So let’s say you just had your well-head brought above ground as the original one was in a pit covered by a cement lid. In the process of doing this you see that the water pipe enters the well casing at about 30 inches below grade and the frostline is 36 in this area. You conclude that the old well pit lid acted as an insulator but now that the well-head is above grade it can no longer be used.
Several inches of rigid foam properly sealed in the well pit lining seems like a good way to insulate the water line against the frost. I didn’t see anything on the blue rigid board about whether it is rated for touching earth. Does anyone know if there is a rigid board that is rated for ground contact?
This is all hypothetical, of course…
Replies
Blue or pink foam can be buried and often is.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" I am not an Activist, I am, a Catalyst. I lay around and do nothing, until another ingredient is added"
"Blue or pink foam can be buried and often is."One or the other. You don't want to put the two next to each other. Ifin you know what I mean.
LOL. I see a problem there.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" I am not an Activist, I am, a Catalyst. I lay around and do nothing, until another ingredient is added"
Thank you for the quick response. Blue it is.
I doubt that the concrete lid offered that much protection. Less R value than dirt.
But frost level is no a perfect number. It is, in therory, a worst case number. And over the years you might not have gotten that cold.
But there is another issue you have runing water in that line from time to time and it will help warm it up.
Use foam is used all the time to "efectively" artificially raise (or is it lower) the frost line. Do a google on - frost protected shallow foundations - for examples.
"Several inches of rigid foam properly sealed in the well pit lining seems like a good way to insulate the water line against the frost. "
I am not sure where you want to put this. But you don't want the insulation between the well and the ground. The ground is your source of heat.
Hi Bill. Thanks for the info. Yes, I know that it is probably likely that I wont have an issue and that water running through the pipe will keep it warm enough not to freeze. The insulation would go between the water line and the surface. This is just a precaution. I want to cover this up and never have to worry about it.
Thank you.