PRIVATE WATER SYSTEMS - Installation - Protection - Pitless Well Devices

Pitless Well

Pitless Adapters

Pitless adapters connect to a well casing below the frost line, and water from the well is diverted horizontally at the adapter to prevent it from freezing.

Usually, a hole is cut in the casing at a desired level; the discharge part of the adapter is fastened over the hole by a clamp and gasket or by welding.


Pitless Units

Pitless units are similar to pitless adapters except they are manufactured assemblies which replace the upper portion of the well casing. The casing is off just below the frost line and the pitless unit is attached to it by threads, welding, or compression gaskets.

Internal parts are removable and attach to the drop pipe. When in the pitless unit, they form a water tight seal and divert the water horizontally below the frost line into underground water lines.

Pitless adapters and units are for use with submersible, deep and shallow well jet, and piston pumps. To prevent contaminated water from entering a leaking discharge pipe, it is always under pressure.


Submersible
For a submersible pump, the discharge pipe is kept under pressure with a check valve, either built in or just below the pitless adapter/unit. Systems with constant air pressure tanks need a check valve only on top of the submersible pump.
Deep well jets
Deep well jets are offset from the well and have both a suction and a pressure line. The suction line is inside the pressure pipe. The piping is separated for connection to the pump by a casing adapter. Locate this adapter above ground level to prevent possible flooding in a basement and to assure that a faulty suction line will not contaminate the supply.

Shallow Well Jets
Jet or shallow piston pumps have a single suction pipe. To pressurize the discharge pipe, the suction line is inside a pipe which is pressurized by the pressure tank and which ends at the connection to the well.

Before installing a pitless unit, check with local and state well codes, because not all pitless units are acceptable. In general, the units are sanitary if they extend the casing above ground level and are attached to the casing and discharge pipe by approved threads, gaskets, or welds, and if the discharge line is continuously under pressure. Use only the units that have the PAS-1 or NSF seal.


Above-ground Discharge Adapters (1)

The adapters cover the well casing above ground level. For frost protection, a check valve in the discharge pipe permits it to drain by gravity, leaving only compressed air in the line. The well seal, check valve, and pipe connections are above ground for sanitary protection.

The adapter attaches to the top of the drop pipe and seats on the top of the well casing. The discharge pipe slopes for gravity flow to a pressure tank either buried next to the well or in a basement.

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