Such a structure as a well does not lose its relevance even today, despite the wide availability of all kinds of hydraulic equipment. The owners of country houses and summer cottages continue to use them. To avoid the loss of a single source of water, from time to time it is necessary to perform maintenance and repair of the well. How to cope with the task without the help of specialists? The answer to this question can be found in our article.
How to understand that it’s time to carry out repairs?
Well cleaning and repair is required if unsatisfactory water quality is noted. The liquid may become cloudy, have an unpleasant odor or a repulsive aftertaste. Drinking such water is not worth it. A number of factors can lead to such troubles. On the walls deposits are often formed in the form of unicellular algae, organic particles. All this is the result of reducing the tightness of the joints of the structure, through which groundwater flows into the mine, soil particles get into it. If similar problems are noted, it is necessary to seriously think about how to perform well repair.
Wooden well
A common problem that necessitates the repair of a well made of wood is the destruction of the structure of logs. Replacing such elements is a rather time-consuming task. To do this, prepare the site from durable boards. The latter is fixed over the throat of the well shaft on the cables. In this way, a structure similar to a cradle is obtained. It is important that several people monitor the safe movement of the site during work. The work is performed as follows:
- The descent into the shaft to the area of damage is carried out.
- The upper logs are strengthened by spacers, which prevents their collapse.
- The rotted area is being sorted.
- Unwanted elements are removed from the mine to the surface.
- A selection of replacement logs is in progress.
- New structural elements are clogged in place of the formed gaps.
- All accessories are removed from the well shaft.
Brick well
Repairing a brick well is the easiest. Elements of such structures are easy to dismantle and replace. First of all, when performing work, it is necessary to carefully clean all the walls. Otherwise, you may not notice certain damage. Having found a defect, it must be cleaned in depth. Damaged bricks should be removed to the outside. The gap needs to be thoroughly cleaned, after which fresh cement mortar should be laid in it. In place of the old brick, you need to arrange a new one.
Before returning to the operation of a brick well, it is desirable to plaster the walls of its shaft. For this, the surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with a metal brush, removing mucus and dirt. The coating must be dried. Only after this, you can begin to impose a new plaster.
Repair of a ring of a well from concrete
Gaps between concrete rings occur under the influence of spring snow melting. Such troubles are especially often noted in cases where low-quality concrete is laid between the elements of the well. The result is the appearance of all kinds of cracks. Dirty water begins to flow down the walls of the mine.
Repairing wells made of concrete rings involves the use of a sealant with waterproof properties. An alternative can be a regular concrete mortar, which must be carefully processed all cracks. Then you should strip the material, which can crumble into the mine.
The presence of large cracks on the surface of the rings requires processing of the structure from the outside. In this case, a trench breaks out around the well to the depth of the defect. Seams are treated with the same sealant or cement mortar. Once the surfaces are dry, the rings can be buried back.
Concrete Ring Offset
It often happens that the rings are shifted to one side. How to repair a concrete well in this case? First you need to dig out the rings and put them in place. Next, you should resort to the strengthening of structural elements with metal brackets. At least 4 plates are mounted on each joint. For their installation, holes are pre-drilled in the rings. It is recommended to fix brackets with anchor bolts. Finally, the seams between the rings must be sealed.
Precautionary measures
Descent into a well shaft to carry out repairs is potentially dangerous. Therefore, before performing any work, it is recommended to fix the walls of the structure with spacers. The area around the well must be carefully removed so that nothing falls inside.
Particular attention should be paid to the strength of the ropes on which a person descends into the mine. If you plan to work at a considerable depth, it is better to tie the performer with an additional safety rope. All mechanisms that are used to lift a person, tools and materials should be as reliable as possible.
Before descending into the well shaft, it is important to check how air is suitable for breathing. For these purposes, lower the lit candle. Its rapid extinction indicates the concentration of harmful gases in the well. To fix the problem, you need to direct a powerful fan into the mine.
Finally
As you can see, it’s not so difficult to repair certain types of wells. It is only necessary to determine the nature of the problem and find the optimal solution to resolve it. In order to keep the well in order, it is recommended to carry out a routine inspection of its condition annually, to repair minor damage in a timely manner, even if the water quality remains in order.