4" PVC liner and pitless adaptor

[misterC]

Hello all,

First time attempt at anything well related here in southern oregon. Here are my stats for the well...

180ft well
6" steel casing down to 73ft
4" pvc liner to 180ft

How do you guys go about installation of a pitless adaptor with a pvc casing and a metal casing? Just "pinch" or push the 4" liner to the casing wall and it seals via pitless adaptor gasket? My gut tells me noooooo. Lol

Or is there a special pitless adaptor that will accommodate holes in both the casing and liner?

And lastly, do well drillers generally install pitless adaptors during the job? Took a peek with a flashlight and didn't see an adaptor? They laid a bunch of bentonite chips and not looking forward to digging those out. County planning told me frost level is only 12-18" so it won't be too bad I hope!

Thanks in advance

 

[Craigpump]

The liner is set below the pitless level, so no special pitless is required.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[misterC]

The liner is set below the pitless level, so no special pitless is required.

Thanks for the reply...just went and looked, the liner is set at ground level with the steel casing sitting 2-3ft above ground.

(I have a temporary shallow well pump hooked up since the static level is 15-20ft)

Here is a pic or two.

 

[misterC]

After some reading, I think I have to cut the 4" liner at just below frost level to install pitless.

Any ideas?

 

[ThirdGenPump]

After some reading, I think I have to cut the 4" liner at just below frost level to install pitless.

Any ideas?

Internal PVC cutter. Drilling suppliers normally carry them. Extensions and frustration. Much easier to set the sleeve at the right depth to begin with, but someone screwed you.

 

[Craigpump]

Internal PVC cutter. Drilling suppliers normally carry them. Extensions and frustration. Much easier to set the sleeve at the right depth to begin with, but someone screwed you.

They sure did.

 

[Texas Wellman]

Judging by that well seal sitting on the ground in your second picture it looks like it was never intended to use with a pitless.

 

[misterC]

Internal PVC cutter. Drilling suppliers normally carry them. Extensions and frustration. Much easier to set the sleeve at the right depth to begin with, but someone screwed you.

Thanks for the reply... I'll look into the tool. I thought the same thing about getting screwed. Lol

 

[misterC]

Judging by that well seal sitting on the ground in your second picture it looks like it was never intended to use with a pitless.

I think your on to something...i checked my neighbors well on vacant acreage and they have the same setup with the well seal.

I have lived in colder areas my whole life and thought pitless adaptors were just how it was to hold the weight. After looking at the well "seal" not the well "cap" it appears that it may be meant for non pitless. I'm loving it by the way lol.

Which raises another question...it snows here but not much. More like snow then thaw the next day or two. Average low in jan is 32. Annual low average 40. Does this seem like an acceptable climate for using the well seal?

I may have a plan...insulate/wrap the drop pipe as far as i can reach down, use the well seal and build an insulated well house. Seem acceptable?

I appreciate the knowledge everyone! Thanks.

 

[Valveman]

With a well seal or any pipe above ground, it only has to get below 32 for a short while to cause a problem. Insulated well cover is the way to go, but I would also add a heater with thermostat. At least it won't freeze as long as the power doesn't go out during the cold spell.

 

[misterC]

With a well seal or any pipe above ground, it only has to get below 32 for a short while to cause a problem. Insulated well cover is the way to go, but I would also add a heater with thermostat. At least it won't freeze as long as the power doesn't go out during the cold spell.

Thangs for the reply...

I'll look into my insulating options. Ordered my pump and poly...ill post pics. Any specific reason why everyone uses a T and not a 90° fitting coming out of the well seal?

 

[ThirdGenPump]

Thangs for the reply...

I'll look into my insulating options. Ordered my pump and poly...ill post pics. Any specific reason why everyone uses a T and not a 90° fitting coming out of the well seal?

A tee with a plug allows use to take out the plug and run directly off the well for testing/troubleshooting purposes. We can also thread a pull bar into the top of the tee if we need to lift on it with a pump hoist.

 

[LLigetfa]

A tee with a plug...

Some folks put a spigot there. Others put a pressure relief valve there.

 

[Reach4]

See https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/homemade-well-tool.65002/ which shows a home made cutter. It seems to me that some kind of stop to keep the cutter at the same height as you cut would be much better than trying to hand hold the same height during the cut.

Maybe you could suspend the drill from a cable during the cut.

A pitless to me seems like an easier connection once installed -- like having a plug and socket for an electrical connection rather than wire nuts in a box. But the wire nuts in a box would probably be easier to put in originally.

Plus there is the no-heater-required aspect of the pitless.