HomeFocus.com Create Listing
Contractor Directory Talk Boards Ask the Expert Resource Library Top Real Estate Agents Home Plans
Home | Contact Us | Job Opportunities | Client Login


It's fast, easy
& free!

click here


Login

Username
Password

I forgot my password




Ren Molnar Bio



Ren Molnar Archive



Homefocus Archive


Expert Q Ren Molnar Q&A Archive
Top > Plumbing > Well

Question:

I know it says not to send questions directly to you, but no other listed "expert" seemed to be the right person to ask...so I hope you'll oblige! Over the past couple winters I've had problems with my well; the water gets so high in the casing (drilled well) that it gets to within 16" of the top (~30" above ground) and then freezes solid. As you can imagine, the resulting vacuum within the casing causes major water quality issues. So for lack of a better idea, I wrapped the top portion of the casing with a "heat wrap" and thawed it out when this happened. It works, but is a bit of a pain as I have to run an extension out there and of course pay the extra electricity. I'm hoping you can offer a more permanent solution (that won't involve electricity?)

Answer:

Never, ever hesitate to send questions directly to me - please.
Unfortunatly, you have the only solution that I've ever seen or heard of for this and the fact that it works, probably discourages people from looking for anything else. You might be able to find a regulator that will engage the electricity at a temperature closer to freezing but I don't know how long it would take you to get a return on your investment becasue the one you have probably engages at 40F degrees and that is already cutting pretty close.

In the interests of retaining credibility that I worked several decades to establish and in fairness to all, I don’t comment on various (building, electrical, plumbing) codes, brand-specific products, recommend prices, people nor companies for various projects.

Remember, even if you don’t do your own work around the house have to hire someone, you put yourself at a great advantage when you can intelligently discuss a project with the various trades people.

"Ren’s Ren-O-Vations Tips"
is a monthly journal that talks about everything to do with HOME OWNERSHIP & MAINTANENCE.

It is sent out in time to have it in your mailbox or on your computer by the 20th of the month – every month.

To order, simply send a cheque or money order to:
Ren,
P.O. Box 9411,
Ottawa, Ontario,
K1G 3V1

E-mail – 12 issues (1 yr.) $17.95.
Regular mail – 12 issues (1 yr.) $33.95.
(subject to change without notice)
Credit card companies take a cut from payments so we are not credit card friendly - can't justify it.
Ren’s Ren-O-Vations Tips
makes the perfect gift any time for almost everyone:
Be My Valentine, Easter, Christmas, Mothers’ Day, Fathers' Day, Birthday, Wedding, Congratulations New Home Owner(s), Thinking Of you,
Good neighbour

I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Ren-O-Vations ‘Cross Canada – the Radio Show is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Host of CFRA Radio 580’s Ren-O-Vations ‘Cross Canada and Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com.

Answered By: Ren Molnar

More Questions & Answers ...

1. We are on a well and have problems with hard water scale and rust stains on the fixtures. I have heard of the ...
2. We live in a two story house in the country and have a deep well submersible pump with a standard size pressur ...
3. I know it says not to send questions directly to you, but no other listed "expert" seemed to be the right pers ...
4. My eavestrough downspout is attached to big O plastic drainage pipe that goes underground to the middle of my ...
5. Do you have any details on how to build a dry well? I have one that is 30 years old and it may need to be re-b ...
6. Our 1st well went dry and we had another well drilled (330 ft). Costing $10,000, $5000 for plumbing, $5000 fo ...
7. I am in the market to purchase a home outside Ottawa (ON). I went to visit one in the Almonte Pakenham area on ...
8. Our bungalow is about 30 years old - water pressure is just so-so in general (the plumber replaced the main pi ...
9. Just had to replace an 18 year old pump for my outside well due to constant loss of pressure. The new pump wor ...
10. We just had our well pump and all wires and hoses were replaced. Once back on, the water is very black with ...
11. The amount of water that drains in my sump pit is unbelieveable. I have three sump pumps, One is on a battery ...
12. City boy bought cottage,oops mistake 1. Run hot & cold water full blast in bathtup,water stops running when tu ...
13. I live in the country east outside of Ottawa (ON). And the house was built in '75, when i moved in ther ...
14. My dad has a frozen pipe (from the well to the home) It has been dug up by the "pump" guy. Now we need to defr ...
15. My dad has a frozen pipe (from the well to the home) It has been dug up by the "pump" guy. Now we need to defr ...
16. My dad has a frozen pipe (from the well to the home) It has been dug up by the "pump" guy. Now we need to defr ...
17. My dad has a frozen pipe (from the well to the home) It has been dug up by the "pump" guy. Now we need to defr ...
18. I live in a house that is about 15 years old. The submersible pump controller chatters in the basement when th ...
19. My home uses a well for its water supply and I use a water filter and softner to condition the water. Both the ...
20. i have a submersible well with air press tank and press switch . problem is cannot keep steady press and somet ...
21. Situation: -Live in the country -Have a well for water
-There is a 4" duct from the well & it comes through ...
22. We drilled a new well last year as our old one seemed to have a lot of sediment and the assumption was that it ...
23. I have a well about 13 to 16 ft deep it is a sand well. I want to put more pressure in the system for the hous ...
24. We live in the country in a 13 yr old bungalow but the well is considerably older (maybe30 yrs?). Our problem ...
25. I recently purchased a new to me home that is 22 yr. old. The problem is when a heavy rain falls, I get ground ...
26. My house is 27 years old, in the country, and I am on a septic system. About 5 to 6 weeks ago I noticed that w ...
27. I have a century farm house with a well. Five weeks ago the pump was turning on and off every 5 sec and the pl ...
28. I am adding on to my house (hopefully, if I get all the paperwork done)this summer. Because I am on septic/we ...
29. We recently bought an older mobile home that I can be made more comfortable. It is supported on concrete block ...
30. I have a shower and after about five minutes the temperature changes back and forth from freezing to boiling e ...
31. We intended to put an addition on but the contractor found rotten wood and on and on it goes. So many dollars ...
32. We live in a bungalow in Navan, Ontario and we are on septic and well. We have a toilet on our main floor and ...
33. I live in the country and have a septic weeping bed system. I have a water softener which back washes into a ...

Home Plans