Driving a New Well
- Thread starter foggy1111
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hr3
Veteran Member
I guess you got all your connections good and tight to hold the pressure that long,, Very nice job.. I wish I had sandy soil,, I started digging a well and it's all gray clay.. 
Gloat, away!!! you deserve too... very nice setup. So few of my projects (especially Plumbing projects!!!) go smoothly... I have a hot water heater right now with a pilot light that doesn't stay on :mur:
brin
Super Member
foggy...You have a right to gloat...geeez, it does feel good when a plan comes together with no hitches - doesn't it...So often something always seems to come about to delay or screw up the best laid plans...Murphy gets fooled sometimes...LOL
OP
foggy1111
Elite Member
Thanks for all the comments guys. Yes, up in our part of the world sandpoint wells are quite common and the jackhammer method is pretty well known. Most of the rental yards carry the attchements. I used a 40 lb (wieght) hammer as I dove an 1 1/4 inch pipe to a shallow depth. But...with bigger pipe or deeper holes or rocky ground (etc) I would go with the heavier (60 lb) jack hammer. The jackhammer is the best money you can spend on this kinda work. (unless its a box of beer for a buncha your buddies and a maul :thumbsup::laughing: )
dieselscout80
Veteran Member
Foggy how deep could a person drive a well like this?
OP
foggy1111
Elite Member
A sand point well is normally driven to a max depth of 25 feet. The reason is that with a pump at the top of the ground the most you can pull water up via a vaccuum is prox 25 feet. You could run a shallow well with a pitcher pump....and for some purposes that may be all thats needed. I suppose I could fill a 5 gallon bucket in 2 minutes or so with the pitcher pump....but the next pail may take a bit longer.....as you start to wear down. :laughing:
From what I have read....any well over 25 feet deep is a deep well.
I am not an expert on wells.....but there is a wealth of information on wells via a google search.....as well as via a search on wells at this site. Basically I just followed the instructions from the U of MN website on wells (found via google).
From what I have read....any well over 25 feet deep is a deep well.
I am not an expert on wells.....but there is a wealth of information on wells via a google search.....as well as via a search on wells at this site. Basically I just followed the instructions from the U of MN website on wells (found via google).
OP
foggy1111
Elite Member
I was just answering a post on check valves....and it made me look at my old post from last year (above).
This spring I got my pump out of storage and attached it with the coupling. I think it took two primes and I had cold clear water flowing again. This year we are installing a self-standing laundry sink with a faucet. We will also keep a garden hose attached to fill tanks.
As my well is quite shallow (only 8 feet deep) and it gets VERY cold here....I was concerned with it freezing down the steel pipe. A feind told me to hang a garden hose down the pipe as it's supposed to eliminate freeze problems.confused:?) The pipe didnt freeze.....so the idea is "plausible".
A year later and I am happy with my water supply.
This spring I got my pump out of storage and attached it with the coupling. I think it took two primes and I had cold clear water flowing again. This year we are installing a self-standing laundry sink with a faucet. We will also keep a garden hose attached to fill tanks.
As my well is quite shallow (only 8 feet deep) and it gets VERY cold here....I was concerned with it freezing down the steel pipe. A feind told me to hang a garden hose down the pipe as it's supposed to eliminate freeze problems.
confused:?) The pipe didnt freeze.....so the idea is "plausible". A year later and I am happy with my water supply.
While "we" are updating
the pilot light on the hot water heater turned out be the vent was clogged. (Actually, the old rusted pipe inside the brick chimney had collapsed into a pile and blocked the venting of gases.) :confused2:
