Converting a Shallow Well and Jet Pump to Year Round Usage

[PlumbDIYer]

Have an existing shallow well (3 ft diamete with galavanized steel walls) would like to use all year round. Has a black 1 1/4" polypro tube with a foot valve (exposed to the air rising up thru the center of most of the well), exits thru galvanized steel well wall approx 3-4 ft below ground level, goes undergound for a short distance the comes out for a few feet and attaches to the pump. Pump/tank/HW heater are located beneath the cottage on a plywood base. Thinking of making a heated/insulated ensclosure for these items. But need to address the well & well pipe/tube and preventing them from freezing before reaching the pump.

Want recommendations do you have for converting this existing type of installation for year round usage in The Great White North of Southern Ontario Canada - eh ?

Just thinking out loud here: What if I change the poly tube to 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 copper pipe with a foot valve and put a heat trace on it from the surface of the water leading to the pump enslosure. Could I put a pitless adapter on the top end of the vertical pipe and use it to connect to the horizontal pipe existing the well wall and leading to the pump?

Will the shallow well still be subject to freezing?

Is a deep well a better option? How expensive is it? What would be required to ensure no freezing with a deep well?


Thanks in advance for your help

 

[Gary Slusser]

Does any of the well stick out of the ground, and if so how much?

What is the water level in the well; how deep from the surface of the yard?

The water line, how deep is it from the well to where it comes out of the ground?

To winterize the system, how do you drain water out of the water line now?

What supports the water line inside the well?

What type cover is on the well?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[PlumbDIYer]

Gary:

Does any of the well stick out of the ground, and if so how much?
Yes, about 1 ft

What is the water level in the well; how deep from the surface of the yard?
About 15-20ft

The water line, how deep is it from the well to where it comes out of the ground?
About 10ft

To winterize the system, how do you drain water out of the water line now?
Pull the tube up to let the water drain/flow out then push it back to the original position (any water remaining is submerged along with foot valve

What supports the water line inside the well?
Just hangs by itself, from where it exits the well. Rigid poly tube, slumps down and hangs down the center into the water


What type cover is on the well?
Cover is plywood with a fiberglass covering on one side. Plywood is kept in place by 2 concrete semi-circular slabs

Hope this helps answer your questions. In terms of water supply and quality-we get the water tested regularly and only once a few years ago did it come back needing disinfecing. Since then we treat it in the spring and haven't had any problems

 

[Gary Slusser]

Gary:

Does any of the well stick out of the ground, and if so how much?
Yes, about 1 ft

What is the water level in the well; how deep from the surface of the yard?
About 15-20ft

The water line, how deep is it from the well to where it comes out of the ground?
About 10ft

To winterize the system, how do you drain water out of the water line now?
Pull the tube up to let the water drain/flow out then push it back to the original position (any water remaining is submerged along with foot valve

What supports the water line inside the well?
Just hangs by itself, from where it exits the well. Rigid poly tube, slumps down and hangs down the center into the water


What type cover is on the well?
Cover is plywood with a fiberglass covering on one side. Plywood is kept in place by 2 concrete semi-circular slabs

Hope this helps answer your questions. In terms of water supply and quality-we get the water tested regularly and only once a few years ago did it come back needing disinfecing. Since then we treat it in the spring and haven't had any problems

Then the water in the well should not freeze. So you would build the insulated 'room' for the pump, water line and tank etc. and heat it some and be good to go. You wouldn't need to change the poly, if it truly is poly pipe because it is much more forgiving if frozen than any metal or PVC. And you can use heat tape on poly just check the high temp of the tape but being it's 10 feet deep in the well, I don't know that the line would freeze.