Many of us desire to have backup and emergency systems in place to know our family will be well taken care of in times of emergency or power outages. That's why my family has been looking into a hand-water well pump as a backup water solution for our generator.
Whenever I'm thinking about self-sufficiency, I like to think in terms of good, better and best. In this podcast episode (#456), we're discussing water sources.
On our homestead, we have our own well and have had a generator that could supply enough water for us if the power goes out. However, in thinking about how we could make our systems better, we wanted a solution that would work if we ever ran out of fuel to power the generator.
This is why I'm excited to have Jonathan and Cody from Flojak on the podcast to discuss off-grid water solutions for when we don't have the power to pump our well.
About Flojak
Flojak is a trusted provider of manual well pump systems designed to ensure reliable access to water in any situation – whether during a power outage, natural disaster, or for off-grid living.
Flojak empowers individuals and families to maintain water independence and preparedness with products that are easy to install and use and made right here in the USA.
Their innovative hand pumps are engineered for durability, versatility, and exceptional performance, making them an essential tool for your homestead or emergency preparedness plan.
What is a Flojak Pump?
A Flojak pump is a hand-pumped backup well pump. There are various options available, including a lightweight and portable backup hand pump to retrieve well water without electricity.
Flojak pumps deploy in minutes during an emergency or for everyday use. They're also very low profile and can be installed in 2-4” or larger well casings.
The beauty of the Flojak pumps is they can exist in the same well casing alongside your electrical pump.
Why Get a Flojak
If you live in an area where you don't have the option for city or municipal water and you rely on an electric-powered pump, do you know what you will do if the power goes out? How will you get enough water to sustain not only you and your family but your livestock?
As I mentioned, we've gotten by with powering our well with our generator. But I've always wanted a better backup solution if the generator (or the gas to power it) were no longer an option.
You might be in a similar situation. Cody shared that his power seemed to go out every time there was a thunderstorm, and he needed a better solution to his family's water needs.
How Much Water Do We Need Per Day?
If you have a family of four and you have livestock, you're going to need hundreds of gallons of water per day.
- Livestock – A cow alone can drink 30+ gallons a day.
- Hygiene – You'll need upwards of 20 gallons per day for hygiene, this can vary drastically based on the number of people in your family and whether or not you're showering daily, etc.
- Cooking – Cooking will take roughly 1-5 gallons of water per day (again, depending on the cooking you're doing).
- Drinking – Estimate a gallon of water per day per person.
Knowing this makes having a backup water system in place pretty imperative!
Types of Flojak Pumps
There are multiple kinds of pumps available to the home user, one that can pump about a gallon and a half per minute, then another that can give 3-4 gallons per minute.
Within an hour, you can get all the water you'd need for a full day of taking care of your family and animals.
Will a Flojak Work for My Well?
Jonathan was honest in saying that all wells are so different, but in general, if you have a 2 1/16 inch clearance, you can install a Flojak Rigid pump.
There's also the Flojak Ready, which only requires 1 inch of clearance.
Their pumps can reach a depth of 250 feet to the static water level.
Furthermore, you'll need to make sure there's adequate clearance above the hand pump water pump because the handle will come up about two feet to create the pumping action (see photos above as examples of height).
Can I Install a Flojak Myself?
Jonathan says they're very simple; however, it's wise to have someone there to help because they are quite heavy.
They're designed to be as easy to install as possible and not require a plumber or professional.
Are Flojak's Freeze-Proof?
Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, it's not uncommon to have temperatures that dip below freezing for a couple of weeks every winter. When I asked what special precautions need to be taken with a Flojak pump, here's what Jonathan and Cody had to say:
They install weep holes down to seven feet deep. This is taken care of before the pumps are shipped out, so they come already freeze-proofed.
Do Flojaks Require Priming?
I can remember going over to the homestead where my dad grew up, and we'd have to re-prime the pump to get it going again.
Thankfully, Cody says these pumps are self-primed and will start pumping water automatically.
How Hard is the Flojak to Pump?
Cody mentioned that the Flojak hand pumps were specifically designed for a 5-foot elderly woman to be able to pump the water.
There are some caveats to that, in that the deeper your static water level, the harder it will be to pump, but there are settings that you can adjust on the pump itself to make it easier.
How Far Can the Pump Send Water?
Cody mentioned that with his 200-foot well (his static water level is at 170 feet), he's able to pump water from the well to his house (200 feet away) and to his livestock trough (250 feet away) with ease.
Furthermore, the Flojak pump can actually pressurize a home system and fill a pressure tank.
Where to Learn More about Flojak
Visit the Flojak website to learn more about the various hand pump water pump options they have. From there, you can give them a call and chat directly with one of their extremely helpful staff.
