Winter water supply from a well: an overview of the best options and arrangement schemes

Do you need your own stationary water supply system capable of providing private house water all year round? Agree that it will be very offensive to stay without water with the onset of cold weather, especially if there is a well in the suburban area that serves as a source of water intake.

You decided on your own to make winter water from a well that will be suitable for use in any weather, but don’t know the subtleties and nuances of this process?

We will help to deal with all the features - the article describes the best ways and analyzes the layout of an autonomous water supply system for year-round operation. The material is equipped with visual photographs.

Step by step the process of preparing the water supply system for winter, including the warming of all important nodes, was considered. Useful video recommendations from experienced plumbers are provided.

Features of arranging a winter water supply

Winter water supply is necessary if you plan to use a water supply system from a well throughout the year.

Such an autonomous system has many advantages:

• well water with proper arrangement of the source has excellent quality characteristics and taste;
• well care can be carried out independently, without involving highly paid specialists;
• the water supply system from the well is completely autonomous and even in the event of a power outage it will be possible to extract water manually;
• to increase operational efficiency, you can use submersible pump required power.

If the arrangement of the well was carried out in accordance with all the rules, the source and the connected water supply system will last for many years.

The device of a winter water supply system has a number of its features, including:

1. The presence of a warmed well or wellnot subject to freezing throughout the year.
2. The need to comply with bias to prevent stagnation of water and ensuring gravity drainage during conservation.
3. Preservation system, implying the possibility of a complete drain of water into the well, shutting down the pumping equipment and closing the well.

In addition, it is necessary that the layout of the pipeline takes into account local climatic conditions.

If the system is to be used during the frosty period, the pipeline must be reliably protected from freezing.

A well is not only a device for drawing water for household needs, but also a decorative structure decorating a suburban area

Ways to arrange a winter water supply

For a water supply system that will perform its main function - supplying water all year round, you must choose one of two options:

1. Lay the water supply so that the pipes run below the depth of freezing of the soil.
2. Lay pipes above the freezing horizon, but at the same time making them warm.

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider them in more detail.

Method number 1 - below the freezing depth

This method is advisable to apply in the case when the freezing depth is not more than 150 cm. In this case, the value of the freezing depth is determined on the basis of data for the last 10 years.

It is also worth considering that very cold winters occasionally occur when the ground freezes below. Based on this, it becomes clear that the laying of pipes should be carried out to a depth equal to the depth of freezing of soil in the region plus 20 - 30 cm.

The water supply device begins with the excavation of a trench of the required depth from the well to the point of entry of the water supply into the house.

At the bottom of the trench sand is poured with a layer of 10 cm and water pipes are laid. The trench is filled with earth, soil at the site of filling is compacted.

Despite the fact that this is the easiest and cheapest way to create a winter water supply system from a well, there is a problem with the choice of pipes: polyethylene pipes will not work here, because they will not withstand the mass of soil pressing from above, and metal pipes (steel) will corrode.

The problem can be solved by treating the pipes before installation with an anti-corrosion compound.

To lay the pipeline at great depths, thick-walled polyethylene pipes can be used, but at the same time they must be laid in a protective corrugated casing

In addition to the problem with the choice of pipes, this method of installing a winter water supply system has several more disadvantages:

• when carrying out repair work there is a need for a large amount of earthwork;
• the difficulty of finding a damaged section of the pipeline;
• the probability of freezing and rupture of pipes in the water supply system in case of insufficient deepening of the water supply system.

To minimize the number of accidents in the water supply system, it is recommended to make as few pipe joints as possible, since it is at the joints that leaks most often occur.

Also, when installing a winter water supply system below the level of seasonal freezing, it is necessary to carefully monitor the tightness at the junction of the water supply pipes to the well.

When laying the pipeline below the level of seasonal freezing, the trench is deepened by 20 - 30 cm to ensure the formation of a sand cushion of 15 cm and to lay pipes at the required depth

Method number 2 - insulation of the water supply

With this method, the water supply is buried to a depth of 40-60 cm, but the pipes are laid in a trench insulated.

For the northern regions, it would be advisable to lining the trench with brick or cellular concrete blocks to increase the heat preservation.

Of course, this will significantly increase the cost of building a winter water supply, but it gives a 100% guarantee against freezing.

From above, such a trench is covered with concrete slabs and covered with soil. Pipes for the installation of insulated water pipes are usually used the most common: polymer low pressure and a suitable diameter.

What insulation to use? Two options are possible here:

• hard heat-saving shells from foam or extruded polystyrene foam (“shell”);
• soft thermal insulation materials (foamed polyethylene options, mineral and basalt wool with externally water-repellent protection).

When choosing a heat-insulating material for pipes, attention must be paid not only to its cost and ease of use, but also to its physical properties.

For example, mineral wool is an inexpensive and easy-to-install insulation, but has high water-absorbing properties, which means that it must be used with the mandatory installation of a vapor barrier layer.

Basalt wool based on sedimentary rocks is a rather heavy insulation that cannot be used for pipes of small diameter.

The choice of insulation should be made based on terrain conditions: soil moisture, freezing depth, and also taking into account the diameter and type of pipes

For filling trenches with insulated pipes, it is best to use not excavated soil, but crushed stone or expanded clay.

These materials have a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than soil, and therefore provide a longer heat retention.

Organization of winter water supply

The winter water supply system in its composition is not much different from summer water supply. It also includes the following elements: pump, water pipes, storage tank or accumulator, drain valve.

At the same time, the design of the winter system requires compliance with certain rules.

Step # 1 - we insulate the pump for water supply

The pump and its power cable need to be insulated. For thermal insulation of the pumping station, you can use ready-made heat-insulating systems or build a casing yourself using mineral wool, polystyrene foam or other heaters.

The junction of the pump and water pipes (pit) also requires insulation. Typically, the size of the pit is 0.5 x 0.5 x 1.0 m. The walls of the pit are lined with brick, and the floor is covered with a layer of crushed stone or concrete screed.

Equipment included in the winter water supply system does not need to be insulated if it is located in a pit below the level of soil freezing

How to choose a pumping station read in this article.

Step # 2 - insulating the accumulator

Storage tank or accumulator must also be insulated. The tank acts as a drive, allowing the water supply system to run smoothly.

In the absence of a storage tank, the system will periodically shut down, which will lead to wear of all its elements.

For thermal insulation of the accumulator, you can use the following types of insulation:

• polystyrene or expanded polystyrene;
• mineral and basalt wool;
• polyurethane foam and foamed polyethylene;
• small-mesh rolled heaters with a foil layer.

The process of insulation consists in the device of the external casing of the accumulator, followed by finishing with the final material, if necessary.

If possible, it is advisable to insulate the technical room in which the accumulator is located. This step will be an additional preparation for the winter.

Step # 3 - take care of the water pipes

For an insulated winter water supply with a laying depth of 40-60 cm, the best option would be to choose low-pressure polyethylene pipes.

In comparison with metal, they have the following advantages:

• not subject to corrosion;
• low specific gravity;
• easy to install;
• much cheaper in cost.

The diameter of the pipes is calculated based on the planned water consumption at the design stage of the water supply system.

Water consumption depends on the number of people living in the house, the availability of water-consuming devices, the amount of water used for watering and caring for animals and other factors.

For example, a pipe with a diameter of 25 mm has a throughput of 30 l / min, 32 mm - 50 ml / min, 38 mm - 75 l / min. Most often for country houses and country houses with an area of ​​up to 200 m², HDPE pipes with a diameter of 32 mm are used.

And read more about how to choose a heater for water pipes Further.

The choice of pipe diameter depends on the length of the water supply system: the longer the length, the larger the diameter of the used polyethylene pipes

Step # 4 - set the drain valve and pressure switch

A drain valve is needed to preserve the system, thanks to it, water can drain into the well. With a small length of water supply, the drain valve can be replaced by a bypass drain pipe.

The relay performs the function of maintaining pressure in the water supply, ensuring its uninterrupted operation and preventing breaks and stagnation of water. At achievement of the maximum indicator of fullness of pipes pressure switch will turn off the pump.

Installing a pressure switch and a drain valve is not complicated, the main thing is to adhere to the circuit recommended by the equipment manufacturer

Small installation tricks

Work on the device begins with the preparation of a scheme (project) of water supply. The diagram clearly shows the path that water makes from the water intake point to the wiring point of the water supply system in the house.

The wiring in the house can be performed in two ways:

• consistentwhen a pipe is laid along the entire house and several water consumers leave it;
• collectorin which a separate pipe is drawn to each water consumer.

The first method is recommended to be used if the house does not have powerful sources of water consumers and 1-3 people live.

In the presence of a washing machine, watering hoses, automatic watering and irrigation systems, when living in a house of more than 3 people, a collector water supply system is recommended, which ensures sufficient pressure for comfortable water use.

Pipe laying can be performed above the freezing depth, but at the same time water pipes and other elements of the system will need additional insulation

The technology for the construction of the winter water supply will be as follows:

1. Development of a water supply scheme. The choice of pipe materials and their laying depth.
2. Digging trenches under pipes.
3. Installation of pumping equipment, hydraulic accumulator.
4. Pipe connection with pumping equipment and a hydraulic accumulator.
5. Insertion of the intake pipe into the well.
6. Installation of insulated pipes from the well to the house.
7. The layout of the water supply system inside the house.

Installation of pipes from the well to the house is carried out using special bends - short pipes with threads at the ends. The squeeze is pressed against the pipe by flanges or fitting adapters.

Both designs must be carefully sealed to prevent leaks. HDPE pipes are interconnected by means of soldering or fittings.

Joints must be treated with silicone sealant. Processing with bitumen and mastic is prohibited!

The immersion depth in the well of the intake pipe of the surface pump should fall just below the water level or not less than 50 cm from its bottom. When lowering to the bottom, the elements of the bottom filter will be sucked in.

Before installing the intake pipe, water is pumped out of the well to ensure that it can be sealed to the elbow of the outlet pipe from the well.

It is advisable to equip the knee with a faucet for the possibility of shutting off the water supply during repairs.

Pipes from the well are laid with the creation of a slope towards the well, to ensure drainage of water from the water supply system during conservation work.

The slope can be controlled using the building level. To ensure gravity drainage, it is enough to observe a slope of 2 degrees.

If the pipes need to be insulated, then the installation of finished heat-insulating forms of insulation is best done before laying the pipes in the trench

Another way to create a winter water supply system is the method of heating pipes. To do this, a heating cable or plates are used that are mounted along the pipes or wound in a spiral.

The device of such a cable is advisable if the site is uninterruptedly supplied with electricity.

When the power is turned off, the non-insulated pipe will immediately freeze and the water supply will fail.

The best option can be considered a combined method in which the insulated pipes are heated heating cable. In this case, the cable will consume the minimum amount of electrical energy.

An innovative way of a water supply device

More recently, a new method has been developed to create a winter water supply system based on the use of flexible polymer pipes insulated by an industrial method.

There is a waterproofing layer on top of the insulation shell of such pipes, and a special channel is made along the surface of the pipe for laying the heating cable, which greatly simplifies installation and shortens the installation time of the water supply.

The pipes are flexible and are delivered in bays, so that the number of joints can be minimized, and the risk of leaks and the need for repairs can be minimized.

The cost of such pipes is quite high, but using them, you save on insulation, and simplify the installation of the water supply system. Legend: d - pipe diameter; e is the thickness of the pipe; e1 is the thickness of the protective shell; D - outer diameter of the pipe with insulation

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Installation of finished heat-insulating elements on pipes before laying them in a trench:

Winter plumbing in a private house:

Installation of heating cable:

The installation of a winter water supply system is a simple process that allows you to continuously receive water throughout the year. The basic principle of creating a winter water supply system is to prevent freezing of pipes and system elements.

This can be done by installing a thermal insulation system using heat-insulating materials or by laying pipes below the level of soil freezing. The choice of method depends on the climatic conditions of the terrain, landscape and hydrogeological features of the site, as well as on the personal preferences of the owner.

If you have the necessary knowledge or skills in arranging a winter water supply system from a well, please leave your comments in the block below. There you can ask questions of interest on the topic of the article.