6 Jet Well Pump Vs Submersible For Small Acreage To Make the Right Choice

Choosing a well pump feels like a decision you can’t get wrong, as your entire homestead depends on it for water. The debate between a jet pump and a submersible often comes down to more than just the depth of your well. It’s about balancing cost, maintenance, and the specific demands of your small acreage.

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Well Depth: The Deciding Factor for Your Pump

The first and most important question is brutally simple: how far down is your water? A shallow well jet pump works by creating suction, pulling water up from the ground. Physics puts a hard limit on this process; you can’t reliably pull water from more than about 25 feet deep at sea level.

For wells deeper than 25 feet but less than about 120 feet, a deep well jet pump is an option. It uses two pipes—one to push water down to a jet assembly at the bottom, which helps lift water up the second pipe. It’s a clever workaround, but it becomes less efficient the deeper you go.

If your static water level is below 100 feet, the decision is essentially made for you. A submersible pump is your only practical choice. Unlike a jet pump that pulls water, a submersible pushes it from the bottom of the well all the way to the surface. This method is far more effective for deep wells and isn’t limited by atmospheric pressure.

Jet Pump Priming: A Necessary Maintenance Task

Jet pumps must be "primed" to work, meaning the pump housing and suction line need to be full of water to create suction. If air gets into the system, often through a tiny leak in a fitting or a faulty foot valve, the pump loses its prime. You’ll turn on the tap, hear the pump whirring away, but get no water.

Re-priming involves manually pouring water back into the pump until all the air is gone. This can be a frequent and frustrating chore if you have a slow leak you can’t find. It’s a hands-on reality of owning a jet pump that you simply don’t face with a submersible.

A submersible pump is always submerged in water, so it can’t lose its prime. This is a significant advantage in reliability. If you want a system that you can mostly forget about, the self-priming nature of a submersible is a huge plus.

Submersible Pumps: Quiet and Efficient Operation

One of the first things you’ll notice about a jet pump is the noise. Since the motor and pump are above ground—in a basement, crawlspace, or pump house—you will hear it kick on and off. It’s not deafening, but it’s a constant reminder of your water system at work.

Submersible pumps, on the other hand, are virtually silent. The entire unit is hundreds of feet underground, suspended in your well. The only thing you might hear is the faint click of the pressure switch in your house. For a home where the pump might be located near a living area, this silence is a major quality-of-life improvement.

Beyond the quiet, submersibles operate more efficiently. Pushing a column of water from below is simply easier than sucking it up from above. This efficiency translates directly into how much electricity the pump uses every time it runs.

Accessibility for Maintenance and Easy Repairs

Here is where the jet pump shines. When a jet pump fails, every part of it is right in front of you. The motor, the pressure switch, the pump housing—it’s all accessible for troubleshooting and repair without any special equipment.

If you have a bit of mechanical skill, you can often diagnose and fix a jet pump yourself in an afternoon. Parts are readily available at most farm supply or hardware stores. This accessibility can save you a lot of money and downtime, which is critical when your garden and animals are thirsty.

A submersible pump is the complete opposite. If it fails, the entire pump and hundreds of feet of pipe and wire must be pulled from the well. This is a massive job that almost always requires a professional well contractor with a specialized hoist truck. A submersible pump failure is not a DIY fix; it is an expensive service call.

Comparing Energy Use for Long-Term Cost Savings

While a jet pump has a lower initial purchase price, a submersible pump is almost always cheaper to run. The fundamental design of pushing water instead of pulling it makes submersibles more energy-efficient. They don’t have to fight gravity and atmospheric pressure in the same way.

Think about it over the life of the pump, which can be 10 to 15 years. If you’re irrigating a large garden, filling stock tanks, and running your household, the pump will be running a lot. The monthly savings on your electricity bill from a more efficient submersible pump can eventually offset its higher initial cost.

For a very small-scale operation with minimal water needs—perhaps just a small garden and a few chickens—the energy savings might be negligible. But as your water demands increase, the long-term cost advantage of a submersible becomes much more significant. It’s a classic tradeoff between upfront cost and operational savings.

Flow Rate and Pressure for Irrigation Needs

Your small acreage has demands, whether it’s running a couple of impact sprinklers for a small pasture or a drip system for three long rows of tomatoes. Both pump types can deliver adequate pressure, but how they deliver flow at that pressure can differ, especially as depth increases.

A submersible pump generally provides a higher and more consistent flow rate because its performance isn’t as affected by the depth of the well. It can push a large volume of water to the surface efficiently. This is crucial if you need to run multiple irrigation zones at once or fill a large stock tank quickly.

A deep well jet pump, in contrast, loses efficiency and flow rate the deeper it has to pull. It might provide enough pressure to run a single sprinkler, but it could struggle to maintain that pressure if you open another spigot. If high flow is a priority for your irrigation plans, a submersible is the more reliable choice.

Installation Complexity and Initial Costs

There’s no contest here: jet pumps are cheaper to buy and easier to install. The pump and related components are all above ground, making the plumbing relatively straightforward for a handy person. You can often buy a complete jet pump and tank system for a fraction of the cost of a submersible pump alone.

Installing a submersible pump is a much bigger undertaking. It involves carefully lowering the pump, pipe, and waterproof electrical cable down the well casing, often hundreds of feet. You’ll also need a pitless adapter to connect the drop pipe to the underground line running to your house, which requires excavating outside the well casing. While it’s possible to do it yourself, many people opt for a professional, adding to the overall cost.

This initial cost difference is often the deciding factor for people on a tight budget. A jet pump can get you up and running with water for less money upfront. However, it’s crucial to weigh that initial savings against the potential for higher energy bills and more frequent maintenance down the road.

Choosing for Freeze Protection in Cold Climates

Living in a cold climate adds another layer to your pump decision. Protecting your water system from freezing is non-negotiable. A frozen and burst pipe can be a disaster, leaving you without water in the dead of winter.

With a jet pump system, the pump itself is typically located in a protected, insulated space like a basement or a small pump house. This makes protecting the most expensive component relatively easy. Your main concern is the water line running from the well to the pump house, which must be buried below the frost line.

A submersible pump is naturally protected from freezing since it’s deep in the well. The challenge is the pipe that comes out of the well casing and runs to your house. Using a pitless adapter, which creates the connection below the frost line, is the standard and most effective solution. Both systems require careful planning, but the vulnerable, mechanical parts of a jet pump are often easier to keep warm and accessible during a cold snap.

Ultimately, the right pump is the one that fits your well, your budget, and your tolerance for maintenance. A shallow well makes the cheap and accessible jet pump a strong contender, while a deep well points directly to the quiet efficiency of a submersible. Consider not just today’s cost, but the future cost in electricity, time, and potential repairs.