Well

[foggy1111]

The water is only 8 feet below ground at my new sand-point well. I have a 1 1/2 " steel pipe for a well casing. I pulled my pump and drained it for winter storage, as I only use the well for summer needs on my deer land. So....all I have is a steel pipe sticking out of the ground about two feet.

This well is in Zone 3 in northern MN. I am concerned about the cold being transmitted down the pipe and causing a freeze to burst the well pipe. It gets to -35 below.....so its pretty extreme conditions in northern MN.

Anyone know about cold being transmitted down a pipe like this? Am I safe from a freeze at 8 feet deep? Or....should I build a box to insulate?

 

[gauthier]

Wouldn't think even where you live it freezes 8 ft down,,and if the pipe is open on both ends wouldn't see how it could burst.

 

[DaveOmak]

This place I moved into has a frost-free on the house water line. Last winter the cold transfered to the PVC 90 deg elbow the previous owner had installed on the inlet and the elbow cracked. Needless to say, at 5 deg I was diggin it up and gluing and capping it until the rest of the ground thawed and I could fix it right. The owner had buried the frost free 24 inches. So I would say the cold can be transmitted down the metal pipe.
It was real strange heading out to the barn and seeing water rising out of the ground. Not a job I wanted to do.

One thing you might think about is inserting a capped, both ends, piece of thin wall pvc, that mostly fills the pipe diameter wise, from the surface down as deep as you can. Wait for the static level to return to normal. Put a cap on the well casing. Then there should only be about a 1/4" of water surrounding the pvc pipe.
If the water freezes, the pvc should collapse and relieve the pressure on the well casing.
You might also dig down several feet and install 6" pvc pipe surrounding the well casing. Then maybe fill it with foam or other insulation.
Anything you can do today might save you some work later?
I'm sure others will have ideas that have worked for them.

 

[ToadHill]

Don't know what the frost line is in your area but I doubt it's 8 feet. Just to be sure I'd pile several bales of straw around the pipe that sticks out of the ground and cover it with another bale. With that setup the ground around here won't frees in the winter. I'm in ag Zone 4.

 

[MikeD74T]

Cut a piece of foam rubber for a snug fit to the ID of the pipe. Put a stout piece of string thru it to a backer (stick, nail, etc) & shove the foam down the pipe to 6' below grade(or to water level). Pour in a gallon of RV antifreeze. Foam will stop any circulation/dilution & antifreeze will pump out in the spring. Also I agree with insulating the pipe & ground with a couple bales of hay. MikeD74T

 

[gauthier]

Pour antifreeze down a water well.

 

[20 20]

I doubt you'd have any issue's

 

[MikeD74T]

Pour antifreeze down a water well.

I was quite specific about what type of antifreeze, you can drink the RV stuff, in fact I did for a while when my solar system sprang a leak. MikeD74T

 

[k0ua]

To help clarify, RV anti-freeze, is not the anti-freeze in the radiator or water jacket of the RV's engine/cooling system which is likely ethylene glycol (even the long life antifreeze like dex-cool is mostly ethylene glycol) Ethylene glycol is poison to humans and animals. The Poster is talking about the anti-freeze used in RV's and for other purposes to keep its interior water systems from freezing when the RV is "winterized". This antifreeze is propylene glycol, and it is usually sold dyed a pink color, is non poison to humans and animals, in fact propylene glycol is often added to food items, Now I would not drink the stuff you buy in the bottle to winterize your RV, as it is not food grade, but I think if some got in your food/water, you would be ok.
James K0UA

 

[gauthier]

I wouldn't pour antifreeze of any kind down my well even if I saw you take a drink of it,,but,thats just me.

 

[brokenknee]

My line from my well to the house is 8 feet down. That has not been a problem. Did have a problem once were it comes out of the ground under the crawl space of my house. The heat tape went bad. I live in central MN and I think the frost line here is 42". At eight feet you should not have a problem.

I would not recommend pouring antifreeze down the well. Even if it is food grade.

 

[Molerj]

So, you have the pipe you drove into the ground & have a jet pump somewhere above ground? You disconnected the pump & the pipe that is sticking out of the ground is empty down to 8' below the surface where the water level is? If that is the case, I don't think you have to worry about the cold traveling down the pipe and freezing 8' down.

 

[PILOON]

Since the level is 8" down you then have 8 ' of air in the pipe.
And that won't freeze.
Do, however have a cap on the top as water (rain, snow) will freeze to the upper exposed pipe and just maybe enough to plug the pipe.
Also will keep vermin out.

 

[foggy1111]

My big question is cold transmitting down the steel pipe (due to the metal being such a good conductor)....beyond the normal frost depth. Around here its typically thought that six feet is the frost line on a normal winter.

I am going to put some foam over the pipe....and I already did hang a rubber hose down the pipe and sealed the inlet with duct tape.

I was told a few "old wives tales" about this situation....so I was just trying to learn from others experience. Thanks for your inputs.

OH....and I will not pour anything down my well. (grin)