New well with winter coming.

[BobT]

Last January it was determined that our 75-year old well was in the early stages of collapse. Rather than take our chances and keep using it until it totally collapses we decided to be a little pro-active and drill a new well now. We just finished it last week and I completed back-filling.

The ground is pretty dry. The soil has been loosened by the backhoe work and back-filling. Winter is around the corner. The water line was surprisingly shallow at only 5-1/2 feet deep. We have never experienced a freeze-up in the 20+ years we’ve lived here but I always believed water lines were put in closer to 7 or 8 feet. If it is as warm as last year I will not be concerned (coldest night was only -16 and for only one night) however, if we get a more normal winter where temperatures reach down into the -30 degree range, I’m not so sure.

Would it be best to just leave things alone or run a sprinkler over the area to settle the soil before freeze-up? I also understand that it would take a long time to saturate the ground and settle the area using a lawn sprinkler. It should be noted too that the area where the well is located is also where I pile snow with the snow blower so if we get any snow to speak of, I will be adding an insulating blanket of snow

[delcecchi]

How far is it from the well to the house? If I was worried, I would either put foam insulation on the ground or get a few bales of hay/straw and spread that around a foot or so thick.

Are you there all winter using the water? That will help also.

The 5.5 feet must be code where you are so you should be ok. But a little extra insulation wouldn't hurt. Even a bunch of leaves with plastic over them.

[BobT]

That might be a good idea. I do have straw bales that I could use.

[Surface Tension]

Saturating with water and packing it down would make the frost go down further.

The straw and piling snow isn't a bad idea.

[krinkle]

I would say no to packing it down now. Air will insulate better than wet compacted soil. A blanket of snow on top will keep it insulated to. Thats if we get snow this year.

[BobT]

Thanks. Gowing up in northern MN I recall most water lines were put in a bit deeper and maybe 5.5' is not a risk either way. Sounds like you guys think the loose soil is actually less risk than the rest of the line. The added air in the soil would seem to support that view but I wasn't too sure. I may be concerned about nothing but adding a little straw would be an inexpensive insurance.

Thanks,

[nobody05]

I wouldnt worry about it to much.

[delcecchi]

Thanks. Gowing up in northern MN I recall most water lines were put in a bit deeper and maybe 5.5' is not a risk either way. Sounds like you guys think the loose soil is actually less risk than the rest of the line. The added air in the soil would seem to support that view but I wasn't too sure. I may be concerned about nothing but adding a little straw would be an inexpensive insurance.

Thanks,

Sure would be, especially if you have the straw laying around anyway.

[Tom7227]

Bob,

I was just wondering if the dry conditions would generally mean that frost is not likely to go down less than if the soil were damp. It makes sense to me that the dry soil would have less frost and I was wondering what folks thought. Of course the weather conditions never are the same so maybe it is hard to know.

Tom

[BobT]

Bob,

I was just wondering if the dry conditions would generally mean that frost is not likely to go down less than if the soil were damp. It makes sense to me that the dry soil would have less frost and I was wondering what folks thought. Of course the weather conditions never are the same so maybe it is hard to know.

Tom

That's pretty much where my train of thought has been.

[CAMAN]

There's a reason foundations need to be dug 42?? (Or is it 48?) inches as that is a safe depth that usually doesnt freeze. Most winters in MN frost will only go down 2-3 feet under grassy surfaces more if it's just dirt. Some winters frost has been known to go 60+ inches but those are the rare ones with little/no snow and long stretches of way below zero temps.