The well is convenient in that it is an excellent alternative to centralized water supply, such a source of water on the site solves problems with irrigation and the use of life-giving moisture for household needs. But from time to time, it is necessary to carry out preventive work so that the well is clean and the system works properly, so many owners of summer cottages think about how to clean the well with their own hands, without spending a lot of money on it.
If the water pressure is weaker, this is the first alarm. This is usually followed by a brief stagnation with a characteristic gurgle and subsequent release of troubled water, and then the system stops working.
Do-it-yourself cleaning of the well begins with determining the cause of the breakdown. There can be many reasons for this: problems often arise during irregular operation, errors during drilling and construction. Aquiferous veins can change their direction - in this case, the cause will be natural.
If the structure does not have protective mechanisms, much more debris will fall into the wellhead. The reason may be a lack of maintenance, and poor pump performance.
There are two main types of wells (with a filter and a straight hole) and three main ways to set up a well: flush it, pump it or blow it.
It is more convenient to clean the water intake with a straight trunk - the equipment can be lowered to the bottom, thereby eliminating the risk of rapid siltation. But during irregular operation, any well will sooner or later become clogged.
The scheme of the device wells with a strainer. Many summer residents recommend using filters rather than chlorinating water. But sooner or later, any well will need to be cleaned, so we choose a convenient method based on its features
The most affordable independent way to clean the country borehole from sand and silt is pumping.
Method # 1 - using a standard vibrating pump
If you have a regular pump or a special one that is used for contaminated water, you can pump out a mixture of silt and sand, and garbage with small stones. A pump is installed at the bottom of the well, and all debris deposited at the bottom falls into the nozzle and is sucked up by the pump. From time to time, clean water must also be passed through the pump. If the case is very hot, it means that you need to give the equipment a rest. It is possible to clean the well with a standard vibration pump of the “Kid” type, if it is shallow, the pump will lower by a maximum of 40 meters.
The pump is at the bottom of the well, contaminated water is sucked into the pipe and thrown out. From time to time, clean water is passed through the pump so that the working surfaces are clean. For the safety of equipment, it is better to turn it off once or twice to avoid overheating
Method # 2 - borehole cleaning
If the well is slightly clogged, and at the same time is shallow by itself, you can use the bailer. In other cases, its use will be ineffective. If the depth is within 30m or more, you will need a winch, and this method of cleaning will require considerable effort from two strong men.
Flap - a piece of pipe on a cable with a mesh in the upper part and a hole in the bottom. It sinks to the bottom, then rises to a height of 0.5m and drops sharply. Inside, water is collected, inside the cylinder there is a ball of metal, which rises after a couple of seconds, and then lowers and closes the hole. This cycle of raising and lowering is repeated three to four times, then the bellow rises and is cleared of sand. To work more conveniently, you can use a tripod. About 0.5 kg of sand enters the cylinder at a time, so by cleaning in this way, you can find out how quickly the well becomes clogged.
Photo and diagram of the device bailers. Feedback on this method of cleaning a well can be either positive or negative. To someone, this method of cleaning seems very time-consuming and inefficient, someone only uses it. If you can make it yourself, such cleaning will not require extra expenses, and this is a plus
Method # 3 - mechanized cleaning
The most effective way for deep wells is mechanized cleaning. The best option is the use of two paired pumps.
A deep pump equipped with a lower water intake is located at the bottom of the well. He raises up water with mud and silt. The pump, working with him in pairs, supplies water to agitate the sediment under pressure from the tank. For the cleaning to be truly effective, the water drain hose should be shaken and make sure that the amount of contaminants is not too large, if their concentration in the water is very high, overheating and even equipment breakdown can occur.
Equipment must also be selected correctly, the selection depends on the depth at which the water is located. Vibration pumps are used if the water depth is more than 10 meters.
Mechanized well cleaning using a downhole pump and a pump, which we work with in pairs, is recognized as the most effective way. Here a lot depends on the correct selection of pumps, so before cleaning it is better to consult with specialists
Method # 4 - cleaning with a fire truck
You can call a fire truck to clean the well. Using a fire hose and pressure under strong pressure, you can clean a well in ten minutes. But this method is expensive and dangerous, from strong pressure filters and system components can be damaged. This method is recommended for severe contamination.
Method # 5 - use the airlift
How to clean a well in a country house from sand and silt using an airlift? The method consists in using the law of Archimedes. What is a well essentially? This is a vessel of water. A water-lifting pipe is placed in it, into the lower part of which a compressed air is supplied by means of an air compressor. A mixture of air and foam forms in the pipe. The water column presses on the bottom of the water pipe - the process begins, it must be controlled so that the water in the well being cleaned does not end.
Since the bottom of the pipe is located almost on the sand, sand with water rises and is absorbed by the water pipe. The task of the person involved in the cleaning is to monitor the water level in the well.
Cleaning with an airlift pump is also an effective way. Compressed air is supplied under pressure, silt at the bottom of the pipe, water, small stones rise, are absorbed by the pipe and are pushed to the surface
As a rule, wells in the areas are shallow, and a standard vibrating pump or baffle is suitable for cleaning. If the well depth is significant, you can try the mechanized cleaning method. When using the hoses of a fire engine, well cleaning will be very quick, but it is expensive. Unfortunately, this method often leads to damage, and this entails additional costs. If the main source of water in your country house is a well, choose a method of cleaning that is convenient for you and periodically clean it so that there are no interruptions in the supply of water, because water in the country is the main condition for a comfortable stay.
