Insulating Pipe on Well

[hunterridgefarm]

Should have our water on in the next day or two and I need to insulate the pipe that is above ground on the well. I have aprox 3' of pipe (PVC) that comes out of the top of the casing, makes two-three turns before going underground.

I have an outdoor receptacle at the well so I could plug in the "heat tape" but all I have found has been too long. I was think about just wraping it it the foam type insulation and some fiberglass insulation then covering it with an old box or foam cooler for a temporary fix until I can build something better.

My old well was bored so there was never a problem of freeze but this well is drilled so some of the PVC is exposed and we will still have some cold nights ahead.

Temps will be in the 20's later in the week and I don't want to take a chance of having the pipes freeze.

Any suggestions?

Never had to do this before so do you think wraping in insulation and covering it will be enough protection until I can build a better structure?

Also if anyone has a picture of your well house post it. I plan to build something small where I can remove the roof if it needs serviced but leave enough room incase I need to add a heat lamp at some point since temp can get to the single digits and low teens.

Any advice you can offer will be appreciated!!

I can get a picture if needed.

David

 

[Tig]

We use pitless connectors to keep the pipe under ground.
One could be retrofitted to your well to avoid freezing problems.

 

[CurlyDave]

For temporary service, you can do what I did.

I had the same problem and ended up running an extension cord to the well head. Then I plugged a Thermocube into the extension cord. This is a thermostat which turns on electric power @ 35 degrees, off at about 40.

A Wal-Mart clamp-on light with 100 Watt bulb, plugs into the Thermocube, and clamps onto one of the pipes.

Now for the temporary wellhouse. Two plastic garbage cans, one inside the other for a trapped air space between them, turned upside down and placed over the wellhead.

If you get any wind, tie a cinderblock to each handle on the garbage cans and you are done.

I intend to replace this with something a bit more aesthetic this summer, but this works and it all went together in about an hour.

Cost is low, and all of the components are useful for other things next year when I replace it.

Am I a redneck-in-training or not?

 

[PSDStu]

Should have our water on in the next day or two and I need to insulate the pipe that is above ground on the well. I have aprox 3' of pipe (PVC) that comes out of the top of the casing, makes two-three turns before going underground.

I have an outdoor receptacle at the well so I could plug in the "heat tape" but all I have found has been too long. I was think about just wraping it it the foam type insulation and some fiberglass insulation then covering it with an old box or foam cooler for a temporary fix until I can build something better.

My old well was bored so there was never a problem of freeze but this well is drilled so some of the PVC is exposed and we will still have some cold nights ahead.

Temps will be in the 20's later in the week and I don't want to take a chance of having the pipes freeze.

Any suggestions?

Never had to do this before so do you think wraping in insulation and covering it will be enough protection until I can build a better structure?

Also if anyone has a picture of your well house post it. I plan to build something small where I can remove the roof if it needs serviced but leave enough room incase I need to add a heat lamp at some point since temp can get to the single digits and low teens.

Any advice you can offer will be appreciated!!

I can get a picture if needed.

David

David,

In the picture I attached you can see most of the pump house I built for our well. I just dug a footer and poured some concrete, used some left over block I had, and then covered the block with some stone I had left over that I had used to cover my foundation block walls.

I also made the roof removable and added some insulation. Here in the Panhandle it gets into the 20's during the winter.

It works well to cover the pump controller, pressure switch and tank.

If you have any left over block and brick from your new home that might be something to build with.

Stu

 

[westbrooklawn]

David -

I will be interested in answers since I will be facing the same problem down the road. Have you seen the fake rock covers that are quite common (link below)? They are made of fiberglass, and provide a closed in area where a 100 Watt bulb would be more than enough to insure no freezing.

To be honest I don't particularly like the looks of the fake rocks, but it might be a nice temporary solution until you build your well house. I believe I have seen these in Lowe's also.

Well Cover Artificial Rocks - Artificial Rock Outlet

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Tig,
I'll talk to my "well guy" about the pitless connector.

CurlyDave,

The trash can idea sounds good. Last night I went out and dug down about a foot and covered the pipe with the foam pipe wrap, filled the hole in, covered the rest of the pipe with the foam then covered/wraped the entire thing in fiberglass pipe insulation. Then took and old, old, thick foam cooler and put over top of it to keep the rain/snow off it with a piece of plywood holding the cooler down and two cinder blocks hold the plywood down...now ya want to talk "red neck in training" . I think I will replace the cooler, plywood, and cinder blocks with a trash can!!! It will look a little more refined until I get something built.


PSDStu,

That is about the size well house I need, maybe even a little smaller. My tank and controler is in the basement, all I have exposed is about 3'of pipe. So I hope this temporary fix hold up until spring or at least till cold nights let-up.

If you get a chance a couple more pics would be nice .

Westbrook,

I looked at those fake rock and they do "look fake". The one I needed was $200.00+ so I walked away know I could build something better, maybe not cheaper but better .

 

[ByronBob]

I think it's called a Pitman adaptor. It comes through the side wall of the casing a few feet below grade and allows everything to stay down.

 

[CurlyDave]

I think I will replace the cooler, plywood, and cinder blocks with a trash can!!! It will look a little more refined until I get something built.

Until I read this I did not think it was possible for my trash can to look more refined than anything in the world, but you have me beat...

 

[Kays Supply]

Here in the midwest, the pitless adapter is pretty much standard equipment. If you ever have to pull the pump you will very glad you have one. We also use the Poly pipe, that also is a must when pulling. If you ever hear that snap of PVC breaking and splash of a pump going down the hole you will never forget it. We have a car wheel on a frame that sets over the hole. You can pull the pump by the pitless and take off with it on poly.

 

[SpringHollow]

Same in the North East. I also tie a nylon rope to the pump just in case although i still use the poly pipe, not pvc.

Ken