What Size Well Pump Do I Need?

What determines pump size

• Well depth & water level — deeper wells need more horsepower to lift water.
• Household demand — how many fixtures, bathrooms, and people draw water at once.
• Flow rate (GPM) needed — enough to run a couple of fixtures at once without pressure dropping.
• Irrigation / livestock — these push the required flow much higher.

Why “bigger” isn’t always better

An oversized pump can over-pump the well and short-cycle; an undersized one runs constantly and never satisfies the house. Both wear out early. The right pump is matched to your specific well and demand.

Submersible vs. jet

Most modern, deeper NC wells use a submersible pump (efficient, quiet, long-lasting). Jet pumps suit shallow wells and certain retrofits.

The takeaway

Sizing is a calculation, not a guess — it’s the number-one cause of early pump failure. We size it to your well depth and household before installing. See pump installation.