Cleaning a well from silt and sand - proven methods with instructions. Cleaning a well with your own hands: a review of common causes of clogging and the best cleaning methods How to clean a well from silt in a country house

Cleaning a well from silt and sand - proven methods with instructions.  Cleaning a well with your own hands: a review of common causes of clogging and the best cleaning methods How to clean a well from silt in a country house
Cleaning a well from silt and sand - proven methods with instructions. Cleaning a well with your own hands: a review of common causes of clogging and the best cleaning methods How to clean a well from silt in a country house

Over time, wells become clogged. An individual source of water supply requires periodic maintenance, which will allow it to be used for a long time. If the well is clogged, the functioning of the pump is disrupted, so it is imperative to carry out timely preventative measures and remove the blockages. To remove the blockage, you will need to flush the well.

Well clogging: causes of blockage

Identifying the cause of a well blockage is a mandatory procedure that will help clarify the problem, as well as select the best option for carrying out flushing work. There are two options for clogging wells:

  • sand getting into the pipe;
  • siltation.

Siltation of a well occurs extremely rarely, and only in cases where an autonomous source of water supply is not in use. During the operation of the well, there is an accumulation of small particles in the area where the filter is present: sediment, deposits, rust, etc. Over time, the number of these particles only increases, so the mesh openings of the filter become clogged, and water is not able to enter the pipe for absorption in the appropriate quantity.

When the resource of water injection decreases, the process of siltation gradually develops. This process develops slowly in those wells that are operated regularly. If the source is used periodically, then siltation occurs soon (after 2-3 years).

To extend the life of the pump, flushing the well should be carried out in a timely manner, without waiting for the moment when water stops flowing from the source altogether.

When sand penetrates into the well (this process is also called “sanding”), a decrease in water pressure is observed. This process occurs much more often, and is present when the well is located in a sand and gravel layer. If the construction of a source for this type of soil was taken responsibly, then grains of sand will enter in small quantities, and flushing of the well will be necessary no earlier than after 10 years. If grains of sand in the water are observed much earlier, this means that this indicates the following factors:

  • caisson leakage;
  • incorrectly selected filter type;
  • the filter element has been damaged;
  • violation of the tightness between sections of the casing pipe.

If over time the amount of sand in the water increases, then the source needs to be cleaned. To extend the life of the pump, a sand separator is installed in the casing. As a result of this device, water without grains of sand and sediment enters the pipe.

Do-it-yourself well cleaning

Cleaning wells yourself is quite possible, for which there are various methods. For this purpose, the following cleaning options are used:

  1. Pumping is carried out using a vibration pump.
  2. Using a pump for surface washing.
  3. Using two pumps.
  4. Water hammer method for removing contaminants.
  5. Flushing the well with a bailer.
  6. Gas-air mixture for flushing the source.

These are the main well cleaning methods used to carry out the work yourself. In fact, there are many more options, however, only the above will be presented in the material.

How to clear a well of sand: using a vibration pump

Cleaning a well with a vibration pump is, although an ineffective method, but one of the simplest. A vibration pump is used as a flushing device instead of a flushing pump. Its advantage is that the impeller is capable of passing small stones.

During the cleaning process, the check valve in the vibration generator may fail, the cost of which is low. This pump is also much cheaper than a circulation pump. The method of using a vibrating pump will help if it is necessary to remove sand, but will not solve the problem of siltation. As a vibration generator, you need to use a pump with a bottom water intake.

To remove contaminants, you will need to place the pump almost at the very bottom, which will effectively remove contaminants. In the process of pumping out sediments, the amount of sand will decrease, so you need to gradually lower the pump.

While the pump is operating, you need to take breaks of 10-15 minutes every half hour of operation.

Pump flushing from above

Well cleaning is performed from the surface. This method is more practical than the previous one. To prevent the creation of a swamp in the process of cleaning a deep well from silt and sand, it is recommended to carry out flushing in a closed circle.

If there is no source of clean water nearby, it should be delivered. The volume of water required to clean the well is equal to the full capacity of the casing. This method allows water to circulate between the bottom of the well and the container, thereby accumulating contaminants on the bottom of the container. It is recommended to use a powerful motor pump as a circulation pump, and add chemical reagents to the water.

The top flushing technique is an effective and simple cleaning option that you can do yourself without calling a team of plumbers.

Flushing method using two pumps

The two methods listed above are suitable for flushing a well in a country house, the depth of which is more than 30-50 m. If the well is more than 50 m deep, then the power of the vibration pump is simply not enough to lift clogged water to the surface. The problem of clogging deep wells can be solved by using two pumps.

This method is even more effective, and to implement it you will need to use surface and deep devices. Using the first pump located on the surface, water will be supplied to the bottom of the well. Using a deep pump, water is pumped out along with sand, silt and other debris.

A pump placed in a well is suitable as a deep pump. Moreover, it will not need to be lifted from the bottom to the surface, or lowered as the contaminants are pumped out.

The main condition for carrying out this cleaning method is that the water supply hose must be lowered to the very bottom of the well. When carrying out this cleaning method, you need to understand that when sand, silt and stones pass through the impeller of a submersible pump, its service life will decrease.

Removing contaminants using a bailer

If a lot of sand has accumulated in the casing, then the cleaning method using a bailer is very effective. This method is not used only if it is necessary to clean the filter and soil.

A bailer is a section of steel pipe, the length of which is from 0.5 to 1 meter. Inside this pipe there is a valve on one side, as well as a lever for the cable on the other.

A steel ball is used as a valve, fixed by a washer with a threaded connection. Before carrying out cleaning work, it is recommended to completely pump out the water from the casing pipe. After this, the bailer is lowered to the bottom of the well, and upon reaching the very bottom, the valve opens. In this case, sand gets inside the bailer, after which the bailer is removed from the borehole. After lifting the bailer, you need to clean the internal cavity of silt and dirt, and then repeat the procedure.

The cleaning method using a bailer is effective, but it requires great physical effort. To simplify the procedure, you need to use a tripod-shaped structure on which the winch is attached. In order not to make a bailer yourself, you can purchase it ready-made or rent it.

Water hammer for cleaning

The cleaning method using water hammer is popular when it is necessary to remove sludge from the filter. This cleaning method is used as an additional method after sand and silt have been removed from the casing. If, after cleaning the casing pipe, water does not flow from the source, then it is necessary to clean the sludge from the filter.

To make the water hammer cleaning method a reality, you need to prepare a special device. This device uses a steel pipe with a diameter of several centimeters smaller than the size of the casing hole. The end part of the device must be tightly closed, and holes are drilled on the other side to secure the cable.

Pumping sand from a well in this way is carried out as follows:

  1. The well is filled with water to 2 meters.
  2. Phosphoric acid is added to the water, which eats away deposits and rust.
  3. The device is sharply lowered into the casing and then rises upward.
  4. The water hammer technique is repeated for 2 hours.
  5. After this, the casing pipe is filled with water to the very top, after which it is flushed.


If this technique does not help achieve a positive result, then the procedure is repeated for several more hours.

Application of gas-air mixture for cleaning

To clean the well, you can use another method, which is also effective. This method is called “gas-air mixture well cleaning.” It is put into action by installing a sprayer at the bottom of the casing pipe. This sprayer should stick into the ground. Through this device, a stream of compressed air is supplied to the bottom, which is pumped by a compressor. In this case, air bubbles are formed, which move to the surface along with contaminants.

You need to add water inside the well, which can flow by gravity or be supplied using a pump. The cleaning method with compressed air is used extremely rarely, due to the need to perform manipulations over several days. Thanks to the advantages of this method, it is possible to achieve a positive result in cleaning not only the bottom of the well from silt, but also the filter. This washing option is the most gentle, therefore it is used when the above options do not give positive results.

Which cleaning method should you prefer?

Having considered 6 methods of self-cleaning a well, you should focus on one option. The use of each method is expensive, so before choosing, you need to decide what the problem is. If water with sand moves from the source, then the bottom of the well is not silted. If the water pressure decreases, this indicates that the filter is dirty. Depending on the reason, preference should be given to appropriate methods.

It is recommended to begin well cleaning work exclusively with the simplest method - using a vibrating pump. Depending on the results obtained, we can conclude that other methods need to be used. The use of a bailer is not suitable for those options where the casing pipe is made of plastic. This option is only suitable for wells with steel casing.

All of the above methods, although popularly called “handicraft”, help to effectively clean the well. Calling a washing machine is rational only if all of the above methods have been tried and do not give positive results. It is important to take into account that the cleaning method with a washing machine will cost tens of times more than trying to implement all of the above methods yourself.

In country houses, wells are practically the only way to provide your family with clean water (not counting wells). But unlike the central water supply, where special services monitor water quality, well owners have to take care of it themselves. And when the water becomes cloudy, and sand and silt settle at the bottom of the containers, it becomes clear: it’s time to clean the well. The easiest way to do this is with the help of specialists. But they will have to pay for the work. However, there is an alternative: fix the problem yourself. Let's look at how to properly clean a well with your own hands.

The well requires constant monitoring of its condition, because in the early stages of contamination the cause is easier to eliminate than when the water supply has completely stopped. It is better if preventive measures are taken at the first sign of blockage, i.e. as soon as you notice sandy or silty sediment at the bottom of the dish, and the water pressure has become weaker. At the same time, the faucet may begin to snort, release air and dispense water in jerks, splashing the nearby space. If you delay the deadlines, then there is a high probability that cleaning using traditional methods will no longer help, and you will have to turn to experienced craftsmen who have special equipment.

Why does a well get clogged?

Any well, even a very high-quality one, gradually becomes clogged. There are several reasons:

  • One of them is inconsistent water intake. This problem arises among summer residents who live outside the city only in the summer. During the autumn-winter, a sediment of silt particles, rust from pipes, sand brought with the aquifer accumulates at the bottom of the well... And the less water is used, the greater the layer of debris settles at the bottom, gradually clogging the filters.
  • The second common reason is pollution from the outside, when debris, soil from collapsing edges, etc., enters through the mouth.
  • Clogging can be caused by soil movements and errors in well installation. For example, if they install a filter with a diameter smaller than that of the pipe. In this case, the pump is above the filter and does not pump out water from the bottom. There is no circulation and the filter gradually becomes silted.

When cleaning a well with two pumps, one unit pours clean water into the pipe, and the second pumps out dirt from the bottom

First cleaning with a compressor immediately after drilling

As soon as a well is drilled, it must be cleaned immediately, because not only water will flow into the pipes from the aquifer, but also all the garbage that is in it. Installed filters cannot retain the smallest particles, which make the water cloudy and undrinkable. Depending on the depth of the well, the flushing process after drilling can take from 10 hours to several weeks.

If the drilling was carried out by specialists, then they flush the system using a flushing installation. If you drilled the well yourself, you will also have to clean it of dirt yourself. To do this, you will need a compressor with a capacity of at least 12 atm and several pipes, which must be connected to each other and inserted into the well so that they reach the bottom. In this case, the diameter of the pipes should be smaller than the diameter of the well, so that there is empty space between them.

The compressor forces air into the well under high pressure, so dirty water can fly out at high speed and splash everything around

Let's take a step-by-step look at how to clean a well yourself using a compressor:

  1. We insert the pipes into the well. It is advisable to reinforce the top with a rope, because under high water pressure the structure can bulge upward.
  2. We put a vacuum adapter on the pipe, securing it with self-tapping screws.
  3. Pump up the compressor to maximum pressure.
  4. We put the compressor hose on the adapter.
  5. We turn on the unit and release all the air into the well.
  6. We repeat pumping several times.

Air under pressure will push dirty water through the interpipe space. So don't be surprised if everything around you is covered in dirt.

If you do not achieve clean water using air, repeat the procedure, replacing air blowing with water washing, using the same pipe system with an adapter. To do this, find some large barrel, place it next to the compressor and fill it with water.

Using a water compressor, drive this water under maximum pressure into the well. But be careful, because heaps of dirt will fly towards you, pushed out by this water. Clean the well until the container is drained. Then flushing should be repeated until dirt stops being thrown out from the interpipe space.

Using blowing and washing, the well is cleaned of silt or sand. But salt deposits on the filter cannot be dislodged in this way.

How to pump a well with a submersible pump?

A more accurate way to clean a well is with a submersible pump. You don't have to work in the mud because all the water can be drained to a place convenient for you. For this procedure, you need a pump that is designed to pump out dirty water. It is desirable that it can absorb solid particles up to at least 5 mm. Then you will remove not only sand from the bottom, but also small pebbles.

To clean the well, it is better to use a submersible pump; it is capable of pumping water with solid particles with a diameter of up to 30 mm

Let's look at how you can clean a well at your dacha using a submersible pump:

  • We tie the pump to a strong cable, because during operation it can be sucked into silt, and the cord that comes with the unit will not always pull the pump out of this trap.
  • We lower the unit to the bottom of the well a couple of times and raise it to stir up the sediment.
  • We install the pump near the bottom and turn it on.
  • If the pump is equipped with automation, it will turn off itself as soon as it has pumped out all the water. If there is no such element, you need to control the process so as not to miss the moment of complete pumping. A motor running dry may burn out.

If you do not have a special pump for pumping out dirty water, you can clean the well with a conventional vibration pump, such as the “Malysh” type. The progress of work is exactly the same as described above. Only periodically this pump must be removed from the well for flushing with clean water. Vibrating units are not designed for heavily contaminated water, so without washing they will not withstand such a test and will burn out. By the way, the first sign that the pump is wearing out is heating of the housing.

Vibration pumps are not designed for heavily contaminated water, so when cleaning they must be periodically rinsed with clean water to avoid clogging and overheating.

To flush the system, you will need a container with clean water and an empty one. Place the hoses in the containers and turn on the unit.

Chemical cleaning and bailer cleaning

If the blowing and washing methods slightly increased the well's flow rate, it means that the filters are clogged with solid layers of iron and lime salts. You won't be able to knock them out with pressure. In this case, they resort to critical measures - acids. It is necessary to pour ordinary battery acid, which is used for vehicles, into the bottom, having first pumped out all the water. Acid is poured in for 2 days, and the top of the well is tightly plugged with a plug.

When two days have passed, the water from the well is pumped out several times. But even after this, they are not used for drinking or cooking for a month, but only for construction or household needs. The more often water is withdrawn, the faster the acids will be washed out of the well. And yet, before drinking water, it is better to have it analyzed in a laboratory. This way you will have official confirmation of its safety.

Cleaning a well using a ready-made or homemade bailer allows you to clean the well of all debris that has accumulated at the bottom, and not just silt.

Situation.
The well is 15 years old, depth 45 meters, water with iron, water column 6 meters.
Over the past 5 years, there has been a gradual decrease in flow rate and a decrease in depth from about 1 meter or more.
It is clear that it is time to clean.
At first I tried bailing with a hand bailer - a pipe with a valve, weight 10 kg.
The bailer collects very little sediment, a couple of glasses.
It's hard and very slow.
I don’t want to hit with a heavy, powerful bailer, I’m afraid I’ll break through the bottom and the water will go away.
Result:
- The well has been restored in depth and flow rate to the same level as when I began operating it approximately 8 years ago.
- About 3 buckets of contaminants (sand, small stones, rust in nodules) were removed from the well.
- In addition, for about 8 hours I pumped out the turbidity and dirty water, using my original pump after cleaning, installed in its place.
- I cleaned it with a homemade device, made according to the idea from the Internet, according to the principle of a cyclone.

The idea is this:
The cleaning method was inspired by a drawing from this article:
http://usadba-kirov.ru/infrastruktur...skvazhinu.html

Since the “baby” cannot pump water with sand (although everyone does this, it eventually comes to an end - overheating or complete wear of the valves, they are rubber), then you need to separate the water from the sand, do not pump this water to the top, but let it go in a circle in the well to loosen it.
For example, the dirt that was in my well cannot be lifted with any vibrating device, there is a lot of it and it is very heavy.

Based on this idea, I made my own structure from iron - for real.
This is a 1.5 meter pipe in which a vibration pump and a container for collecting dirt using the “cyclone” principle are installed.

This structure is lowered into the well, the pump is turned on and collects dirt from the bottom of the well into the container. It takes all of 15 minutes.
After that, we lift it up - shake out the dirt and lower it again.
My design picks up about 3 - 5 liters of dirt.
Moreover, it picks up large stones and even dissolved silt - the cyclone is a great idea, it separates even the smallest particles of dirt.

What's bad is the heaviness of the structure. But the attempt to make it all out of plastic did not work out. The installation should sink well to the bottom under its own weight. Loosening occurs by the installation itself, since the vibrating device transmits vibration to the pipe, and in addition, I welded three legs for loosening and stability at the bottom.
The result was a water vacuum cleaner.

How is this better than a bailer?
The main thing is that you don’t need to hit anything, throw anything, or injure the filters, casing and water-supporting layer.
I lowered it - waited 15 minutes - picked it up - shook out the dirt. It's simple.
This method collects much more dirt in one lift than a hand bailer.
Lifts everything from rocks to dissolved sludge. At the end, when the coarse dirt was lifted, the unit arrived full of slurry of dissolved fine dirt.
Below is a picture of the idea and my solution in hardware:

A well becomes clogged for various reasons; in some situations, you may need to flush it yourself to remove silt, sediment and rust. Cleaning is carried out in various ways; you can do it yourself without the help of professionals.

Types of wells

There are 2 types of wells:

  • with the same diameter at each depth level;
  • with a filter that is larger in diameter than the well.

The first option is easier to make and use, so it is more common. In this design, the pump is lowered directly to the source. Thanks to this arrangement of the device, silt does not settle or collect inside. But even in this case, contamination cannot be ruled out if water pumping is poor.

The second option is not so common; its design uses an additional filter; it is located at the bottom of the well and does not make it possible to lower the pump deep enough to place it directly at the source.

What are the causes of blockage?

There are many reasons for clogging of a structure, the most common include:

  1. Incorrect installation. If the pipe is positioned incorrectly or its installation technology is violated, a blockage occurs. Often the pipe is installed behind the water source, and then clogging occurs. To avoid this situation, a special filter is used to purify the incoming water.
  2. Application of a rotary pump. This is the most popular device for pumping water, but its use leads to the fact that the well quickly fills with silt. This happens when the device is immersed to a depth of more than 10 m.
  3. Using a vibration device. This type of device collects water from the top, leaving deposits of fine sand, rocks and silt at the bottom.
  4. The well has not been used for a long time. In this case, you should turn on the pump several times a month to drain some of the water - this will help avoid clogging. An alternative would be to use well water more frequently.

Cleaning methods

There are situations when it is not possible to do without the help of specialists, since the blockage is complex. But most often you can clean the well yourself. For this you can use:

  • electric compressor;
  • bailer;
  • chemicals;
  • one or two pumps.

After drilling, stagnation is a common occurrence, so it is recommended to install a filter. If the installation of the water supply is carried out according to a correctly designed scheme, then problems with blockages will not arise often.

Using a filter

This design should have a device that helps further purify the water and prevent clogging. This device looks like a small hole that is located at the bottom of the water supply pipe. It allows small particles and water to pass through, but retains large debris, preventing the well from clogging. There are filters that have 2 pipes of different diameters, each of them has a hole.

Using a bailer

The bailer is a steel pipe approximately 1-1.5 m long. It has a valve at one end and a lever-eye at the other. This method is used when cleaning sand that accumulates in a water supply pipe; it can also be used to remove compressed deposits and small stones remaining in the pipe. But the bailer is useless when you need to remove the sludge that has accumulated in the filter.

The valve is a steel ball; it is held in place by a special washer attached to threaded connections. To get maximum results, it is recommended to completely pump out the water from the casing. The bailer sinks to the bottom with a sharp movement. As soon as the pipe hits the sand, the valve will open and capture some of the accumulated debris. The bailer is removed and the sand is shaken out of it. This process is repeated several times until the cleaning is complete.

To speed up the process, it is recommended to use a winch, since the pipe is quite heavy and it is inconvenient to use even with two people. A ready-made bailer can be purchased at a special store, rented, or made with your own hands. The projectile should be used with caution, as it can damage the filter mesh. When the layer of dirt does not exceed a few centimeters in thickness, it is better to remove the residue using another method, without using impact force.

How to clean a well with a deep vibration pump

Cleaning a well from silt and sand can be done using a special or simple pump. A special device is designed to remove debris and sand from water. To carry out the procedure, you need to follow the rules:

  • the hydraulic machine is lowered to the bottom of the structure and then started;
  • as soon as the device starts working, a whirlpool will appear into which small debris will be drawn in (this option is also suitable for those who want to remove clay deposits from the well that pollute the water);
  • For the process to proceed correctly, the pump should be cleaned with clean water;
  • the pump must be turned off periodically to avoid overheating.

The “Malish” pump is used when the well depth is no more than 40 m.

How to clean a well with two pumps

To carry out such cleaning, you should prepare a container that can hold at least 200 liters of water. The pump is immersed in such a container, and its hose is lowered to the bottom of the well. Water is supplied from the container, which helps to wash away the sediment at the bottom, mixing it with water.

The resulting mud mixture is removed using a vibration pump. This method has advantages over others, since it allows you to additionally rinse the filters thanks to the active supply of water under pressure. If the contamination is strong, you will have to use more water and rinse several times. This approach allows you to completely remove sediment, sand and small debris, which will allow you to use the well for a long time.

Cleaning with an air compressor

This method is most effective for clearing a well of silt and sand deposits. To carry out cleaning, you must perform the following steps:

  • a pipe is immersed in the well; it should not reach the bottom by about 0.5 m;
  • a hose is attached to the pipe, which is attached to the compressor;
  • as soon as the compressor is turned on, a stream of air will begin to flow from the hose under pressure, thereby lifting all the sediment and pushing the water, along with silt and sand, upward.

Compared to a pump, this method makes the cleaning procedure faster and easier.

How to clean with acid

For DIY cleansing, strong chemical-based products can be used. Most often, food acids are used for cleansing: citric, sorbic and ascorbic have worked well.

The easiest way is to use citric acid, as it is sold in any store. About 1.5-2 kg of acid is enough for a well. The substance is poured into the well and left to react for several days. The acid attacks the sludge and eats it away. Once the structure is cleaned, you can drink the water within 2-3 hours.

Cleaning using an air lift

Another method for cleaning a well involves the use of a water riser pipe. The lower part is immersed in the well, and then air is supplied from the compressor, which creates a mixture of foam and air. During the cleaning process, it is necessary to ensure that the water level is always sufficient. Contaminated water enters the pipe and rises through it.

The easiest way to clean a well

The simplest option for removing silt and sand from a well involves using only a vibration pump. This procedure is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Its principle is to lift sediments and mix them with water, and then remove the contaminated water. To carry out cleaning in this way, you will need a cord or cable to which the pin is attached; there must be a nut on it. By rising and falling, this device will loosen sand and silt, mixing them with water.

How not to damage the well during the cleaning process

To prevent the well from being damaged during the cleaning process, you should not use devices that can damage the walls of the casing pipe. It is worth giving preference to devices that are specifically designed to remove sediment. The pump should not be left in operation unattended, and the water level should be monitored.

Self-cleaning is only possible if there is no large debris or metal objects in the well. In case of complex contamination, you should seek help from special companies.

The well is convenient because 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 preventative work needs to be carried out from time to time to ensure that the well is clean and the system is working properly, so many dacha owners are thinking about how to clean the well with their own hands without spending a lot of money on it.

If the water pressure has become weaker, this is the first alarm signal. This is usually followed by a brief stagnation with a characteristic gurgling sound and the subsequent release of cloudy water, and then the system stops working.

Do-it-yourself well cleaning begins with determining the cause of the breakdown. There can be many reasons for this: problems often arise due to irregular operation, errors during drilling and construction. Aquifer veins can change their direction - in this case the reason will be natural.

If the structure does not have protective mechanisms, much more debris will end up at the wellhead. The reason may be a lack of maintenance or poor pump performance.

There are two main types of wells (with a filter and a straight bore) and three main ways to get the well working: flush it, pump it, or blow it out.

It is more convenient to clean a water intake with a straight stem - the equipment can be lowered to the bottom, thereby eliminating the risk of rapid silting. But with irregular operation, any well will sooner or later become clogged.

Diagram of a well with a mesh filter. Many summer residents recommend using filters rather than chlorinating the water. But sooner or later any well will need cleaning, so we choose a convenient method based on its characteristics

The most affordable independent way to clean a country well from sand and silt is pumping.

Method #1 - using a standard vibration 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, as well as debris 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 you need to pass clean water through the pump. If the case gets very hot, this means you need to give the equipment a rest. You can clean the well with a standard vibration pump of the “Malysh” type, if it is shallow - the pump will drop a maximum of 40 meters.

The pump is at the bottom of the well, water with contaminants is sucked into the pipe and thrown out. Clean water is passed through the pump from time to time to keep work surfaces clean. To protect the equipment, it is better to turn it off once or twice to avoid overheating

Method #2 - cleaning the well with a bailer

If the well is slightly clogged, and at the same time shallow in itself, you can use a bailer. In other cases, its use will be ineffective. If the depth is 30m or more, you will need a winch, and this method of cleaning will require considerable effort from two strong men.

A bailer is a piece of pipe on a cable with a mesh at the top and a hole at the bottom. It sinks to the bottom, then rises to a height of 0.5 m and drops sharply. Water is drawn inside; inside the cylinder there is a metal ball, which rises after a couple of seconds, and then falls and closes the hole. This cycle of raising and lowering is repeated three to four times, then the bailer is raised and cleared of sand. To make it more convenient to work, you can use a tripod. About 0.5 kg of sand gets into 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 bailer device. Reviews about this method of well cleaning are both positive and negative. Some people find this method of cleaning very labor-intensive and ineffective, while others only use it. If you can make a bailer yourself, such cleaning will not require any extra expenses, and this is already a plus

Method #3 – mechanized cleaning

The most effective method for deep wells is mechanized cleaning. The best option is to use two pumps operating in pairs.

A deep pump equipped with a lower hydraulic intake is located at the bottom of the well. It raises water with mud and silt. The pump, working in pairs with it, supplies water to agitate the deposits under pressure from the reservoir. For cleaning to be truly effective, the water drainage hose should be shaken and ensure that the amount of contaminants is not too large; if their concentration in the water is very high, overheating and even equipment breakdown may occur.

The equipment must also be selected correctly; the selection depends on the depth at which the water is located. Vibrating pumps are used if the water depth is more than 10 meters.

Mechanized well cleaning using a deep-well pump and a pump, which we work with it in pairs, is recognized as the most effective method. Much 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 high pressure, you can clean a well in ten minutes. But this method is expensive and dangerous; strong pressure can damage filters and system components. This method is recommended for heavy contamination.

Method #5 - using an airlift

How to clean a well in a country house from sand and silt using an airlift? The method is to use Archimedes' law. What exactly is a well? This is a vessel with water. A water-lifting pipe is placed in it, into the lower part of which compressed air is supplied using an air compressor. A mixture of air and foam forms in the pipe. The water column presses from below on the water-lifting pipe - the process begins, it needs to be controlled so that the water in the well being cleaned does not run out.

Since the bottom of the pipe is located almost on the sand, the sand and water rise and are absorbed by the water-lifting pipe. The task of the person involved in cleaning is to monitor the water level in the well.

Cleaning with an airlift pump is also an effective method. Compressed air is supplied under pressure; at the bottom of the pipe, silt, water, and small stones rise, are absorbed by the pipe and pushed to the surface

As a rule, the wells in the areas are shallow, and a standard vibrating pump or bailer is suitable for cleaning. If the well depth is significant, you can try the mechanized cleaning method. When using a fire engine hose, cleaning the well will be very fast, but it is expensive. Unfortunately, this method often leads to damage, which entails additional costs. If the main source of water in your dacha is a well, choose a cleaning method that is convenient for you and clean it periodically so that there are no interruptions in the water supply, because water in the dacha is the main condition for a comfortable stay.