question about well & pitcher pump in winter

Dumb questions about wells ahead! I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with my well for the winter. It is a shallow sandpoint well with a pitcher pump. On top of the pipe there is a flapper (picture attached) that I took out to be safe but I’m not sure I needed to do that. Also, it doesn’t seem to work without it… Besides that flapper there is no other valve or anything installed. Should you be able to use it in the winter and, if so, what do you need to do to make sure freezing isn’t a problem?

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That is the check valve that holds the water in the pipe under the pump. You will have to build something around it to keep it from freezing and the ground around the pipe from freezing. An insulated box that could be kept warm with an incandescent bulb.

Generally, you can’t use a pitcher pump on an outdoor well in a MN type winter. It will freeze.

I believe there are tall pumps that have frostproof check valves below frost level.

Grouse

Loren is correct it is a check valve to keep water in the pipe. If you do not use the pump in the winter all you need to do is open the valve to let the water drain down the pipe back into the well and you are good to go. We had a hand pump as a kid and all we did in the winter was unscrew the pump from the pipe and then put a cap on the vertical pipe.

We put a tee right below the pump and added a ball valve on the horizontal part of the tee. Close the valve when in use open when done and the water will fall back down. Obviously close valve once its drained.