How to prevent wells from freezing

[Alaskan XL]

I have a 16' deep well, 1 1/4" pipe, topped with a classic pitcher pump. Installed a check valve last summer to help maintain prime when out for a long weekend trip. Pumped water no problem 3 weeks ago, but this last weekend it appeared to have frozen up, likely from standing water in the pipe exposed to the frozen ground just below the surface.

Any clever ideas/widgets/etc on how to prevent freezing while still maintaining prime?

 

[AGL4now]

Build a building around it. Or use 1/4 cup of recreational (Non-toxic) Anti-freeze.

 

[Alaskan XL]

Already inside the cabin, and has 2" of pipe insulation from floor to the ground.

Dumping antifreeze in it isn't really practical - more looking for a check valve arrangement designed to allow for easy pressure release so water drains back down to aquifer level on demand, rather than having to remove the check valve to release pressure.

 

[AGL4now]

Already inside the cabin, and has 2" of pipe insulation from floor to the ground.

Dumping antifreeze in it isn't really practical - more looking for a check valve arrangement designed to allow for easy pressure release so water drains back down to aquifer level on demand, rather than having to remove the check valve to release pressure.

Heat tape, Battery, Solar pannel...???

 

[ADfields]

Tee in a small line below the check valve, bring it up inside the cabin and put a valve on the end in a handy place. Close the valve to pump, open valve to let air in so water will drain back down. Just a ¼” flexible copper or PEX line is plenty and easy to hide.

 

[Maast]

Or a T line with a pinhole weeper, when pressurized it'll leak a drip every couple of mins but when not it'll allow air to seep back into the line.

But it probably wouldnt maintain prime for more than a half hour or so.

 

[Mr. Pid]

I have a 16' deep well, 1 1/4" pipe, topped with a classic pitcher pump. Installed a check valve last summer to help maintain prime when out for a long weekend trip. Pumped water no problem 3 weeks ago, but this last weekend it appeared to have frozen up, likely from standing water in the pipe exposed to the frozen ground just below the surface.

Any clever ideas/widgets/etc on how to prevent freezing while still maintaining prime?

Insulate the pipe for the first couple of feet below the surface. I dropped a 6" PVC pipe over my water pipe including a foot or two below grade and shot it full of expanding foam. It works great. If you have access to the pipe right above the surface you could heat it with a heat gun or blow dryer, or even a propane torch. I used to do that regularly. You could also add a small valve on top to allow you to let the pipe drain when you leave and maintain prime with a full pipe while you're there. You'd have to prime it when you got there but it wouldn't be frozen.

 

[akguy454]

I am a plumber

I am a plumber

what I would do is put a T just behind the check valve with a hose bib. When you leave open the hose bib. Like what Maast said.

 

[Alaskan XL]

Thanks for all the ideas. Found online a "control check valve" that as 4 small ports on it for various applications, just screw in a plug for each port, and remove one of them below the plunger before you go to leave to bleed it off. Open one above to release water in stand pipe between valve and well head. Can also plumb in a small line below for sanitizing/bleaching well as needed. Will be instaliing over the 4th and give it a go.

 

[pushomikuor]

Insulate the pipe for the first couple of feet below the surface. I dropped a 6" PVC pipe over my water pipe including a foot or two below grade and shot it full of expanding foam. It works great. If you have access to the pipe right above the surface you could heat it with a heat gun or blow dryer, or even a propane torch. I used to do that regularly. You could also add a small valve on top to allow you to let the pipe drain when you leave and maintain prime with a full pipe while you're there. You'd have to prime it when you got there but it wouldn't be frozen.

Thank you for the excellent idea Mr.Pid. I learned something new today!