.

Use the matrix below to turn each bid into the same set of questions. Mark a line **documented**, **allowance**, **excluded**, or **unresolved**. Do not award the work while a material line remains unresolved.

| Scope line | What a comparable quote should state | What to ask when it is missing | Decision status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | What was observed, tested, or ruled out; whether the pump itself is being replaced or another fault is suspected | What evidence separates a failed pump from a bad capacitor, control, pressure switch, leak, tank, power, or well-yield problem? | Documented / hold |
| Duty point | Required flow in gallons per minute and total dynamic head in feet or equivalent pressure; pump curve or selection record | At what flow and head will this exact model operate? | Documented / hold |
| Well data | Casing, well depth, static level, pumping drawdown level, pump setting, and known yield or recovery limits | Which values are measured, historical, assumed, or unavailable? | Documented / allowance |
| Pump and motor | Manufacturer, model, stages, horsepower, voltage, phase, frequency, motor type, and curve | Is this a like-for-like replacement or a redesigned system? Why? | Documented / hold |
| In-well assembly | Drop pipe size and material, check valve(s), cable splice, safety rope if used, pitless adapter, sanitary sealing work | Which parts are being reused, and what happens if they are damaged when pulled? | Included / allowance / excluded |
| Electrical | Cable size and length, grounding, control box or starter, disconnect, overload, surge protection, and electrician scope | Is the existing electrical system compatible with the new motor and code requirements? | Included / hold |
| Pressure system | Tank model and size, pressure-switch cut-in/cut-out, gauge, relief protection, and any piping changes | What settings will be left, measured, and recorded? | Documented / hold |
| Commissioning | Actual flow, pressure, voltage, current, cycling behavior, leaks, air or sediment observations, and records delivered | What proves the system meets the selected duty point after installation? | Included / hold |
| Permits and access | Permit, notification, inspection, access, excavation, restoration, and disposal responsibility | Who calls the authority and who pays if local requirements change the scope? | Assigned / hold |
| Exclusions | Explicit list of well rehabilitation, drop-pipe replacement, casing or pitless work, electrical upgrades, treatment, water testing, and restoration not included | What event converts the price into a change order? | Written / hold |
| Warranty | Separate pump, motor, labor, parts, workmanship, and consequential-damage terms; start date and exclusions | What evidence or maintenance records are required for a claim? | Documented / hold |

The homeowner's job is not to design or install the well system. It is to make the bids describe the same job, identify the assumptions that could change the price, and select a professional who can document the result.

{{visual:quote-normalization-matrix}}

## 1. Normalize every quote before comparing totals

### Start with the failure question

“The pump is bad” may be correct, but it is not a diagnosis until the contractor explains what was observed. A no-water complaint can originate in the pump, motor, control box, pressure switch, tank, wiring, well yield, a leak, a closed valve, or a damaged drop pipe. A low-pressure complaint can be created by a clogged filter or treatment device downstream of the tank. A pump that runs continuously can be undersized, unable to reach cut-out pressure, starved by the well, leaking in the drop pipe, or operating against a system problem.

Ask each bidder to write one of three things:

- **Confirmed or measured:** the contractor performed a test and records what it showed.
- **Probable:** the contractor has a reasoned diagnosis but needs a condition revealed during access or removal to confirm it.
- **Unknown:** the cause cannot be confirmed without pulling the pump, opening an enclosure, measuring the well, or doing other professional work.

An honest “unknown” is more useful than a confident label that hides risk. A quote that includes pump removal but not the possibility of a broken drop pipe, failed cable splice, stuck check valve, damaged pitless adapter, or well rehabilitation is not a complete risk description.

### Separate replacement from redesign

A like-for-like replacement is not always the right choice, but a different pump should never appear as a silent substitution. Franklin's installation record asks the installer to verify that pump curve data meet the application's horsepower, rpm, flow, and total dynamic head requirements, and it records both design rating and actual delivery. That is why “same horsepower” is not an adequate equivalency test. [Franklin's Form 2207 installation record](https://fele.widen.net/content/samb3vv6ws/pdf/EN_Form_2207.pdf?u=bt7ctv) treats the application and the pump curve as the matching problem.

Require the quote to identify whether it is:

1. **Like-for-like:** same pump family or a demonstrably equivalent model, with the same relevant voltage, phase, discharge, control arrangement, and hydraulic duty.
2. **A hydraulic redesign:** a different pump curve, flow, head, pressure setting, variable-speed drive, or tank arrangement.
3. **A repair with allowances:** a base scope that changes if the existing assembly cannot be reused.

Those categories may all be reasonable. They carry different risks and should not be compared as if they were the same offer.

### Use the same vocabulary in every bid

Ask the contractors to return the matrix with one row per item. “Pump package” is not a line item unless the quote attaches a component schedule. “Electrical by others” is not a scope; it is a gap. “Repair as needed” is an allowance whose trigger and price method must be written.

For each material line, record four fields:

- **Included:** described, priced, and assigned to the bidder.
- **Allowance:** a stated assumption with a unit, limit, or change-order rule.
- **Excluded:** not part of the bid and assigned to someone else or to the homeowner.
- **Unresolved:** neither party can yet state the responsibility or condition.

The last category is the stop sign. A lower total with more unresolved lines is not a lower comparable price; it is a less-defined project.

## 2. Rebuild the required duty point from your well and home

The duty point is the operating target where the pump must deliver a required flow against a required head. Franklin describes flow and total dynamic head as basic pump-selection inputs and identifies performance curves as critical to the specification. Its selection discussion also notes that application variables can matter beyond those basic inputs. [Read Franklin's pump-selection resource](https://www.franklinwater.com/resources/case-studies-and-white-papers/?newsItemID=40609).

{{visual:duty-point-system-map}}

### The homeowner-friendly calculation

Ask the installer to show the calculation, even if the installer uses software. A simplified comparison is:

**Required total dynamic head = elevation lift + pressure required at the delivery point + friction and fitting losses + treatment or equipment losses.**

When pressure is stated in psi and the curve in feet of water, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation gives the conversion as **1 psi ≈ 2.31 feet of water**. Thus, 40 psi at a delivery point is about 92.4 feet of pressure head before adding elevation or friction. [The Bureau of Reclamation explains the conversion](https://www.usbr.gov/tsc/techreferences/mands/wmm/chap02_03.html). This is a comparison aid, not a complete design.

Ask the bidder to show:

| Duty-point input | What it means | Evidence or assumption to record |
|---|---|---|
| Required flow | Water volume the system must deliver at the selected operating condition | Fixtures, irrigation, storage, or professional demand calculation; do not infer it from horsepower |
| Static lift | Elevation from the relevant pumping water level to the delivery point | Well and building elevations or a clearly stated field assumption |
| Drawdown | Water level while the pump is running, which may be lower than the static level | Recent measurement, well record, test, or “not measured” |
| Pressure target | Pressure needed at the tank or home, plus any required residual pressure at a fixture | Switch setting, pressure target, and high-elevation fixture requirement |
| Friction losses | Resistance from drop pipe, horizontal pipe, elbows, check valves, filters, treatment, and undersized sections | Pipe sizes, lengths, fittings, and treatment equipment included in the calculation |
| Operating range | Whether the pump must work at one point or across changing water levels and demand | Pump curve with operating points, not only a single advertised flow |

### Why the old horsepower can mislead

Horsepower describes motor capacity, not the water delivered in your system. Two pumps with the same horsepower can have different impellers, stages, curves, voltage requirements, and useful flow at the same head. A larger pump can also be a poor match if it outpaces the well or causes short cycling; a smaller pump can fail to reach the pressure setting or supply peak demand.

Penn State Extension describes the low-yield problem plainly: a normal pump can draw the water level down faster than the well replenishes it, leaving the pump unable to supply the pressure tank at the rate water is withdrawn. [Use the Penn State low-yield guidance](https://extension.psu.edu/using-low-yielding-wells) as a reason to ask for well yield and drawdown evidence. Do not let an installer “solve” low pressure by automatically increasing horsepower without addressing the well's recovery behavior.

### Read the curve at the required point

The useful question is not “How many gallons per minute does this pump make?” It is “How many gallons per minute does this exact pump make at this exact total dynamic head, with this motor and operating mode?” Ask for the manufacturer curve or selection output with the duty point marked.

A curve comparison should identify:

- the selected model, stages, motor horsepower, voltage, phase, and frequency;
- the flow at the required head, not the flow at zero or very low head;
- the required head at the expected low water level, not only the static level;
- any minimum-flow or motor-cooling requirement stated by the manufacturer;
- the cut-in and cut-out pressure the system will use;
- whether the pump is intended to run against a pressure tank, a constant-pressure drive, or another control mode; and
- what happens if the well level, household demand, or treatment resistance differs from the assumption.

If a bid gives only “1 hp, 10 gpm” with no curve or duty point, mark the pump line **unresolved**. A product catalog description is not a site-specific selection.

## 3. Audit pump, pipe, wire, and controls as one system

The visible pump model is only one part of the replacement. Franklin's installation record documents well dimensions, water levels, pump setting, check valves, cable, controls, actual delivery, and electrical readings alongside the pump. That is a useful model for quote review because a submerged pump cannot be judged independently from the well and power system.

### In-well equipment

Ask the quote to identify:

- pump and motor manufacturer and model;
- pump diameter and discharge size;
- horsepower, voltage, phase, frequency, and motor type;
- pump setting depth and the assumed pumping water level;
- drop-pipe material and diameter;
- check-valve count, location, and whether any valve is integral to the pump;
- cable type, splice method, length, and support method;
- pitless adapter or well-seal work;
- safety line or torque arrestor if the selected system requires one; and
- disposal of the removed pump and parts.

Pentair's 4-inch submersible-pump manual illustrates why setting depth is not a generic number: for the covered pump family, it calls for the pump to be 15 to 20 feet below the lowest pumping water level and at least 5 feet above the well bottom. The same manual warns that excessive sand, corrosive water, entrained gas or air, and a closed discharge can affect pump condition or warranty. [Check the exact Pentair manual](https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/web/nam/pentair/manuals/pn280-4inch-submersible-pumps-iom.pdf) or the manual for the proposed brand; do not transfer those values to a different model without checking.

The quote should also say what is reused. “Reuse existing wire and pipe” is acceptable only when the installer has a method for verifying compatibility and condition. The price should state what happens if the cable is damaged, the drop pipe is cracked, a check valve is stuck, the pitless adapter leaks, or the well cannot be safely accessed. These are not reasons to reject a bid; they are reasons to make its contingency visible.

### Wire, grounding, control, and protection

Treat electrical scope as a system-match line, not a footnote. Pentair's manual says the pump, motor, and control box must be grounded, wiring must meet applicable codes, copper wire should be used for pump and control-box connections, and wire size must be at least what the sizing tables require for the horsepower and wire-run length to control voltage drop and overheating. [See the Pentair electrical instructions](https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/web/nam/pentair/manuals/pn280-4inch-submersible-pumps-iom.pdf).

Ask the bidder to state:

| Electrical line | Comparable quote detail |
|---|---|
| Supply | Voltage, phase, frequency, existing service capacity, and whether a new circuit is included |
| Drop cable | Conductor material, insulation or temperature rating, gauge, length, and whether replacement is included |
| Control | Two-wire or three-wire arrangement, control box or starter manufacturer/model, motor compatibility, and overload protection |
| Grounding | Ground conductor route, termination, and who verifies compliance |
| Disconnect and protection | Disconnect, fuses or breaker, surge arrestor, and any required enclosure or weather protection |
| Electrical labor | Wellhead, panel, trench, conduit, junction-box, electrician, inspection, and restoration scope |
| Test record | Voltage and running current recorded at commissioning; identify whether readings are line or load side |

Do not let a homeowner open a control box, test live wiring, adjust an energized pressure switch, or remove a panel cover to “help compare” bids. Energized well controls can shock, burn, or kill. The correct comparison document is the contractor's written scope and commissioning record.

### Pressure tank, switch, gauge, and relief protection

The pressure tank moderates pump starts and supplies water between cycles; its usable drawdown depends on tank size, pressure settings, and the actual system. Ask whether the tank is being reused, replaced, relocated, or merely recharged. Require the model and nominal capacity rather than a vague “tank checked.”

Amtrol's support guidance says a well-tank precharge is set 2 psi below the pressure-switch cut-in and gives 28 psi as the example for a 30/50 switch. [See Amtrol's well-tank support table](https://www.amtrol.com/welltanksupport/). For the verification step, have the installer identify the exact tank instructions and procedure used; do not infer a stronger tank-condition requirement from this general support page. The number is not a universal invitation for a homeowner to adjust the system, and the system must be made safe by the qualified installer.

Have the quote record:

- pressure-switch cut-in and cut-out settings;
- tank precharge setting and the method used to verify it;
- tank model, size, maximum working pressure, and condition;
- pressure-gauge range and replacement if inaccurate;
- relief-valve presence, rating, discharge routing, and replacement if required;
- piping size and any new isolation or service valves; and
- whether a constant-pressure drive changes the tank-precharge method.

If the old system had rapid cycling, low pressure, or a pump that failed to reach cut-out, do not assume a new pump alone solves the problem. Amtrol lists rapid cycling and low system pressure among symptoms that can accompany a tank problem, while also noting that symptoms are not a diagnosis. [Use the manufacturer's troubleshooting boundary](https://www.amtrol.com/welltanksupport/).

{{visual:equipment-scope-stack}}

## 4. Demand a commissioning record, not just “water is back”

Restored water proves only that water is moving. It does not prove the pump meets the intended duty point, that the motor is electrically protected, that the tank is set correctly, or that the well is not being over-pumped.

Franklin's Form 2207 provides a useful handoff model. It has fields for design flow and total dynamic head, actual pump delivery, static and pumping water levels, pump setting, wire lengths and gauges, incoming voltage, running amps, controls, and well dimensions. It also includes manufacturer-specific electrical and motor checks. [Use the Franklin installation record as a reference for the information to request](https://fele.widen.net/content/samb3vv6ws/pdf/EN_Form_2207.pdf?u=bt7ctv).

{{visual:commissioning-handoff-record}}

### Minimum homeowner handoff

Ask for a dated record containing, at minimum:

1. **Installed equipment:** pump and motor model and serial numbers, control box or drive, tank, pressure switch, gauge, and any replaced cable, pipe, check valve, or pitless component.
2. **Design basis:** selected flow, total dynamic head, pressure setting, assumed drawdown level, and the manufacturer curve or selection sheet.
3. **Observed operation:** actual delivery method and result, pressure behavior, cut-in and cut-out, pump run time, cycling behavior, and whether the system reached shutoff as intended.
4. **Electrical readings:** voltage and running current recorded by the qualified person using appropriate procedures; record the number of phases where relevant.
5. **Well observations:** water levels if measured, sediment or air observations, well depth or pump setting if confirmed, and any limitation discovered.
6. **Water and site condition:** leaks, sputtering, unusual color, sand, odor, disturbed wellhead, and whether treatment equipment was bypassed or left out of service.
7. **Documents:** manuals, warranty terms, permit or notification record if applicable, photos of above-ground equipment, and the final invoice showing approved changes.

“Actual flow” needs a method, not a guess from faucet feel. The installer may use a calibrated flow measurement, a timed-volume test where appropriate, or another professional method suited to the system. The quote should name the method and its limitations. A pressure-gauge reading alone is not a flow measurement.

### Compare commissioning promises

| Commissioning phrase | What it really tells you | What is still needed |
|---|---|---|
| “Tested and operational” | Someone observed operation | Pump model, duty point, pressure settings, actual delivery, and readings |
| “Good pressure” | A subjective observation at one or more fixtures | Pressure at the tank, cut-in/cut-out, flow method, and high-demand behavior |
| “Pump sized to existing system” | The bidder may be relying on an old assumption | Curve, well data, current demand, and explanation of compatibility |
| “Electrical checked” | Some inspection occurred | Voltage, current, wire and control compatibility, grounding responsibility, and record |
| “Tank serviced” | Work may have been performed | Tank model, precharge verification method, switch settings, and cycling result |
| “Warranty provided” | A warranty may exist | Issuer, duration, labor coverage, exclusions, required records, and claim process |

### Do not infer health clearance from pump commissioning

Pump commissioning is not drinking-water testing. If the pump replacement follows flooding, a disturbed wellhead, unusual color or odor, a broken seal, or any suspected contamination, ask the local health department or a certified laboratory what testing is appropriate. Do not treat clear water, normal pressure, or a new pump as proof that the water is safe.

## 5. Mark exclusions, contingencies, and regional responsibility

The most expensive quote surprise is usually not the pump's listed price. It is the condition that the base price quietly assumes away: a pump that cannot be pulled, a cable that is too short, a failed pitless adapter, a collapsed drop pipe, a well that produces sand, a panel that cannot support the motor, an access problem, or a permit requirement.

### Require a change-order map

For every allowance, ask for:

- the assumed condition;
- the trigger that proves the assumption wrong;
- the unit or method used to price the change;
- who decides whether the work is necessary;
- whether the system will remain safe and protected while waiting; and
- whether the homeowner can decline that extra work and what condition the system would be left in.

Typical contingency lines include drop pipe, cable, splice, check valve, pitless adapter, well seal, excavation, trench restoration, electrical panel work, control-box replacement, pressure tank, pressure switch, water treatment, well development, disinfection, laboratory testing, and disposal. A quote can exclude some of these, but the exclusion needs to be visible before acceptance.

### Separate universal evidence from local rules

Manufacturer instructions can establish what a particular pump, motor, control, or tank requires. They do not establish your county's permit process. EPA directs private-well owners to state agencies, local health departments, and local professionals for well-construction information and advises verifying that pump-well installers are bonded, insured, and licensed or certified where required. [See EPA's private-well contractor guidance](https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/learn-about-private-water-wells).

Requirements can differ even within the same general work category. For example, a Minnesota Department of Health table for specified noncommunity public-water systems distinguishes exact-same-pump replacement from dissimilar-pump replacement and assigns different plan-review categories. That table is not a national rule and is not a private-domestic-well answer; it is a useful warning against copying one jurisdiction's treatment of a pump change into another. [Read the Minnesota table in its limited scope](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/ncom/prguidetbl.pdf).

Put one regional line in every bid:

> **Permits, notifications, inspections, licensing, and records:** Contractor states which local authority was checked, which party obtains required approvals, what is included in the price, and what happens if the authority requires additional work.

If the contractor says no permit is required, ask whether that is based on the exact address, well type, work description, and current local rule. Do not ask a national article to decide a local permit question.

### Treat the well opening as professional work

Opening a well, pulling a submersible pump, exposing a pitless adapter, handling pressurized piping, entering a well house or confined space, or changing energized controls is not a homeowner quote-comparison activity. Do not open energized controls, test live wiring, open the well, pull the pump, enter a confined space, or manipulate pressurized equipment unless a specific action is demonstrably safe for a homeowner under the exact equipment instructions. For this decision surface, assign those tasks to the qualified well, plumbing, and electrical professionals responsible for them.

Stop and escalate if you see:

- exposed or wet electrical equipment;
- a damaged well cap, seal, casing, or pitless connection;
- uncontrolled pressure, a leaking relief path, or a pipe that cannot be isolated safely;
- a pump that cannot be removed without lifting equipment or special tooling;
- a confined-space entry possibility;
- heavy sand, air, contamination concern, or a rapidly falling pumping water level; or
- a quote that asks you to approve a live-wire test or a pressure-setting adjustment yourself.

## 6. Use warranty terms and lifecycle risk as tie-breakers

Warranty is useful only when its boundaries match the risk being transferred to the homeowner. A pump may carry a manufacturer parts warranty while labor, removal, return travel, cable, controls, sand damage, corrosive water, or a failed well remain excluded. Ask for the actual terms, not a phrase such as “five-year warranty.”

### Normalize warranty rows

| Warranty question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who is the issuer? | Manufacturer, installer, distributor, or multiple parties may cover different components |
| What is covered? | Pump end, motor, control box, tank, cable, labor, removal, diagnostic visit, and restoration may differ |
| When does coverage start? | Installation, shipment, invoice, or registration dates create different clocks |
| What voids coverage? | Sand, corrosive water, air, incorrect voltage, wrong controls, closed-discharge operation, poor installation, or missing records may be excluded by the product manual |
| What evidence is required? | Model and serial numbers, commissioning readings, water chemistry, maintenance records, or installer invoices may be necessary |
| What happens after failure? | Clarify who pulls the pump, supplies a temporary system, pays shipping, and reinstalls the replacement |
| Is the warranty transferable? | Important for a recent home purchase or future sale |

Pentair's manual, for example, lists specific operating conditions involving sand, corrosive water, entrained air, and closed-discharge operation. Those conditions are specific to that manual, but they illustrate why the warranty row must connect to the installed water and operating conditions rather than remain a marketing label. [Read the covered Pentair warranty boundaries](https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/web/nam/pentair/manuals/pn280-4inch-submersible-pumps-iom.pdf).

### Price risk by scope, not by sticker total

You do not need a national “average pump replacement cost” to compare the bids in front of you. Once the hydraulic and installation scope is normalized, compare:

- base price for the same included components;
- allowances and their change-order formulas;
- excluded work that is likely given the observed condition;
- permit, access, excavation, restoration, and disposal responsibility;
- commissioning and documentation quality; and
- warranty coverage for the component most likely to create a future service call.

If a quote is inexpensive because it excludes a control box, new cable, well access, electrical work, or commissioning, it is not cheaper for the same job. If a quote is higher because it includes measured well data, compatible controls, a tank assessment, and a written contingency, that price may be buying lower uncertainty rather than a premium product.

### Consider maintenance evidence

Ask the installer what records the homeowner should keep and what maintenance is expected under the exact installed equipment instructions. Do not import a maintenance schedule from a different product or document; keep the pump model, motor data, controls, tank settings, test record, water tests, invoices, and warranty in one well file.

The best quote leaves the next professional with more information than the last professional had. That reduces repeat diagnostic work and makes the next replacement easier to compare.

## 7. Make the decision with a pass, hold, or escalate checklist

Score each bid only after every row has an answer. “Pass” means the line is documented and compatible with the rest of the system. “Hold” means the bid may become acceptable, but the missing information could change the equipment, price, or risk. “Escalate” means the homeowner should not resolve the uncertainty personally.

{{visual:hold-escalate-quote-flow}}

### Pass

- The diagnosis explains why pump replacement is the proposed remedy and identifies what remains uncertain.
- The exact pump and motor are named, with voltage, phase, horsepower, and curve.
- Flow and total dynamic head are stated, and the curve shows the proposed operating point.
- Well depth, static level, pumping drawdown, pump setting, and known yield limits are measured or explicitly labeled as assumptions.
- Drop pipe, check valve, cable, control box or drive, grounding, disconnect, surge protection, pressure tank, pressure switch, gauge, and relief protection are assigned.
- Reused components have a stated condition check and a change-order rule.
- Commissioning includes actual delivery, pressure behavior, electrical readings, settings, leaks, and homeowner records.
- Permits, licensing, inspections, access, restoration, and disposal responsibility are written.
- Exclusions and warranty terms are specific enough to predict the next dispute.

### Hold

- The bid gives horsepower or gallons per minute but no duty point or pump curve.
- “Pump package,” “electrical as needed,” or “repair as needed” hides several components.
- The contractor cannot say whether well yield, drawdown, or water level was measured.
- The pressure-tank setting is missing, or the quote changes the pump without explaining the pressure system.
- Cable, controls, grounding, or voltage compatibility is assumed from the old installation.
- A low total depends on reuse of parts whose condition will not be known until removal.
- The bid omits commissioning results or provides only “operational.”
- The warranty is a duration without issuer, coverage, exclusions, or claim responsibilities.
- Local permit or notification responsibility is “to be determined” after acceptance.

### Escalate

- You are being asked to open an energized control, test live wiring, adjust a pressurized or energized component, open the well, pull the pump, or enter a confined space.
- The wellhead, casing, seal, pitless adapter, or electrical enclosure appears damaged or contaminated.
- The contractor proposes a larger pump to compensate for low pressure without a drawdown or yield explanation.
- The well produces sand, air, or rapidly falling pressure and the quote treats it as only a pump failure.
- A pump, control, tank, or pipe change is proposed without the exact manual or a qualified compatibility review.
- The local authority gives a requirement that conflicts with the quote or manufacturer instructions.

### The final question to ask every bidder

Ask for one sentence completed in writing:

> “At ___ gallons per minute and ___ feet of total dynamic head, the proposed ___ pump and ___ motor will operate with ___ voltage, ___ control, ___ pressure-switch setting, and ___ tank arrangement; the installer will record ___ at commissioning; and the price excludes only ___.”

If a bidder cannot complete that sentence, the bid is not ready for a homeowner decision. If two bidders can complete it with the same scope, then total price, schedule, credentials, access plan, warranty, and communication become meaningful tie-breakers.

Bring the normalized matrix, the last pump invoice, any well record, recent water tests, photos of above-ground equipment, the last known pressure settings, and the symptom timeline to the professional. Keep the work boundary clear: your contribution is accurate system history and a precise scope comparison; the hazardous measurements, electrical work, well access, pump removal, and pressure-system service belong to qualified professionals.

## Evidence

- [Franklin Electric Form 2207 — Submersible Motor Installation Record](https://fele.widen.net/content/samb3vv6ws/pdf/EN_Form_2207.pdf?u=bt7ctv) — Manufacturer installation record for Franklin submersible motor and pump systems; use it as a documentation model, not as a universal code form or a substitute for the exact pump manual.
- [Franklin Electric Form 2207 — Submersible Motor Installation Record](https://fele.widen.net/content/samb3vv6ws/pdf/EN_Form_2207.pdf?u=bt7ctv) — Manufacturer record fields for a submersible well-pump installation; the record shows what should be documented, not what every residential system must contain.
- [Franklin Electric Form 2207 — Submersible Motor Installation Record](https://fele.widen.net/content/samb3vv6ws/pdf/EN_Form_2207.pdf?u=bt7ctv) — Manufacturer documentation for submersible motor installations; three-phase fields are conditional and should not be generalized to every single-phase residential system.
- [Franklin Water — Benefits of Using Online Tools to Specify a Pumping System](https://www.franklinwater.com/resources/case-studies-and-white-papers/?newsItemID=40609) — Franklin's pump-selection discussion; it supports requiring a duty point and curve, not a particular residential pump size or a universal design method.
- [Pentair — 4-Inch Submersible Pumps Installation and Operation Manual](https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/web/nam/pentair/manuals/pn280-4inch-submersible-pumps-iom.pdf) — Pentair's manual for the covered 4-inch submersible pumps; exact motor, cable, control, grounding, and jurisdictional requirements remain model- and installation-specific.
- [Pentair — 4-Inch Submersible Pumps Installation and Operation Manual](https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/web/nam/pentair/manuals/pn280-4inch-submersible-pumps-iom.pdf) — A manufacturer installation instruction for a specific Pentair pump family; it is not a national placement rule and must not be copied to a different pump or well without checking that manual.
- [Pentair — 4-Inch Submersible Pumps Installation and Operation Manual](https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/web/nam/pentair/manuals/pn280-4inch-submersible-pumps-iom.pdf) — Pentair's stated operating and warranty conditions for the covered pump family; do not generalize its warranty language to other brands.
- [Amtrol — Well Tank Support](https://www.amtrol.com/welltanksupport/) — Amtrol Well-X-Trol support guidance; exact tank, switch, variable-frequency-drive, and manufacturer instructions govern the installed system.
- [Amtrol — Well Tank Support](https://www.amtrol.com/welltanksupport/) — Amtrol Well-X-Trol support guidance; symptoms are not a diagnosis and do not prove the tank is the failed component.
- [U.S. Bureau of Reclamation — Water Measurement Manual, Basic Principles of Water Measurement](https://www.usbr.gov/tsc/techreferences/mands/wmm/chap02_03.html) — Hydraulic head conversion for water; the conversion does not calculate the full system TDH, which also depends on elevation and losses.
- [U.S. EPA — Learn About Private Water Wells](https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/learn-about-private-water-wells) — General U.S. private-well owner guidance; licensing, permitting, and inspection requirements are jurisdiction-specific.
- [Minnesota Department of Health — NPWS Plan Review Guidance Table](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/ncom/prguidetbl.pdf) — Minnesota noncommunity public-water-supply plan-review guidance, not a rule for every private domestic well or every U.S. state. It is included only to show the regional boundary.
- [Penn State Extension — Using Low-Yielding Wells](https://extension.psu.edu/using-low-yielding-wells) — Extension guidance for low-yielding wells and intermediate storage; it supports asking for yield and drawdown evidence, not a universal residential pump-sizing formula.