Winter plumbing is necessary in the country if you are going to be on it regularly or live.
You can use it not only in winter, it will be relevant at any time of the year.
It is also noteworthy that such a device in the country will not cease to function, even if you do not visit it.
If every time you have to drain the water in the country from the pipes so that they do not freeze, winter is the best solution.
It will not freeze because it is laid below the freezing depth - equal to which is usually below 2 meters.
Devices for creating a winter water supply
The main devices are:
- pipes;
- surface or submersible pump;
- drain valve;
- pressure switch;
- hydraulic accumulator;
- water heating cable.
Pipes for winter water supply
It is better to choose polypropylene pipes, because they have a number of advantages:
- do not rust;
- durable (up to 50 years);
- low thermal conductivity;
- low weight;
- easy to install;
- acoustically isolated.
Installation is carried out by thermal welding, which ensures the integrity and safety of the entire system.
Surface or submersible pump for winter plumbing
The best option would be to use . It supplies water well to the system and is economical.
It is independently necessary to choose a brand, which depends on the depth of the water source and type.
The motor is naturally cooled automatically and does not generate any noise during operation.
Drain valve for winter plumbing
The valve is installed after the pump, and the water can be drained into a source or into a well.
You can build a bypass pipe instead of a drain valve. This option is good when the winter water supply is located near the house.
Pressure switch for winter water supply
The device is necessary to maintain the pressure in the water supply, in a certain range.
When the maximum pressure is reached, the relay will turn off the pump. If the pressure drops to a minimum, the relay will close the contacts and the pump will resume operation.
Hydraulic accumulator for winter water supply
This device will protect the water supply from water hammer and will stabilize the pressure.
If it suddenly turns off, you will still have water, since the system will receive the one that has accumulated in the tank.
It is better to use a hydroaccumulation tank with a membrane.
Winter water heater
In practice, storage water heaters are best suited for this process.
The power and volume of the boiler must be selected based on your water consumption. Usually, for a family of 5 people, 100 liters are enough, with a capacity of 2.5 kW.
If winter plumbing is carried out near the house, then you will need a water heating cable. You can place it in the basement or under the floor.
Why connect the winter water supply?
There are only three options here:
- from a well;
- when connected to the central highway;
- from the well.
The most convenient and easiest way is winter. It has a number of advantages over the above:
- with inadequate care, aquifers rarely silt;
- no need for a powerful pump;
- during conservation, water can be drained directly into the well.
To drill a well, you need a decent amount of money, and its maintenance is even more expensive, respectively, winter plumbing from a well is a profitable way to get hot water.
winter plumbing project
It is almost impossible to create the right water supply without a project and schemes.
It is important to consider when creating a project for the route and the connection to the plumbing.
Here are examples of diagrams and projects that you can use
How to make winter plumbing yourself
If you want to make it yourself, then you need to stock up on the basic tools:
- soldering iron (ironing iron) for pipes;
- gas wrench No. 2 (for assembly using fittings);
- grinder or saw for metal;
- cutter (hacksaw);
- shovel and bayonet shovels;
Laying pipes for winter plumbing
First you need to dig a trench. Since we are talking about creating a winter water supply from a well, the depth of the trench should be up to 2 meters.
Be sure to make a slope in the direction of the well.
We lay the polypropylene pipe in the trench and attach it to the pump.
We seal the pipe coming out of the well with liquid glass. So your well will not be flooded with groundwater.
After the pipe is laid, we fill it with 15 cm of sand, and on top there is still soil that remains after digging.
If you dug a trench to the required depth, you do not need to insulate the pipes. If it is not possible to dig the required depth, put a heater on the bottom of the trench that does not absorb water (slag, expanded clay) and lay a pipe on it, covering it with a 30 cm layer of insulation from above.
Fill with sand or soil and tamp.
Now you will always have warm water!
Whether you have country houses made of block containers or a capital dwelling on a strong foundation, in any case, a modern dacha is unthinkable without running water. A good owner initially prepares his country cottage not only for a comfortable stay in the summer, but also for the possibility of visiting in the winter. A stable water supply plays an important role in this.
How to ensure a stable water supply
As you know, you should prepare for the cold in advance, the ideal option is if the room was originally built with the expectation of year-round use, but even a wealthy person will not heat an empty cottage for several months. It is much easier to adapt designs for quick start and stop.
A few words about pipes
Pipes are now produced for every taste and budget, but winter water supply in the country has its own nuances.
- So a polyethylene water pipe is suitable for organizing irrigation in the summer and only if water is used up to 40 ºС.
- Polyvinyl chloride is not very suitable for country cottages, as it is afraid of ultraviolet radiation.
- Copper plumbing from annealed material is close to ideal, it can last up to 100 years and when moisture freezes inside, it does not crack, but only deforms. But the price of such a system will be sky-high, plus copper can simply be stolen in unguarded dachas.
- According to the unanimous opinion of experts, the best option for the water supply of a country house is the installation of a polypropylene system.. Due to their good elasticity, they only stretch when frozen. Hot water is also not a hindrance for them, they are designed for -15 - +95 ºС, the price for them is quite loyal and most importantly, such structures can be assembled with your own hands, it is enough to have scissors and a soldering iron.
Pipe winter heating system
Often in country cottages, water enters the house from a well or well. Most often, these sources are located at some distance and the pipe leading to the house can freeze during cold weather.
Any instruction states that it is desirable to install the pipeline below the freezing point. But this is not always possible, as in some areas this point can be deeper than 2m.
Now it is customary to use a special heating cable for heating plumbing or sewer systems. The installation instructions for such heating may be different, more precisely, there are 2 different approaches to this problem. Let's start with the fact that such a line can be placed at any depth. Moreover, there are options for open wiring.
Important: any water line is made with a slope of at least 20 mm per 1 linear meter, in relation to the source of water intake.
If this source is located above the building itself, then a drain valve is made in the basement to ensure that water is drained in the country house for the winter.
The first method is suitable for those who mount the system with their own hands. In this case, the heating electrical cable is attached directly to the pipeline. It can be placed in one line, several lines or spiral.
The second way is more general. It can be used both for newly mounted structures and for purchased cottages with a ready-made water supply system. Its essence is that the heating element is placed inside the pipeline. It does not need to be fixed, but you will need an adapter for entering the system and a special waterproof cable.
What are the cables
- The legacy system is a closed loop. The length and resistance are clearly specified in it, it cannot be shortened and the contours should not intersect with each other, plus it is advisable to equip a separate thermostat.
- The second option is more progressive, the wire consists of two conductive wires, between which there is a self-regulating polymer heater. This cable does not need a thermostat. The characteristics of the polymer are such that it begins to heat up only when the temperature drops, therefore, the lines can intersect. And most importantly, you can use any length.
Important: no matter which method you choose, the pipes should be insulated.
It can be foamed polyethylene, foamed rubber or any other insulation.
Warming is especially important for shallowly recessed and open lines.
The average power consumption of such a cable is approximately 30W per 1 p/m. Modern polymer cables are more economical, but they are also more expensive. Some dacha associations are de-energized for the winter period, and renting a diesel generator for a summer residence will easily save the situation, because such units are designed for a much larger load.
Subtleties of draining water from the system
All the heating and insulation systems described above are relevant for the operation and quick start-up of the water supply system, but if the housing is left without heating for a long period, the pipes must be empty and the important question here is how to properly drain the water in the country house for the winter.
Initially, you should open the drain valve at the lowest point of the water intake. The valve can be mechanical or electromagnetically actuated, but if you have a submersible pump, then everything can be arranged much easier. It is enough to make a hole in the pipe with a cross section of about 1 mm above the water level, it will not affect the operation of the pump, but when turned off, the water will gradually drain by gravity.
During the dehydration of the system, it is necessary to open all the screws and valves existing in the house so that there is no vacuum anywhere. It should be opened starting from the top point and then descending.
When the movement of water has stopped, you need to go through and check the entire line for the presence of water locks. Check again that your boiler is empty and that the connecting hoses are not filled with water. In the case when the house has water heating, it is advisable to blow through all structures.
Do you need your own stationary water supply system that can provide water to a private house all year round? Agree that it will be very disappointing to be left 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.
Have you decided to make a winter water supply from a well on your own, which will be suitable for operation in any weather, but do not know the intricacies and nuances of this process?
We will help you deal with all the features - the article shows the best ways and analyzes the schemes for arranging an autonomous water supply system for year-round operation. The material is provided with visual photographs.
The process of preparing the water supply system for winter is considered step by step, including the insulation of all important nodes. Useful video recommendations from experienced plumbers are provided.
Winter plumbing is necessary if you plan to use a well water system throughout the year.
Such an autonomous system has many advantages:
- well water, with the right arrangement of the source, has excellent quality characteristics and taste;
- well care can be done independently, without the involvement of 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 improve the efficiency of operation, you can use the required power.
If the arrangement of the well was carried out in accordance with all the rules, the source and the plumbing system connected to it will last for many years.
Image gallery
Step # 2 - insulate the accumulator
The choice of pipe diameter depends on the length of the plumbing system: the longer the length, the larger the diameter of the polyethylene pipes used
Step #4 - install the drain valve and pressure switch
The drain valve is necessary for the conservation of the system, thanks to which water can be drained into the well. With a short length of water supply, the drain valve can be replaced with 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. When the maximum indicator of fullness of the pipes is reached, the pump will turn off.
Small assembly tricks
Work on the device begins with the drawing up of a scheme (project) of water supply. The diagram clearly shows the path that water makes from the point of water intake to the point of distribution of the water supply system in the house.
Wiring in the house can be done in two ways:
- consistent when the pipe is laid along the entire house and several water consumers depart from it;
- collector, in which a separate pipe is laid to each water consumer.
If there is a washing machine, watering hoses, automatic watering and irrigation systems, if more than 3 people live in a house, it is recommended to install a collector water supply system, which allows to provide sufficient pressure for comfortable water use.
After the well is built, it is necessary to take care of the installation of water supply. If a country house is used all year round, then you will need winter water supply from a well. In order to do the whole process with your own hands, you need to know what are the possible nuances and risks associated with connecting the pump and connecting pipes.
What is winter water supply
In this case, the word "winter" means year-round.
If we talk about winter plumbing, then the water will not freeze if one of the special methods is used for installation:
- Winter water supply is carried out below the freezing of the soil.
- Water supply in the country from the well in winter is above freezing, but at the same time additional high-quality thermal insulation is performed.
Advice. If the depth of ground freezing is up to 0.8 meters, then you can use the first method.
Winter water supply of the well, more about the methods:
- If the depth is below 1.5 m and there is no way to dig deeper, then the second method can be used. In this case, the price will increase, as the cost of additional pipe protection and insulation will increase.
- For this case, a trench up to 1m is dug and a pipe is laid. For heating, you will need a heat insulator and an additional heating cable.
- The most difficult thing when installing a water supply system is the connection with a reinforced concrete well in the place where a hole was left during the construction of the structure.
- The connection is carefully insulated so that dirt does not get inside through it.
Sealing and winter water supply from a well:
- In order to ensure the highest quality sealing, it is necessary to use a squeegee, which is a short pipe with threads at both ends.
- On both sides, gaskets are put on the pipes and pressed against the wall with the help of flanges.
Advice. If HDPE pipes with a diameter of 32 mm are used, it is recommended to install an adapter fitting for joining. In order to connect the pipes together, you will need soldering or fittings.
- For external and internal waterproofing, it is not recommended to use liquid mastics. Suitable cement mortar with the addition of liquid glass or silicone sealant.
Advice. In order to supply water to the cottage from the well in winter, the depth of the pipe must be below the middle of the water level. If you bring the pipe close to the bottom, the pump may become clogged.
Pipe installation:
- Before the vertical pipe is installed, all the water is preliminarily pumped out. The pipe is connected by hand with an angled elbow of the outlet pipe from the trench. Next, you need to measure the indent, which should be equal to about thirty centimeters and connect the pipe.
- Instead of a knee, you can use a faucet at a right angle, which will stop the water supply during repairs or when replacing plumbing.
How is the water supply of the cottage in winter
Winter water supply can be done in several ways. It all depends on how often the country house is operated: all year round or we are talking about periodic operation with the ability to start water supply at any time.
Let's consider each method in more detail:
- The first method is used both for ordinary country houses and for residential country houses. Water supply from a well in winter is carried out taking into account the fact that people live there all the time, which means that it is warm in the house in winter. In this case, during installation, the preservation device can be dispensed with.
- Water supply in winter from a well, taking into account conservation, greatly complicates the task, see photo. It is impossible to perform this device without certain skills with your own hands; it is better to seek help from specialists. Warming (see) makes it possible to keep the water supply working all year round, even if no one lives in the house for a long time.
- Water supply from a well in winter in both cases provides for the installation of an underground pipeline at a depth of about 1.5 m. Here it is necessary to take into account the observance of the slope in relation to the water source. If the length of the pipeline does not exceed 8 m, then it is not necessary to include a mandatory filling system in the pipeline device.
Advice. In this case, it would be advisable to install a check valve right in the house, and the pressure will be created when the pump is turned on. To drain the water, you will need a bypass pipeline device.
- Often the water supply of a well in winter involves the use of a pumping station. The installation instruction is simple and works automatically, so you can organize a regular flow of water offline, which is a good alternative to a submersible pump.