) has captivated people for a long time with its ease of installation and ease of use. Its popularity has not diminished even today. But many people are interested in whether the Abyssinian well will freeze in winter?

If it is drilled in a heated room, and the simplicity and compactness of the needle allows this option, then there will be no problems with operation, regardless of the time of year. Those who have made a well on the street are concerned with the question: is it possible to use an Abyssinian well in winter? Can. But there are some nuances here. It is clear that it would be best to simply mothball the well until spring, because this is what most summer residents do.

To do this you need:

• remove the pump, regardless of whether it is mechanical or electric;
• drain the water from the pipes to prevent them from bursting during frost (if mistakes were made during installation, you may need to additionally blow out the pipes to get rid of residual water);
• The head is hermetically sealed with thick polyethylene or plastic.

If the needle is located in a region with a fairly warm climate, then the pump can not be removed, but insulated. But even in this case, the water must be drained.

This is what an Abyssinian well looks like in winter

It happens that the Abyssinian well has to be used in winter. If this is a one-time case, then just connect the pump, pump up required quantity water, and then mothball the well back. Please note that when using electric pump It is necessary to first pump water into the pipes so as not to damage the pump.

Construction of an Abyssinian well for winter use

It is worth carrying out the arrangement if the water supply is used regularly in winter.

There are two options here:

1. Move it to a heated room (suitable only for sufficiently powerful electrical units), and run a pipe or hose to the head. In this case, it will be necessary to insulate the pipe and the well head. In warm regions, several layers of mineral wool and polyethylene are sufficient for sealing. In cold regions this may not be enough, in which case a heating cable is required. Or the supply pipe is buried below the freezing level.
2. Construction of the caisson. It is rarely used for this type of well due to the high cost of its construction or the proximity of groundwater.

It should also be taken into account that the original idea Abyssinian well It came to us from hot Ethiopia, and is not designed for use in cold weather. Often its insulation is much more complicated and more expensive than the cost of arrangement and installation.

More information in this video.

Read also:

How to make an Abyssinian well with your own hands? Features of working with a drill for an Abyssinian well Maximum depth of an Abyssinian well for drilling

Arrangement autonomous source water supply in the form of a well is the most optimal solution to the problem of providing water to private households. Pumping the well immediately after drilling allows you to get crystal clean water, but if we want to be able to use it all year round, you need to provide a complete infrastructure. It includes the arrangement of a well for the winter and the construction of a caisson, which is a well that protects the system from aggressive influences environment. Making a caisson for a well with your own hands is absolutely possible.

The well can be insulated and decorated at the same time

Why do you need to build a well?

Do-it-yourself well construction includes a whole range of activities. Properly organized infrastructure and insulation of the caisson make it possible to protect the pipeline network, well and functioning equipment from freezing, and prevents contamination of the internal surfaces of the mine shaft.

The improvement of the source allows it to be refined, that is, to create an attractive appearance. In addition, conditions are created for convenient maintenance of system structural elements.

If a sharp drop in ambient temperature is possible during the cold season, the water supply source must be insulated. When setting up a well, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

• at high level location of soil water exceeding the freezing point, the protective structure should be located above the ground surface;
• It is better to place the equipment in a heated room if you live permanently in the house;
• if the residence is periodic, the equipment should be placed in an underground caisson, since, unlike a cold house, it maintains a positive temperature;
• the water supply pipe is enclosed in a protective casing in soils prone to swelling, cable electrical supply– into a pipe made of dielectric material.

In such a caisson it is comfortable for both the equipment and the person

Without a caisson, constructing a wellhead with your own hands is also possible; in this case, you will have to install an adapter. A well with an adapter without a caisson is the most budget option its arrangement. How to equip such a well in a country house can be seen in the photo.

Methods for insulating a well for the winter

To insulate a well for the winter, use various methods. The construction of a well without a caisson is carried out especially carefully. If the pumping equipment is located at a shallow depth, a special house is built for it. Insulating the well will also help correct installation casing pipe. When executing installation work provide additional measures for heating the pipeline system.

The cardinal solution to the issue is the arrangement of a coffered structure.

If the pump is shallow, make a special house

In order to protect the aquifer and pumping equipment from the adverse effects of the external environment, a special room is installed above the well. If the pump is located shallow, it is placed above the ground in the form of a house.

A well house can have the most different designs

To reduce heat loss around its walls, you can make an earthen fill, thus slightly burying the constructed pavilion into the soil. It is quite possible to make and efficiently insulate a special house with your own hands, although aesthetics appearance such a structure is highly doubtful.

Installing a casing pipe for the head will help

The mine shaft is strengthened with casing. It communicates directly with a clean water source, so external dust, melted snow, and other precipitation should not get inside it. This is fraught with the appearance of harmful bacteria in the system, which is very difficult to get rid of.

Options for arranging the well head

To prevent this phenomenon, the casing is sealed with a steel cap called a cap. There are holes made in it for the passage of communications and there is a reliable hook for pumping equipment. All butt connections and mounting holes sealed with rubber seals.

The cardinal solution is to equip a caisson

Most in a radical way The solution to the problem is caisson equipment. It is an insulated container located at the required depth, sufficiently large sizes. The equipment placed in it functions without problems, regardless of environmental temperature fluctuations and weather conditions.

This is achieved by high-quality thermal insulation of the lid and walls of the tank. In addition, the ease of access to equipment for repairs and maintenance. The bottom of the caisson is placed deeper than the soil freezing level, which helps to constantly maintain a positive temperature in it. Metal or plastic container options are available. You can cast a well from concrete or lay it out of brick with your own hands.

The metal caisson is welded from steel sheets with a thickness of at least four millimeters. Its disadvantages include susceptibility to corrosion and the need for mandatory insulation. TO positive qualities applies high degree waterproofing.

The plastic caisson is installed quickly and easily

A concrete tank is made by pouring concrete mixture into formwork or by installing ready-made rings, often used for constructing wells. Due to the fact that this material absorbs water well, it will require reliable waterproofing.

Brick has low thermal conductivity; therefore, a caisson made from it most often does not require additional insulation. You just need to lay waterproofing on the soil side. This design is easiest to make yourself.

Plastic products have good water resistance, are fairly lightweight and easy to install. They are made industrially and with high-quality insulation they can be located on the surface of the earth.

It may be necessary to insulate or heat the pipeline

If during the cold season the ambient temperature drops to sharply negative values, you will have to insulate or heat the pipeline. The insulation materials currently produced make it possible to solve this problem for almost any climatic conditions. A variety of materials are used as heat insulators, such as mineral wool and basalt fiber, polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam. They all perform their functions well, but each has its own operational characteristics.

Passive pipeline insulation does not provide a complete guarantee of safety against freezing. Its risk increases significantly if the well is used periodically rather than constantly. In this case, you need to heat the system using a heating cable. It can be laid both on the outer and inner surface of the pipe.

Options for insulation and heating of water supply

In the first case, you need to ensure the tightest possible fit. heating element to the pipeline. Cables for internal installation must meet all electrical safety requirements and under no circumstances emit toxic substances during operation.

Options for additional protection during installation

During installation work, additional protection options are provided. In order to be able to preserve the pipeline, the pipeline network is made with a slope in the direction of the source with the installation of a reverse-acting valve. When the pumping equipment is turned off, the water from the pipes flows by gravity back into the shaft, and it is important that there are no cavities where it could linger.

Sometimes the water supply pipe is placed inside a larger cross-section pipe. The air gap between them insulates the structure; the outer pipe can be inserted into a heated room, in which case the efficiency of the system increases significantly.

Attempts to prevent water from freezing by increasing internal pressure in the pipeline are doomed to failure.

Suffice it to remember from a school physics course that the temperature of its crystallization decreases by one degree with an increase in pressure by one hundred and thirty atmospheres, but such parameters are unattainable in everyday conditions.

Making a caisson yourself

If we decide to make a caisson ourselves, we must have welding skills or be able to lay bricks. You can arrange it from concrete rings, but since they have very heavy weight, you won’t be able to do this work yourself; you will have to use loading equipment.

Plastic caissons are manufactured exclusively in a factory method, their cost is quite high. The easiest way to make a structure is from brick or metal. General scheme arrangement of the caisson involves performing the following actions:

• A pit is dug around the casing, which is planned in the geometric center. Its dimensions are determined by the dimensions of the caisson.
• A hole corresponding to the section of the casing is cut in the bottom of the mounted tank, and the structure is lowered onto it from above.
• The supply cable and pipeline are being installed.
• The manufactured caisson is filled with soil up to the top cover.

Pumping equipment, shut-off valves, measuring instruments and various automatic devices. For ease of access to technical devices a ladder is installed in the caisson, and it is equipped with an easily hinged lid.

Concrete construction is the most reliable

The most reliable structure in operation is considered to be a structure made of concrete. In its manufacture, monolithic reinforced concrete or rings with a diameter of one and a half meters can be used. In the latter case, the involvement of workers and special equipment will be required.

Casting a concrete structure

To construct a concrete caisson, a pit at least two meters deep is dug around the casing pipe. Further work is performed in the following sequence:

• stepping back from the edges of the pit by approximately eighty centimeters, install a reinforcing belt;
• construct the formwork, install a hole for communications and cover the formwork with plastic film;
• then the concrete solution is poured;
• after its curing, technological holes are made for the passage of communications;
• the head of the caisson is also reinforced with metal mesh;
• carry out waterproofing of the walls of the structure.

Covering the concrete caisson

If concrete rings are used for the construction of the caisson, then before laying they must be treated with bitumen mastic, otherwise they will leak water and quickly become unusable. They need to be mounted with maximum contact between the mating surfaces. Laying is carried out using loading equipment.

You can fold a brick container with your own hands

It is quite possible to build a brick shaft with your own hands. The design requires minimal insulation and is characterized by strength and reliability. The tank, depending on the need, can be given any shape and size. The work is performed in the following sequence:

• Pre-arranged strip foundation. To do this, a half-meter-deep trench dug along the perimeter of the pit is filled with concrete solution.
• After it has cured, the strip foundation is waterproofed.
• Start from the corners of the caisson brickwork. It is carefully controlled using a building level.
• When constructing walls, technological holes are provided.
• A floor slab with a hatch is installed on top of the brick well and the caisson head is mounted on it.

Brick caisson structure

The pit for installing the caisson is dug either exactly according to its size, or with some excess of the tank dimensions. In the first case, the brick will fit tightly to the walls of the pit, you will have to work less with a shovel, but precipitation will penetrate into the remaining cavities. In the second, after raising the walls and curing the solution, it will be necessary to backfill with soil.

Really equip a metal caisson

If there are sheets more than four millimeters thick, you can actually build a metal caisson with your own hands. To make it you need to have welding skills. We must strive to perform the minimum amount seam connections, since they are primarily susceptible to corrosion. The sequence of actions in the manufacture of a metal caisson is as follows:

• The sheets are cut to the shape of the tank, its bottom and hatch are cut out;
• a hole is made in the base for the passage of the casing;
• a hole for communications is cut in the side wall;
• welded side walls and the bottom of the caisson;
• a head and a hinged lid are installed on top to ensure convenient access;
• all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned of rust, degreased and primed;
• the container is painted and coated, for example, with automotive anti-corrosive.

Sheet metal caisson

In a metal tank, it is necessary to install stiffening ribs, otherwise soil pressure may deform its walls. Internal surfaces products in mandatory periodically re-exposed to anti-corrosion treatment and painting.

Insulating the caisson structure for the winter

To reliably insulate a well, you cannot do without special materials. The main parts of the caisson structure are located underground, so the materials for their insulation are subject to special requirements. They should not lose their performance properties under soil pressure, crumple or deform.

Excellent water-repellent properties are needed, since when soil water penetrates into the insulation, it will be destroyed during their crystallization. If the insulating material is of interest to rodents, they will take it down holes or gnaw passages in it, thus destroying its insulating qualities.

External insulation of a caisson made of concrete rings

It is possible to insulate the caisson for the winter both from the inside and from outside. When the insulation is located internally, the integrity of its layer is not affected by soil movement and other unfavorable external factors. The most commonly used is polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam.

__________________________

How to preserve a well for the winter - this issue must be resolved before the onset of cold weather and during the dry season. Well conservation is used if you decide not to use it in winter.

This means that you will no longer be able to use water either in the house or outside. The well will be tightly closed and access to it will be terminated. The water supply leading from it to the house will be shut off. If you decide on this option, let’s take a closer look at what methods exist for preserving a well.

Features of using a well in winter

If we assume that the water surface is 8 meters and the freezing depth of the earth cover is 2 meters, then there is nothing to freeze in a well closed for the winter. The weak point from the point of view of freezing in any water supply system, using any type of well, is the pipeline , through which water enters the home. If there is water left in it, it will begin to freeze already at zero temperature, which leads to damage to the pipe, and sometimes to failure of the entire system.

The installation of the pipeline system must be carried out below the soil freezing zone - 1.5-2 meters. Often, in order to save money, they equip the well with their own hands and do not take these installation requirements into account. The results can be very disastrous.

If the water supply in your area is made at a shallower depth, then it is additionally recommended to lay a heating cable. Its installation does not require much knowledge and skills. The simplest technique is to lay polystyrene foam boards with a thickness of at least 10 cm on top and cover them with film or fiberglass. Add additional snow on top.

Therefore, removing water from the system is the main stage in preserving the well and water supply for the winter. Already when designing a water supply system for suburban area you need to decide whether you will live here permanently or only temporarily summer season. If there are questionable places in the pipeline, then be sure to provide for draining the water. At the same time, you need to understand that not all the liquid will leave after simply opening the taps.

Therefore, it is better to plan and install drain pipes in bends and other problem areas, which will allow water to be completely removed from the entire water supply system. It is recommended to install a tee in the line, through which the remaining moisture could be removed from the system with air.

The sequence of stages of preserving a well for the winter

Preserving a well for the winter is quite simple; you can do it yourself, on your own. Preparations for winter preservation of the system, if you do not intend to operate it in the winter, begin in the warm and dry season, no later than September. The stages of preserving a well for the winter include the following mandatory actions:

1. turn off the water supply;
2. We drain the water through pipes or taps located at the lowest points of each pipeline junction. A compressor can be used to purge the system;
3. remove residual water from plumbing fixtures;
4. if there is a boiler, then it is necessary to empty it of water through the built-in drain pipe, and at the same time disconnect the water supply hoses;
5. We disconnect the pumping station from the water supply and after draining we blow it with air;
6. we dismantle irrigation pipes laid above the ground, fortunately modern designs often allow this to be done without any special complications;
7. We disconnect the submersible pump from the electricity and leave it in the well, nothing will happen to it: it is below the freezing point;
8. open check valve, thus draining the water into the well.

We pay attention to the choice of location for placing the valve. There is no need to install it where access is difficult, and it cannot be replaced or repaired. Best place for a check valve - immediately after the pump. Such models well pumps, like Grundfos, Pedrollo, Lowara, have a built-in check valve.

How to preserve an Abyssinian well for the winter

The water in Abyssinian is below the freezing point, so nothing will happen to the well itself. The main task is to drain the water from the pipes and cover the mouth correctly.
Actions for conservation of the Abyssinian well:

1. remove the pump, drain the hose and put it in a warm, dry and securely closed place;
2. drain the water from the pipes, if necessary, blow with air;
3. We screw the head onto the pre-made thread. It will protect the neck from rain, wind, snow, dust, leaves, and other external influences;
4. The head is hermetically sealed with film or a plastic cap.

It is recommended to chlorinate the well. Dissolve dry bleach (30-40 g) in a bucket of water and fill it at the rate of one bucket per meter of well. Bleach, flowing into the well, disinfects the water, destroying bacteria and various debris. We leave it in this state until spring. In the spring we open, pump out and operate.

Preservation of a well with an installed adapter

The downhole adapter is a device for a tight connection water pipe with a well below the soil freezing level. A well with an adapter can also be used in winter. In this case, the pipeline leading to the house is laid in a trench at least 1.6 meters deep. At the same time, the hydraulic tank and automation are installed in the house.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Turn off the electricity from the pump.
2. We open any water tap in the house.

An automatic relief valve. When the water pressure in the system drops to 0.5 bar, the valve will open and water from the pipeline will flow into the well.

Is it necessary to pump a well in winter?

Prolonged inactivity negatively affects the condition of the well. It begins to silt and the water quality deteriorates. For example, filter sand wells are very dependent on the intensity of operation (they silt up and fail quickly if they are not used in winter). It is recommended to pump them at least once a month for 20 – 30 minutes.

After graduation winter period it is important to properly restore the operation of the water intake, that is, pump up the well. The task is to lift layers of silt and sand from the bottom and squeeze them out of the pipe.

• We use the vibration method. We lower the vibration pump into the well and alternately, lowering and raising the apparatus, loosen the deposits at the bottom. We repeat the procedure until clean liquid arrives. We periodically clean the pump from dirt. We make sure that it does not sink to the bottom.
• Another version of rocking is carried out by pressing and throwing small particles of silt and sand that have accumulated at the bottom onto the surface. We use the method used in brine production wells, operating on the principle of “squeezing out brine.” We lower a smaller diameter pipe into the well until it stops at the bottom. We connect a hose to it from above, and let water through it with high pressure. The water jet squeezes out sediments and sand particles come to the surface. When gravel particles appear, we stop the process and remove the narrow pipe. We lower the pump and pump the water intake in the usual way. The disadvantage of this method is that the mesh filter may not withstand the pressure and break.

Periodic pumping of your own well extends the life of the water intake structure.

Construction of the caisson

If you want and have the opportunity to install a water supply system according to all canons, then you need to build a caisson. It will allow you to deepen the well to the freezing point.

Manufactured in different forms. Round ones are suitable for constructing wells. Caissons are made from concrete, metal or polypropylene.
A unit made of polypropylene is the easiest to install; you can install it yourself, with your own hands.
By price plastic caissons cheaper than metal ones, but the most durable ones can cost tens of thousands of rubles. The cheapest ones are made of concrete rings.
Installation includes preparing a pit, installing a container, installing the appropriate equipment in it, and setting it up. A hatch is installed on top.
The caisson also serves to protect the well from the penetration of groundwater and rainwater.

Preserving a well for the winter will make it possible to keep it clean for winter time and ready for work by the beginning of the spring season.

Video

See photo

To alleviate the series of questions and problems, I decided to write a mini-report on the successful drilling of an Abyssinian well.

The background is this: at the dacha for a long time (about 30 years), a well 9 m deep, drilled into sand, was exploited. By the way, for the information of those who criticize this type of wells and vibration pumps, various variations have been hanging around there for 30 years vibration pumps type “baby”, so now from the remains of these pumps lying around in the garage, we can trace the evolution of domestic pump construction. But I don’t rule out that we were just lucky. So, in the last couple of years, the well began to produce more and more sand, and when the amount of sand exceeded imaginable limits, it became clear that something had to be done. First, the idea came to revive the old well, with this idea, I scoured this entire forum and a bunch of other information on the Internet, but nothing worthwhile other than lowering a smaller diameter pipe with a filter into the existing well came to mind, after which it was decided to turn to professionals . Again, Alexander was found on this forum (nickname nedrabur), to whom the question was asked eternal question"what to do?". It was Alexander who suggested, instead of resuscitating the old well, to make a new one, and near the house, where it really turned out to be more convenient - before that, such a thought had never even occurred to him. After relatively short deliberation, we decided to do so.
And then day X arrived, the weather was favorable, Alexander and his assistant (also Alexander) arrived exactly as agreed, and, in fact, they started. I won’t tell you about the process, although I was interested, Alexander will probably be able to do it much better than me, besides, I tried not to get too much under my feet, in general, everyone did their own thing;-) I’ll say that I liked it - firstly, the well it is drilled under a thin pipe - as a non-specialist, it seems to me that by lowering the production pipe into a pre-drilled well, there is much less chance of somehow damaging the filter section, and besides, we know what kind of sand, etc. is below. and it is possible to select the best aquifer. (By the way, a week before this, the gas workers who connected the cylinder to gas stove, they proposed a driving well, but were, fortunately, ignored.); The filter section is very carefully made, it is entirely made of stainless steel - pipe and mesh; all threaded connections on the pipe were also assembled very carefully - on linen with a special paste; and in general all the work was done very carefully.
Probably, we were really lucky with the aquifer ;-) it goes from 5 meters and does not end at 11 (where drilling was stopped). But nevertheless, in the afternoon the machine was removed and the column was lowered. An exciting moment - connecting the hand pump, and the first liters of water! The first few pumps came out with a bunch of sand, then, literally before our eyes, the water began to brighten. As a result, after a few minutes of pumping it went completely clear water. Hooray!
After everything had already been wrapped up and both Alexanders had changed clothes, it occurred to me to also seek advice about the pump. As a result, Alexander also provided me with an inexpensive pump (I want to run an inexpensive one for the first time until it becomes completely clear what and how) and the piping to it - a pipe, a check valve, etc., and helped me connect it, which was not agreed upon in advance.

In the evening, after they left, we pumped the water a little and poured a couple of bottles for settling for testing - the next morning no sediment was found in them. The next day they pumped water again, as recommended by Alexander, the water flowed absolutely without problems and without interruptions. The supply was not measured - there was nothing special to do, and there was a lot to do - but when they added water to the septic tank, about half of the septic tank (about a cubic meter) was filled in 15-20 minutes. So on at the moment everything is just great, even much better than I expected. All that remains is to submit the water for analysis, maybe purchase filters, install the system, and that’s it...

Alexander, thank you very much!

Best regards, Dima.

Water determines comfort, so every person needs it. To connect the central water supply, it is enough to agree with the water supply organization. But what if it's not there? They will help us various devices allowing water to be pumped out of the ground. One of them is the Abyssinian well. This is an inexpensive and easy-to-manufacture mechanism for extracting water from a depth of 8-10 m.

The design of the device was invented in northern Africa, where dry and shifting sands prevented the construction of conventional wells. Their walls quickly crumbled, and the water became polluted.

The Abyssinian well is brilliant in its simplicity. At the depth of the shaft of a conventional well, its cross-section is very narrow. Essentially this is a well with hand pump for pumping water.

Small sizes allow you to install it anywhere, be it in the basement of a house or in the yard. If you place it in a heated room, the water will not freeze even in winter.

Like any source of water supply, the Abyssinian well is built taking into account sanitary standards.

First, let's get rid of the sources of pollution:

• cesspools,
• trash cans,
• ditches.

Equipment set

The basis of the well will be steel pipes with an inch cross-section. They are fixed to each other threaded connection with a small step.

In addition, a coupling with a slightly larger cross-section than the pipe is put on the threaded areas.

An important element the drill string is the needle. It is used both for breaking through soil and as a filter, purifying water from contaminants.

Making your own needle and drilling a well

IN steel pipe with a cross-section like a drill core, holes up to 5 mm in diameter are drilled. To preserve the integrity of the body, they are made in checkerboard pattern.

Along the pipe there are support rods made of steel wire. This is done to create an opening between the pipe and the outer winding.

We twist a V-shaped wire on top of the rods. Such a node creates external filter. The entire structure - wrapped wire, support rods and pipe body - is fixed by welding.

The needle tip is installed at the end of the pipe. To ensure that the filter does not collapse while moving through the ground, it is necessary to make its outer diameter slightly larger than the cross-section of the filter.

Percussion drilling

Well arrangement

Once completed it looks like a pipe coming out of the ground. To transform it into a full-fledged source of water supply, the following must be done.

An alternative would be to use submersible pump, but it will cost more. This is a highly specialized device used to extract water from great depths.

Construction of an Abyssinian well for year-round operation

For permanent residence at the dacha or in country house It is worth considering running the well all year round. To prevent water from freezing in winter, the pump should be placed in a room with a temperature above zero or in a caisson. The caisson can be deepened below the freezing level or as a finished structure made of plastic or iron. Resembles a barrel sunk into the ground.

The caisson can be compacted with an additional layer of materials that are resistant to soil. The pipeline is insulated both with a passive layer and with the help of active heating such as a heating cable.