How to Convert a Hand Well by Installing a Hand Pump

Drill a 2-inch hole into your kitchen counter top with a hole saw to accommodate the water pipe.

Set the pump flange, which is attached to the lower section of the pump head, in place and mark the location of the mounting holes. Drill a 3/8-inch hole at each marked spot. Insert the flange bolts through the flange and the counter holes then through the retainer plate underneath the counter. Secure the components in place by putting the nuts on the bolts then tightening them down. The bottom section of the pump head pipe will protrude through the underside of the counter.

Raise the handle of the pump head all the way up in order to lower the stainless steel rod below the level of the pump head pipe that protrudes underneath the counter. Also lift the stainless steel rod as far out of the pump cylinder as possible. Connect the two stainless steel rods together at the bottom of the pipe by tightening the stainless steel nuts and coupling on the rods.

Wrap Teflon tape around the male threads of the pump head pipe. Fit the female end of the pump cylinder over the male threads of the pump head pipe and screw the two pieces together securely.

Attach a suction line to the check valve located at the bottom of the pump cylinder. The suction line should extend from the bottom of the pump cylinder into the hand well, and the opening should be at least a foot under the top of the water. Your suction line may be very short and drop almost straight into the well, or it may be longer and require one or more turns in order to reach the water. Each situation is different, and you will need to adjust the line to suit your specific needs. This can easily be done by adding sections of PVC and corner pieces until the line reaches the water supply.