Insulated Well House

[mffarmall]

I originally build a well house. Then my new neighbor wanted to put it into the ground. It would be better. That's why I build my own private well. He put in the cement bunker and it worked well. Until he lost power to it and has to run a 50amp line out the man hole. And he has gotten big. The wife have to climb in to reset things.

 

[eddy622611]

Where I live in N.W. PA most people just have about 14" of well casing sticking out of the ground. The cap has a fitting for a 1" conduit, but the water comes thru the side of the casing below the frost line with a fitting called a pit-less adapter. When you need to pull the pump you just screw a tee handle (made out of 1" pipe) into the pit-less adapter and half of it pulls up with the pump pipe attached. My well is only 100' deep. I don't know if this setup would work for you guys, but it looks clean no need for a pump house. eddy622611

 

[mffarmall]

Our well is 750 down.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Well house is finished except for paint. As soon as we have a warm day I will trim the shingles around the edges of the top. Top is heavy but if I need to remove it I can take the hinges off.

I also plan on making a hinged brace for when the top is raised...so it don't fall on my head when I need to use the receptical.

 

[jinman]

Well house is finished except for paint. As soon as we have a warm day I will trim the shingles around the edges of the top.(.

David, your well is gonna feel really cozy in there. Nice job!

One thing I noticed and it immediately jumped out at me. I've had some experience with roofs over OSB and I can tell you that you need a drip edge around the top and sides of the shingles. If possible, even seal between the drip edge and the shingles. Water will get under the edge of the shingles and your OSB will soon start to rot for 4-6" all around the edge of the shingles. You can help by leaving 1" of shingle overlap on the sides, but water will still find its way to the OSB eventually. Drip edge metal edgeing is very cheap and should be installed before the shingles, but I think you can add it successfully afterwards, especially since your roof is so easy to get to.

 

[carpenter383]

Don't see why not. I have a 115v duplex weatherproof receptacle wired into the 230V service to my well pump. Real handy for running power to nearby jobsites (sheds, etc).

No problem with the building code in my county. Don't thnk your county bldg dept would have any problem with that, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

I have 220 with 110 power off each leg in my 12x16 shed/well house, it works fine. my pump is 110 above ground with a built in pressure tank. I also have outlets and an overhead light.....I built the shed around the well, then built a 4ftx4ft treated plywood box with insulation and dirt around the outside. I have no heat in there and it's never frozen yet in sothern indiana

 

[hunterridgefarm]

David, your well is gonna feel really cozy in there. Nice job!

One thing I noticed and it immediately jumped out at me. I've had some experience with roofs over OSB and I can tell you that you need a drip edge around the top and sides of the shingles. If possible, even seal between the drip edge and the shingles. .

Jim,

You are right, that was an oversight on my part. I thought I had forgot something. But I should be able to add it with no problem.

Thanks

David

 

[3RRL]

Hi David,
I'm most impressed with your well house project.
You did an excellent job of keeping it simple and yet being very functional. That is a project I've yet to do at my place. Yours and the replies of others will surely help me a lot when I get around to it.
Thanks for taking the time to post it all.
Rob-

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Thanks Rob. I had to keep it simple, too many other projects to get to.

 

[Kfbeal]

Will the moisture eventually get to the OSB? In our area, you don't put OSB unless it's completely covered. I had it on a pump shed and it eventually swelled up and started peeling apart. I recently purchased a 8x10 metal building without floor from Lowe's and put around ours. Insulation isn't much of an issue here though. We just need to keep the wind off of it and most of our wells are fine.

My 4" submersible well is dug 90' feet with the pump sitting at 65'. Water table was at 30'.

It's amazing to read the stories from you all around the states and how different it is. It's amazing reading some of these. I couldn't handle some of the weather and elements you all have to endure.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Kfbeal,

I don't know if I will have a problem with the OSB or not. The only OSB is on the roof and it would be easy to replace, rip a few shingles off. Everything was put together with screws.

I agree it is interesting how things are done differently around the country.

 

[Kfbeal]

I would think if you put the drip edge it wouldn't really bother it for many years. Mine stood for about 6 years before crumpling when Hurricane Ike hit, although we only suffered 40-50 mph winds here. I guess rain and moisture got to it eventually.

I like your hinged roof idea. Many people forget about the time the well goes out and they have to cut a hole in the roof or find some other method of getting the well out. I just planned on putting fork extensions on my FEL and pick my whole well house up.

 

[ryanfarquhar]

David, your well is gonna feel really cozy in there. Nice job!

One thing I noticed and it immediately jumped out at me. I've had some experience with roofs over OSB and I can tell you that you need a drip edge around the top and sides of the shingles. If possible, even seal between the drip edge and the shingles. Water will get under the edge of the shingles and your OSB will soon start to rot for 4-6" all around the edge of the shingles. You can help by leaving 1" of shingle overlap on the sides, but water will still find its way to the OSB eventually. Drip edge metal edgeing is very cheap and should be installed before the shingles, but I think you can add it successfully afterwards, especially since your roof is so easy to get to.

Jinman,

Just read your previous post about the aquifer where you live. I am in Springtown and must be in the first one you mentioned, because our waters' hardness scale is off the chart.

I guess if I ever have to have it drilled again I will know better next time.