DIY: Pitless adapter to SCH40

[bucolic_frolic]

If you don't know what the title means, you probably can't help me. Sorry for the technical jargon.

So there is the 1: brass female threaded adapter outlet. Then there is a SCH40 1" pipe.

PVC has not worked too well. I think they make them too thin and cheap today.

So I need a brass 1" male to male threaded coupling. Fine. If I can find one. I get to use compound and/or tape. But how to I tighten that into the adapter without damaging the threads?

Then there is the transition to SCH40. It would be a straight female threaded to slip-on. That's better than what's on there.

But I also see brass female adapter to well hose. Great points for flexibility on that, would be really good. But how to connect hose to SCH40?

Would a regular plumber do this install, or would i need a well driller? It's my backup plan but being realistic I 'm not finding how to DIY

Thanks TIA for any quick help you can give!

[Kali]

1. always use female threaded pvc parts

as with much in life males are shit. use galvanized between your brass and pvc

no idea what a pitless adapter iz but have more experience with pvc in high pressure situations than most non-pros

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Thanks

This is well pipe. We have acid water with iron. Galvanized steel remains galvanized for about 3 years and then rusts out, though the overall duration based on past experience is about 20 years.

Pitless adapter is the connection from well casing to horizontal pipe. It allows for disconnect of vertical well pipe to remove pipe and replace pump. It bolts to a hole cut in the well casing. The pitless adapter is brass or bronze. That's why I thought brass would be a more durable choice.

[Kali]

4. yeah my world is held together

with a 600 foot well and a 5.5 mile long pvc pipeline (next time will be welded PE, at least the lower 2 or 3 miles) that is another 500 to 600 feet in elevation. been through a hell of a learning curve over the years. LOL
if the galvanized nipple is accessible for you, just put replacing it on a maintenance schedule. otherwise there is probably a brass nipple available on line at that size.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. So how'd I do?

Found brass at Home Depot. Couldn't find well line hose and brass bibs and connection to SCH40. I called 2 local plumber/well guys, but they're not answering their phone. So, DIY was the only game in town. Used vise pliers, no lock to tighten. Not a problem.

Connection is about 1 degree off 90. Oh well, That was fine last time, it was the male into brass that broke. This time I raised the pipe to match height, and added SS clamp over female PVC for strength. Will pack with mud underneath for support, and old time trick: make a vertical box all the way to the surface and pack with sand. No downward pressure that way.

3 weeks!

Thanks for your help!

[Kali]

6. view is down into hole, large pipe on left is well casing and

brass/pvc stuff is actually horizontal to surface, right? looks fine to me.

at first I saw it as some strange under ground thing and was trying to figure out why you were plumbing into a horizontal 4 inch sewer pipe under your house and how in the hell that pvc sucker pipe was going to last hanging at a 90 degree angle. and how deep your well was.

that black PE pipe you are calling well hose in the picture, we just call ranch pipe and generally you have to use a welder to put good metal fittings onto that stuff. clamps and plastic don't work for any kind of pressure. especially the thicker stuff. I don't know of any glues that work with it either. last project we did a guy let us borrow his but irrigation supply companies will rent them.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Yes you are correct, brass and white pvc is parallel to the ground. Sorry for the confusion!

The black hose pipe is sheathing for the electrical wires inside. I think it was considered quite the innovation 50 years ago when they installed it.

If there's no suitable transition ranch pipe to SCH40, that's why I didn't find any and glad I didn't call a well drillers. I figured they might want to replace the whole SCH40 line. It's been in the ground 30 years, no problems.

[Kali]

8. you can get them

they look like this



but the PE ends have to be heat welded to your ranch pipe.

there are other things like the regular grey barb fittings that you use with clamps. they come with threaded ends too.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. I've never seen them before, but of course heard of HDPE

The big box stores don't stock well parts other than pumps, pressure tanks, switches, a few fittings. Local home store was more like leftovers.

I think the latest failure was due to the spring earthquake here. 2 months later the fitting split off. So it took a shake, and it was not packed with mud which probably allowed for more vibration. I was trying to protect it from the downward pressure of the soil.

High Density Polyethylene = HDPE. Hard, dense, strong plastic.

[Kali]

10. yeah they are specialty (or magic internet)

we found them at nearby farm town irrigation supply place. pipe was ordered out of New Mexico, neighbor went and got it (he is a windmill/well guy but not a driller)

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Google 'strap wrench'...there are video's on how to use them.