5 min read

How to Pump Into Pressure with a Simple Pump Hand Well Pump

Written by

Simple Pump

Published on

April 3, 2025

If you’re looking for a way to get water flowing through your home’s plumbing system—without electricity, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to pump into pressure using a Simple Pump hand well pump. Whether you’re living off-grid, preparing for emergencies, or simply want a backup water solution, pumping into pressure can help you access running water from your well without relying on your electric pump.

Prefer video? Check out the full demonstration with Steve Schmid, owner of Simple Pump Company, on our YouTube channel.

👉 Watch on YouTube

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💧 What Does “Pumping Into Pressure” Mean?

Most homes that use well water also have a pressure tank. This tank stores water under pressure using a bladder filled with compressed air. When you open a faucet or flush a toilet, the compressed air pushes the water out and into your plumbing system.

With a Simple Pump hand well pump, you can manually fill this pressure tank during a power outage or when your submersible pump isn’t working. That means you’ll still have access to pressurized water—through your faucets, shower, toilets, and more—without electricity.

🛠 What You Need to Pump Into Pressure

To successfully pump into a pressure tank, you’ll need:

A Simple Pump hand well pump (shallow or deep well)
A check valve and pressure gauge kit
‍A pressure tank
‍A hose or pipe connection to your tank
In freezing climates: a frost-free yard hydrant or spigot access from indoors

🔧 Pro Tip: 1 PSI = 2.31 feet of vertical lift. So if you’re pumping into 45 PSI, that’s like lifting water 100+ feet!

🏡 Connecting the Hand Pump to a Pressure Tank

The way you connect your pump depends on your location and well setup:

For Homes in Freezing Climates:

Most wells use a pitless adapter, and the water line is buried underground.
Use a frost-free hydrant connected to the submersible line as your access point.
Attach your Simple Pump to the hydrant via a hose.
Open the hydrant and start pumping. Watch the gauge to avoid over-pressurizing the system.
Turn off your electric pump breaker before connecting to avoid system damage when power returns.

For Warm-Climate Installations:

Your submersible line often comes up through the well cap.
Pressure tanks are typically located nearby, making it easy to run a hose from the Simple Pump to a spigot or dedicated plumbing port.
Some users install a permanent spigot on the submersible line for easy pump integration.

⚙️ How It Works (And Why It’s Awesome)

When you pump water into the pressure tank:

The check valve ensures no backflow or pressure loss through the weep hole.
The bladder inside the tank compresses, storing energy as water volume increases.
That stored energy provides running water through your home, even without power.

Whether you’re flushing toilets, washing dishes, or taking a quick shower, your Simple Pump makes it possible—manually and reliably.

✅ Compatible with Both Deep and Shallow Well Pumps

Both the Simple Pump Deep Well Hand Pump and the Simple Pump Suction Pump can pump into pressure. The key is to choose the right pump cylinder for your well depth and pressure needs.

For example:

If your static water level is 200 feet and you want to pressurize up to 45 PSI (~104 feet), your total lift is 304 feet.
In that case, you’ll want our Model 100 cylinder, which supports up to 325 feet of lift.

Our team is happy to help you choose the right configuration!