Hello. Can anyone tell me how to hook up a handpump to my 2x4 homemade kitchen sink countertop and make it work? How does it all tie in to the plumbing? Do I need a "mixer"? ( WHAT IS a mixer? ) IT is one of those smaller handpumps about 1 1/2 foot tall. Thanks!

-- MicheleRaePadgett (michelesmelodyfarm@yahoo.com), January 10, 2002

Answers

You just want to be able to get tap water to come out your handpump? or you want to actually pump it out? I am a bit confused.

A mixer is just a value to mix hot and cold water into one stream of water. You have a mixer at each hot/cold water point in your kitchen and bath.

If you want the pump handle to turn on the water then you might have some problems. The seals on most handpumps were not designed to stand up to the water presure. Cumberland general store www.cumberlandgeneral.com has a pump designed for what you want to do. If you have one of their catalogs they have a diagram of how to setup the handpump.

If you want to test and see if your pump will hold up to the presure. A garden hose should mate up with the bottom of your pump. Connect that up to the water and see if the pump leaks. You might be able to put new washers in the pump to solve some of the leaks but if its an old pump with leather seals you will never stop all the leaks.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 10, 2002.

Generally these pumps went directly into either a handdug well or a cistern. Lift was a maximum of about 20'.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 12, 2002.