winterize flowing well

[merkman]

Pounded a sandpoint this summer and hit an artesian spring.

We have a valve on it and only let it flow when we need it since I dont want to turn the land aound it into a swamp by letting it flow.

So with winter coming up how do I winterize this thing, without leaving it flowing so the water does not freeze and bust the casing?

Thanks

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[3pronghook]

how much of a flow is it? if you can, divert the flow to an area that can handle the water. use a couple of 90 elbows to make it a downspout and let it flow into an oversized pipe. by that I mean use some cheap 4" 3034 sewer pipe. keep a 2-3 inch air gap between the well flow and discharge piping. not sure how far the distance youd have to divert it to is. the shorter the better. another option would be to cap it and wrap it with heat tape and insulate the heck out of it and just leave heat tape on all winter.

good luck

[BAIT956]

I have the same situation at my cabin. My well guy made a pipe with

an expandable plug at the bottom end. Fits in the casing. About 10 feet total. I have had this for about 10 years now with no problems. Of course, you need to pull the

submersed pump every fall and put it in every spring, but I have had no

unwanted flow.

As you can imagine, if your casing breaks, you are going to have real mess.

[jentz]

Have a friend in Pine county who has the same type artesion,They live there year round.The well is covered in straw along with the pipe going to the house (the pipe to house is 6ft underground)at the well he sets up a outlet to a swamp and lets it flow, controled with a hosebib.The ice build up by the pipe exit near the swamp is a sight to see!! Its works for them water all winter.

[merkman]

My well guy made a pipe with

an expandable plug at the bottom end. Fits in the casing. About 10 feet total. I have had this for about 10 years now with no problems.

Do you have any photos of the pipe with expandable plug?

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[merkman]

another option would be to cap it and wrap it with heat tape and insulate the heck out of it and just leave heat tape on all winter.

Would that protect it underground?

[3pronghook]

you say pounded a well? what size casing? the above wells are larger diameter casings. or at least the one with expandable plug is. im guessing your well is 1 1/4"? not many people pound casing bigger than 2" not by hand anyway. those expandable plugs are available for well casings starting at maybe 3". IMO letting it flow or capping it and heat taping will be your best solution. your options are limited unless you have a 3" or larger casing. one thing to remember that the water flowing is going to be around 50 degrees, even in cold weather. yes it may freeze in single digits but youll be surprised to see it thaw and flow again even in the cold winter weather. good luck

[Surface Tension]

Your best bet would be getting a hold of a well driller and see what they suggest.

I'd get rid of it and I'm guessing they'll suggest that too.

Eventually the casing will corrode and then you'll have a bigger mess on your hands.

I'd imagine a rubber plug at the bottom of the casing then filled with grout is what will be done.

[3pronghook]

flowing wells were great before electricity. as you are finding out they can be a big PIA to deal with. I worked in well business for 20 years drilling wells, fixing pumps, sealing wells, managing crews. if you decide to seal it you will be to get it full of a neat cement mixture. it will need to be dome by a licensed well driller. that is good advice to call a well driller but theyre busy this time of year. however, one of the locals should give you some time on the phone. how about a neighbor? if you have a flowing well they should too? see how others in area deal with it.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

We have an old flowing well at our property in LOW county, we just put a shut off valve on the top and cover it with straw every winter and have never had an issue. Spring comes and every year we open the valve and it takes off. We built a huge flower bed around the well head which makes it nice for watering the flowers! Not to say its right or the way you should do it but it seems to be working for us. I would say the best thing you could do if possible is find somewhere near by to pipe it to that wont turn into a hockey rink unless of course you have a hockey rink near by then your set! As mentioned before flows can be a huge PITA. I had one at my first home that was 150 ft and would flow about 55 gpm 4 ft out of the ground out of a 4inch casing. That was fun trying to get rid of water....

[merkman]

It is a 11/4 inch casing.

It flows about 1 to 2 gpm @ 3 ft above ground.

I am sure it will be plugged someday... the neighbor had one for 25 + years before having it plugged by a licensed well driller. I would like to get some use out of it before then.

Was gonna try the standard stuff; along with trying to pressurize it with air to keep the water pushed down (wiould have to check it all winter the first winter to make sure it holds pressure). But that is risky too.

I agree the flowing well is a PIA.

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[merkman]

I think I am going to start here... then make a 10 ft extension for this plug....

Plug the line 10 ft down. Then wet dry vac the remaining water out.

[Dave]

Can you drive the pipe deeper and then connect a yard hydrant?