How to insulate a well from the street to the house. Step-by-step instructions on how to insulate a well for the winter with your own hands. The cardinal decision is to equip the caisson

The main water source for the system autonomous water supply country houses, dachas and baths is a water well.

If in summer the use of a hydraulic structure does not cause any particular problems, then in the cold season there is a risk of freezing of the casing string and equipment installed in it.

To prevent possible interruptions in the supply drinking water, it is important to take care in advance how to insulate the well for the winter.

Why you need to insulate the well

Well insulation helps to maintain the uninterrupted operation of a water source for private households in winter. All protective measures for the arrangement of hydraulic structures are carried out during the warm period.

If the insulation was carried out in violation technological process, during further operation, this can lead to freezing of the water source and the formation of icy plugs in the pipeline system.

Insufficient thermal insulation will reduce the efficiency of the equipment and the reliability of the water supply system, which will cause deformation or rupture of the LP pipes used in laying the underground pipeline.

Warming plumbing system is carried out from the entrance point to the building to a depth that is located below the level of soil freezing - optimally by 35 cm.

If the system is carried out to the household through the foundation of an uninsulated basement, the pipe must be insulated.

Well insulation materials

For thermal insulation of the well, reliable and durable materials, the choice of which takes into account the climatic conditions of the area and the level of passage of groundwater.

Modern heaters can be divided into two categories:

  1. For soft climatic zones with temperatures up to -14 degrees

Additional insulation of the water supply system will provide protection against freezing and rupture of pipes in winter period.

As heaters, the use of natural materials is allowed:

  • sawdust;
  • straw;
  • dry leaves from shrubs and trees;
  • peat;
  • expanded clay.

Significant Benefits similar materials is their low cost, practicality and availability of styling.

All work on thermal insulation is carried out as follows: removal of the top layer of soil along the diameter of the well, installation of a protective box with backfilling of insulating material.

The only drawback of heaters is susceptibility to decay with high moisture.

  1. For cold climatic zones with temperatures below -14 degrees

In this case, it is recommended to qualitatively insulate the well with artificial insulators designed for low temperature conditions.

High thermal insulation characteristics have:

  • foam and polystyrene boards;
  • liquid penoizol;
  • polyurethane foam.

Mineral wool can be used for insulation, but it requires additional protection from high moisture.

Thermal insulation material must comply with such parameters as:

  • availability and ease of installation;
  • hygroscopicity;
  • strength and resistance to damage and deformation;
  • durability and practicality;
  • cheapness.

Well thermal insulation methods

Choice suitable way insulation of water wells depends on thermal insulation materials, the complexity and efficiency of the work, as well as the modes of use of hydraulic structures.

  1. The constant operation of the water supply system in a private house throughout the year ensures that optimal internal pressure is maintained, which will prevent stagnation and freezing of water. During the night periods, consumption volumes can be significantly reduced or stopped, which will lead to temporary freezing of water. In this case, it will be necessary to insulate pipes and installed hydraulic devices (pump and accumulator) using a caisson.
  2. At seasonal operation system shutdown recommended pumping equipment and temporary conservation of the well for the winter period. Before the first frost, water is removed from the pipeline, and the equipment is dismantled.
  3. During temporary operation of the well, when water is supplied throughout the year, but with long interruptions, it is recommended to organize outdoor heating head and underwater pipe. Such devices are used to quickly warm up the plumbing system at any time of the year.

For thermal insulation, classical and alternative ways, the choice of which depends on design features and well location.

Installation of a caisson for well insulation

Caisson insulation - traditional way isolation of the hydraulic structure, equipped on the site with high level ground water.

The do-it-yourself caisson installation technology is quite simple and consists of the following steps:

  1. Preparation of a pit, the bottom of which is located below the freezing level of the soil. Optimal depth pits - from 2 to 3 meters, width - 50 cm more than the diameter of the used caisson.
  2. Arrangement of a waterproofing layer of sand and crushed stone of medium fraction up to 15 cm high.
  3. Perforation of the bottom of the caisson for the borehole tip and the side wall for the supply pipe.
  4. Installation of the tank on the bottom ring of the well with the connection of pumping equipment and a supply pipe.
  5. Installation of heat-insulating material around the caisson up to 5 cm thick. A home-made caisson can be insulated inside, provided that the structure is sufficiently waterproofed.
  6. Fixation of a protective heat-insulating cover, in which a hole was made for a pipe for ventilation.
  7. Backfilling the pit with earth mixed with expanded clay chips.

Such a caisson can be operated for a private water well of small depth.

Casing pipe insulation

If a borehole tip is located above the depth of freezing of the soil, then an additional casing pipe can be used to insulate it.

The insulation technology includes the following steps:

  1. Preparing the pit around casing pipe to a depth below the freezing level of the soil, up to 80 cm wide.
  2. thermal insulation outer surface pipes with the selected material - polyurethane foam or mineral wool. When using cotton wool, a waterproofing layer is additionally mounted, which will prevent deformation and decay of the insulation.
  3. Installation on an insulated pipe structure of a larger diameter.
  4. Backfilling of an earthen trench and arrangement clay castle for the head, which will prevent the formation of condensate around the pipe.

Thermal insulation of the pipeline and supply hose for the pump

Water pipes provide an uninterrupted supply of water from the hydraulic structure to the house. The pipeline is the most vulnerable element of the water supply system, since its main part is located on the street, albeit underground.

Pipe laying is carried out in technical protective tube together with electric cable from pumping equipment. Such a design requires additional insulation. For this, a heating cable is used, as well as a heat-resistant frame based on mineral wool or polystyrene foam sheets.

To properly insulate the pipe from the well to the house, it is recommended to use the following materials:

  1. Cotton wool on a mineral and fiberglass basis.
  2. Basalt insulation with a foil waterproofing base.
  3. Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene boards.
  4. Polyurethane foam insulation.

For nodal and rotary elements, plastic shells based on polyurethane foam are used, which allow high-quality thermal insulation to be performed on any section of the pipeline.

Some water supply systems in private households may not be equipped with pipes, but with hoses for water supply. The hose is laid in a special box made of boards. At one end it is fixed to the house with the help of canopies, the other - to the hydraulic structure. Mounting slope is 4 to 6 degrees.

Box provides reliable protection hose from freezing and deformation, guaranteeing an uninterrupted supply of water to the house.

Thermal insulation of the well with a heating cable

Heating cable - modern and efficient technology insulation of hydraulic structures, which is characterized by high cost and ease of installation. A heating cable is used as a heater - strong, durable, resistant to damage and deformation. Finished construction well heating can be equipped with an automatic controller with a temperature sensor.

Cable installation is carried out in the following order:

  1. A pit of the appropriate size is prepared to a depth below the freezing level of the soil.
  2. Along the circumference of the casing string and the inlet water pipe, a a heating element. The number of turns depends on the length and technical parameters cable: for low power models- turns with a small pitch, for powerful devices - laying along a straight path.
  3. Thermal insulation based on mineral or fiberglass wool is installed around the elements of the pipeline and casing. The insulation must withstand the maximum heating temperature, which is issued heating cable when transmitting electricity through its surface.
  4. On the heat-insulating layer waterproofing is installed to protect the structure from high moisture.
  5. The pit is backfilled with excavated soil and the top layer is carefully compacted. Additionally, a well house can be installed to protect the upper part of the structure.

The well heating system using a heating cable is universal. The temperature sensor allows you to control the periods when the system is working or idle, taking into account the intensity of well operation.

Thermal insulation of the well and pipeline provides for important events selection and installation of protective materials. Proper insulation will provide smooth operation water point in winter time of the year.

If the water supply is private house carried out from the bowels of the earth, it is important to know how to insulate the well for the winter. The issue of insulation is best resolved before the onset of cold weather.

Key points when working with your own hands

Insulation of the well essentially boils down to sealing it. The choice of material depends on climatic conditions, temperature regime.

If in the region mild winter and the temperature does not rise above -15 degrees, then you can use improvised means, such as straw, dry leaves, and sawdust.

If there are severe frosts, in which the soil freezes strongly, then it is recommended to use heaters produced industrial way. It could be glass wool mineral wool, polystyrene, polystyrene, etc.

Such materials are ideal for wells in which an electric pump is installed.

layer of insulation material should not be less than 35 cm. A gap of 4 to 6 cm must be left between the insulation and the pipe.

Thermal insulation of temporary wells

What are the difficulties with temporary wells and what is the best way to insulate them? In sources of permanent use, the walls are constantly washed with water, therefore, even with a slight icing, complete freezing practically does not occur.

In infrequently used wells, the likelihood of freezing is much higher.

Using the heater

To solve the problem of freezing of rarely operated wells, a heater is installed. It can be placed inside the pipe, then it is important to choose the right capacity.

Or a nearby installation is mounted, operating on the principle of a warm floor. In this case, a heating cable is wound around the casing pipe.


At the same time, it is important to produce high-quality waterproofing of the entire system. If there is a financial opportunity, it is recommended to install automatic sensor freezing. It will turn on the heating only when the water begins to become covered with an ice crust. This allows significant energy savings.

Work order

Well insulation can be easily done by hand. The main thing is to follow the technology so that the work carried out is effective.
First, a ditch with a width of 120 to 140 cm is dug around the perimeter. Its depth should be at least 200 cm. Then they install wooden formwork, into which heat-insulating material is poured.

The box can be processed special formulations or paint to protect it from rotting in the ground. Instead of wooden planks for the construction of formwork, you can use a galvanized iron sheet, which is used to tie concrete rings, fix and sprinkle with insulation.


First of all, the casing pipe protruding from the well is thermally insulated. It needs to be well fixed. Then the pipe is wrapped with a mesh of metal or plastic, always leaving a gap of about 6 cm. A metal casing is installed on top, which is covered with sawdust or wrapped with waterproofing.

Alternative Methods

When deciding on the insulation of a well for the winter, you need to know about one more very effective method. It involves the use of small caisson wells. This is round pipe or a rectangular box, which are laid in the ground to the depth of soil freezing, and top part structure remains above ground.

Caissons must be protected from moisture from the outside, laying waterproofing. inner surface insulated with foam plastic and covered with a heat-insulating cover, which saves from getting various items as well as small animals. At very low temperatures in the caisson well, you can install an additional cover with heat-insulating material.

The main condition for the installation of the caisson is the sealing of the well, which will not let a single draft through.

Caissons are installed in such a position that a person can fit inside to conduct installation work. It turns out a design that protects the well from freezing and groundwater penetration and at the same time is a small underground room. It can accommodate the equipment necessary for the operation of the system and perform repair work regardless of weather conditions.

Varieties of caisson

Caissons are plastic, metal, reinforced concrete, or they are built with their own hands from brick.

Since the soil is in constant motion, it breaks underground structures. Therefore, for the caisson, it is often advised to use standard concrete rings, which are placed one above the other at a depth of 0.5 to 0.8 m underground. But this design is the most expensive, and its installation requires a lot of effort. Concrete rings must be installed on a specially prepared base. It is important to insulate and waterproof the structure itself with high quality, since concrete transmits heat and is very hygroscopic.

A good alternative to reinforced concrete is metal caisson. Due to the flexibility of the metal, cracks do not form on it. An important condition when installing such a design is to use quality material. Steel with a thickness of at least 3 mm is best suited. The surface must be treated with an anti-corrosion compound with outside and primed from the inside.

With knowledge of the technology and the algorithm of actions, the insulation of the well should not cause difficulties and may well be performed independently.

Foreword. Owners of country houses who have a well for water on the site are often interested before the onset of cold weather - how and what to insulate the well for the winter with their own hands, and without much investment. We will analyze in more detail in this article how to insulate inexpensively water well at the dacha with our own hands, which heat-insulating materials are better to use and we will show detailed video instruction.

If in your area the air temperature in winter does not fall below -15 degrees, then you can use inexpensive folk remedies, such as: sawdust or dry leaves. If in the region harsh winter and the soil on the site can freeze deeply, damaging the communications laid in the ground, it is recommended to use modern heat-insulating materials that are resistant to high humidity.

Do I need to insulate a water well for the winter?

Take care of the well in advance on the site. Availability severe frosts in your area, as well as a high level of groundwater can lead to freezing of the well, so you should not wait for the cold weather. For insulation of communications should be used modern materials, which will not allow freezing of the equipment and will serve for a long time in conditions of high humidity.

The photo shows not the most The best way well insulation - laying mineral wool. Layer mineral insulation must be sufficient and reliably protected from rodents. Many experts for our climate recommend a thickness of thermal insulation for a well of 35-40 centimeters. It is necessary to protect the thermal insulation layer from possible damage during soil movements.

To protect the thermal insulation layer from rodents and mechanical damage, you can metal mesh or metal cap, you can also put OSB boards or old boards.

How to insulate a temporary well in the country

It is more difficult to insulate a well in a country house that is rarely operated, since water does not move in pipes in winter and can freeze. In this case, you can install a heating cable, which will be on the pipe under a layer of thermal insulation. If you install a sensor, the heating will turn on automatically, which will save your energy costs.

Another way to independently insulate a well for the winter is a device decorative house, which should be insulated with foam or foam. Inside the house, you can make a caisson from concrete rings. Part of the well is submerged to the depth of freezing of the soil and carefully insulated, while the upper part of the well remains above the ground.

The walls of the structure are usually insulated with foam or foam. The caisson is closed with an insulated cover for wells, which will not only protect the well from the cold, but also from debris and small animals. The main condition for high-quality insulation is the exclusion of any draft. If the groundwater level is below the freezing depth of the soil, then the water will not freeze.

How to insulate a pipe from a well for the winter

Water well pipe requires insulation

For thermal insulation of pipes leading to a private house from a well, you can lay water pipe in metal pipe larger diameter. Styrofoam or mineral wool can be laid in the resulting gap. A big mistake would be laying communications in wet ground. Be sure to test the insulation for dryness, as damp thermal insulation will not be effective.

When laying pipes on the site, plan how and with what you will insulate communications. The water supply has the most vulnerable areas, which are located on the street, at the entrance to the house and in the basement, which has no heating. If you need to insulate pipes in the basement of the house, then you should read the information on our website, how and with what to insulate pipes in the basement country house on one's own.

Exist Alternative option insulation - conservation. This is the process when the well is closed for the winter season. Therefore, you have two ways to resolve the issue of what to do with the well in winter.

Winter is a cold time, when the issue of a well arises before the owners of summer cottages, summer residents think: to conserve it or just insulate and use the well in the winter season. Here comes the dilemma.

Insulation and conservation have their advantages. Well insulation will provide you with uninterrupted water supply even in winter. You will be able to use the running water and take water from the well. If you make conservation, then you will no longer be able to use water. The well is tightly closed and access to it is terminated. The water supply that goes from the well to the house will be closed.

Well insulation should be carried out in the warm season.


To decide whether to keep your well for the winter, answer 2 questions:

  • Will you live in the country in winter all the time;
  • Do you have an additional source of water supply other than a well.

If you are going to live in the country permanently and you do not have any additional source water, then definitely do the insulation of the well. So you provide yourself with water supply for the winter season.

The temperature at which water freezes is 0 degrees. Make insulation so that the water does not freeze through the connection to the well so that you can use water in a private house. Or do your best to close it for the winter.

Insulation materials in the question of how to insulate a well

There are several ways and materials with which you can insulate the well with your own hands. The most important task is to prevent the freezing of the well.

In order not to get into trouble in winter due to a non-working well, it is better to think about warming it from summer and spring.


The following materials are used as insulation:

  • Sawdust;
  • Dry leaves of trees;
  • Straw;
  • Peat;
  • Hay.

Using each insulation material separately will not be effective. They are an additional material that prevents the well from freezing.

Use as additional insulation natural materials.

Natural materials are not 100% protected from moisture. If they get wet, then their effectiveness is reduced significantly. That is why it is necessary to consider these heaters from the point of view of additional ones. As the main heaters of the well, mineral wool heaters and polystyrene foam as a side insulation should be used. Thermal insulation material is used when the well is characterized by a high level of groundwater. You can read the advice of summer residents about this. The operation of their wells in the winter was in full swing.

To insulate the well, you should use different ways insulation. The most effective is the use of natural materials along with "artificial" in the form of mineral wool insulation and foam. This combination of materials will not allow the well to freeze in the cold winter.

5 steps to insulate a well on the street

In order to insulate a well on the street, it is necessary to produce a series step by step actions, which will not allow water to freeze right at the source. Therefore, even in the winter season, you can enjoy pure water.

As a heater for a well and a caisson, materials from industrial production. In this case, during insulation, it is necessary to leave a gap between the well pipe and the thermal insulation at a distance of 4-6 centimeters. The gap will help protect the well from freezing in winter.

5 steps of warming:

  1. Sheathe the riser with a metal mesh at a distance of 5 cm from the pipe;
  2. Put on a metal casing;
  3. Leave a gap between the casing and the mesh to place the insulation there;
  4. Fall asleep natural materials: sawdust, leaves, hay;
  5. Place a tin tray under the valve, which should extend beyond the metal casing. It must withstand the slope so that moisture does not get inside.

Use the combined method of well insulation for the winter.

Thus, you will insulate your well, and the water from the source will not freeze even in the winter season.

To insulate the well, use only high-quality casings and pipe nets. Do not take grids in which there is a wide cut between the cells. This will worsen the performance of insulation. Better use new materials, and then your insulation will play for you good service in winter.

What is the conservation of a well for the winter

When people talk about well insulation in winter, the topic of “conservation” comes up. This is an alternative option for a well for the winter.

Conservation is the process of closing a well. That is, the well must be covered. To implement it, you must adhere to a certain plan and then the conservation will be successful.

Conservation proceeds as follows:

  1. Preparation: pull out pumping station, water column, disconnect the pipe and hose;
  2. Carry out chlorination of the well;
  3. We cover the well with a sealed cap - a head;
  4. We fix the head with bolts.

To keep your well clean, chlorinate.

Chlorination should be carried out on the basis of matchbox bleach in a bucket of water. A bucket of water, in turn, is poured per bucket-one meter of the well. Chlorine will help burn out all organic matter. It could be natural waste different kind bacteria and insects.

Thus, you will carry out the conservation of the well for the winter. This will help her stay clean for the winter, garbage and insects from the ground will not get into her from a draft that can even come from inside the well. Do conservation, and then your well will be clean by the beginning of the spring season of your country house.

Warming the well for the winter with your own hands (video)

In order to uninterruptedly receive water to your home even in winter, you should take care of the condition of the water source - wells in advance. It is desirable in the summer that you have natural materials for insulation. This will help you drink water from natural sources even in winter. If you do not want to insulate the well, then you can simply mothball it. Then it will remain clean until the next summer season.

Examples of well insulation for the winter (photo)

How to insulate a well for the winter with your own hands? Any well owner should take care of this if this design is the only source of water supply. In our article we will look at how you can carry out work on insulation.

A caisson is a traditional way of insulating a well operating in winter. It is a special structure that is installed around the area where the soil freezes through. When arranging a caisson, you can use the most various materials from concrete to finished plastic products. Let's look at how to equip this structure and insulate the caisson if necessary.

Caisson from a barrel


First, we select the design for the caisson. To build a caisson for, you can take plastic barrel volume of 200 liters. If you do not plan to additionally install any devices in it, this capacity will be enough for you. Next, we dig a hole around the head. At the same time, it is important that its bottom is located approximately 40 cm below the freezing level of the soil, and the diameter of the pit should be such that the pit protrudes from the head approximately 0.5 m on each side. At the bottom of the pit we put a “pillow” of sand and gravel with a layer of up to 10 cm. Next, we install the caisson.

In the bottom of the barrel we make a hole for the pipe and a hole for installing a water pipe on the side. We install the caisson in the pit, as if putting it on the head.

Inside the barrel we connect the pipeline and the head. And do not forget about the insulation of the building. The choice of material for insulation depends on which winters prevail in your area. If the season does not promise to be too cold, you can use straw or dry grass, and mineral wool or polystyrene will do. At the same time, the caisson is completely insulated - from the inside, along the walls and the lid. We close the device with a lid, attaching from above ventilation pipe. We fall asleep a hole with a caisson. All. Our building is ready for use.

Another option for insulating your well at the site is a casing pipe. In this case, it will not be possible to install any hydraulic engineering equipment close to the water intake point, however, if the system is equipped surface pump, then this is not required. The work is quite simple:

  1. We tear out a ditch around the head. In this case, the depth of the pit should be equal to the level of soil freezing in your area.
  2. We wrap the well pipes with any heat-insulating material. The most popular of them is mineral wool.
  3. On top of the resulting structure, put on a second pipe with a large diameter. We fill up the dug pit and use the well for our pleasure.

Casing installation


Truth, this design not suitable for very cold winters, since at low temperatures the casing pipe may not save pipes from freezing.

Of the above technologies, this is considered the most expensive, but also the most effective. To equip such a system, you will need to buy a special one for use in the pipeline. It differs from other types of heating cables in resistance to mechanical impact. Additionally, you can equip the structure with an automatic activator, supplemented by a temperature sensor, which will allow you to significantly reduce energy costs.

Heating cable for installation


Let's take a closer look at the warming process.

Heating cable installation

Step 1: Cable Installation

First we need to dig a hole around the well, the depth of which should slightly exceed the level of soil freezing. Next, around the casing pipe and cutting the pipeline that is connected to the well, we wrap the heating cable. The number of turns of the product is usually indicated on the packaging with the cable.

Step 2: Additional insulation

On top of the pipes that are wrapped with a cable, you need to lay a layer of thermal insulation material. When choosing a material, attention should be paid to maximum temperature, at which the insulation will not lose its properties. If you do not take this moment into account, then with strong heating of the cable, the insulation can simply melt. From above, we close the structure with a waterproofing layer, which will protect the insulation and the heating cable from the effects of groundwater.

Step 3: Completing the work

We check the structure so that it is stable and does not let water through, and we fill up the pit.

If in winter the temperature in your region does not drop below -10 ° C, you can also use improvised materials that are sure to be found on your site, for example, sawdust, which are quite suitable for insulating the structure. To carry out work with their help, you must first dig a hole around the well with a section of about 0.5 m below the freezing level of the ground by about 10 cm. Just pour the material into the dug pit and fill everything with earth from above. And to improve thermal insulation properties, mix sawdust with liquid clay.

Straw for pipe insulation


You can also insulate with a mixture of dry straw and leaves - during their natural decomposition, heat will be generated that will not allow the well to freeze in winter. However, this method can hardly be called durable, because after 1-2 years you will have to change the “insulation” again. We told you about the main options for insulation. "Which one is better to stay on"? - you ask. To answer this question, let's look at two main points: how often will you use the well, and what average temperature winter in your area.
  • If in winter you are not going to operate the well at all, then it is better to simply mothball it - grease all parts, wrap the head with old rags and cover with polyethylene.
  • It is more efficient to install a caisson if you want to additionally equip the entire system with special hydraulic devices. However, the creation of a full-fledged caisson can cost a pretty penny.
  • If you are going to use the well from time to time, for example, only on weekends, you should pay attention to the heating cable. In just 10-15 minutes after switching on, the system will be completely ready for operation.
  • If the climate in your area is warm, you can choose the method of constructing a casing with a thermal insulation layer.


At the same time, no matter which insulation option you choose, remember that work must be carried out long before the onset of cold weather. This will allow you to avoid a sudden lack of water in the house.