Jet Pump — Well System Glossary
A jet pump is an above-ground well pump that draws water from the well using suction and is typically used in shallow wells or older well installations.
A jet pump is an above-ground well pump that uses suction to draw water from a well. It is the older of the two main residential well pump types — predating the submersible pump — and remains common in homes with shallow wells or in older installations.
How a Jet Pump Works
A jet pump uses a motor-driven impeller to create a high-velocity stream of water through a narrow nozzle called a jet. As this water stream passes through the nozzle, it creates a low-pressure zone that draws groundwater up from the well through the suction pipe. The combination of the jet's suction and the impeller's pumping action moves water into the pressure tank and household plumbing.
This suction-based design has a practical limit: atmospheric pressure can only lift water about 25 feet before the vacuum required exceeds what a pump can create at sea level. This is the defining constraint of shallow-well jet pumps.
Shallow-Well vs. Deep-Well Jet Pumps
A shallow-well jet pump has a single pipe going into the well and works only in wells up to about 25 feet deep. A deep-well jet pump uses two pipes — a suction pipe and a pressure pipe — with the jet assembly located down in the well rather than at the pump. This allows it to reach depths of 75 to 100 feet, though efficiency decreases significantly as depth increases. For wells deeper than 100 feet, a submersible pump is a more efficient solution.
Advantages and Limitations
The main advantage of a jet pump is accessibility — it sits above ground, which makes inspection, service, and replacement relatively straightforward without specialized equipment. A licensed plumber or well contractor can typically replace a jet pump without the truck-mounted pulling equipment required for a submersible pump.
The limitations are depth restriction, reduced efficiency at depth, and exposure to environmental conditions. Jet pumps installed in uninsulated pump houses are vulnerable to freezing in cold climates, and the motor is exposed to temperature extremes that can affect longevity. Submersible pumps, kept at a constant temperature underground, tend to outlast jet pumps in comparable conditions.
Replacement Cost
Jet pump replacement typically costs $400 to $1,200 including parts and labor. Because the pump is above ground and accessible, installation requires less labor than submersible pump work. Well protection plans that cover pump replacement typically cover jet pumps as well as submersible pumps, subject to plan terms.