In the process of installing an autonomous water supply, sewerage or other communications system, home owners in the private sector are often faced with the need to build wells on their property. Reinforced concrete rings for these purposes can be purchased at the factory or from small companies that manufacture them. Or you can do it yourself - it’s cheaper and not so difficult: just read the recommendations and tips in the video.
Making formwork for the ring
Molds for making reinforced concrete rings can be purchased in specialized stores. The choice of products is wide: in diameter, height and configuration. Or you can do it yourself. Suitable for this:
- a pair of metal barrels of different diameters so that the thickness of the well wall is optimal;
- air ducts, large diameter pipes;
- steel or plastic sheets rolled into cylinders and secured to door or window coverings by welding or rivets.
As an example, the manufacture of a mold for casting well rings from steel sheets 1.8 mm thick. If you do everything carefully, you can get a shape no worse than the factory one. You need to cut two sections so that after rolling you get a pair of rings (outer and inner) with the diameter you need. As a rule, the difference in this value should be 60-100 mm. The result is a form made of two halves.
Formwork for rings made of steel sheets
For the outer cylinder, fasten regular door or window awnings on the cutting lines: their sashes should be placed along the edges, in the hinge - on top and along the cut. There should be at least two canopies on one edge. They should be fixed with rivets or welding. The ring-shape should open and close freely. On the inner ring, the canopies must open inward. Otherwise, it is manufactured according to a similar scheme.
Attention! When assembled, the inner form should be 5-10 cm higher than the outer one.
The internal form must have a cone-shaped lid welded along the upper contour. At the top there is a loop, behind which, after casting the reinforced concrete ring, the mold will rise. In addition, this allows you to quickly throw the concrete solution: it will flow into the gap between the walls of the formwork. Sometimes in factory designs the mold is not lifted, but its parts are thrown to the sides, opening the fastening locks.
How to put a septic tank into operation
In order for the system to begin to function effectively, the constructed septic tank must be saturated with anaerobic microflora. The natural accumulation process takes several months, so it is accelerated by saturating the septic tank with imported microflora. You can do this in two ways:
- The new septic tank is filled with wastewater and left for 10-14 days. Then sludge sludge from an existing anaerobic septic tank is loaded into it (2 buckets per cubic meter).
- You can purchase ready-made bioactivators (bacterial strains) in the store (the main thing here is not to confuse them with aerobes, which are intended for other treatment systems).
Ready-to-start septic tank made of ringsSource remont-book.com
Manufacturing of concrete rings: materials and tools
Reinforced concrete rings for a well can be made on a spacious construction site. You will probably need:
- concrete mixer or other device for mixing the solution;
- mold for casting rings;
- wooden spacers that will support the shape;
- vibration installation;
- lifting device;
- reinforced frame.
To make rings, prepare:
- fresh cement (M400 or higher);
- quartz sand cleared of impurities;
- clean, medium-sized and not smooth gravel (no more than 1/4 of the thickness of the future ring wall).
Advice. If you don't have a concrete mixer, you can make the concrete mixture by hand: using shovels in an old bathtub or on a metal sheet.
What rules must be followed when servicing a septic tank?
There are simple rules that support the high-quality operation of the system.
- Cleaning. Twice a year, in addition to cleaning the drains, the septic tank must be inspected and the pipelines cleaned. Once every 5 years (or better yet, every 2-3 years) the bottom heavy fats are removed. The volume of sludge should not exceed 25% of the tank volume. When cleaning, part of the sludge is left to restore the microflora.
- Quality of work. The wastewater leaving the system must be 70% purified. Analysis of wastewater in the laboratory will determine the acidity indicator, which will allow you to find out the quality of the drainage system.
- Security measures:
- Work inside the septic tank is allowed only after intensive ventilation and using a safety belt (gases formed inside can be dangerous to human life).
- Increased safety measures are required when working with power tools (humid environments).
A septic tank made of concrete rings makes private housing more autonomous and, despite its shortcomings, it is one of the most reliable and durable options for treatment facilities for suburban real estate.
How to make wooden formwork and reinforcement cage
To make well rings at home, it is easier and cheaper to make removable wooden formwork. Boards 2-5 cm thick are suitable for this purpose. For the inside of the form, it is necessary to provide a gap of at least 1.5 cm, otherwise you simply will not be able to pull the element out of the finished reinforced concrete ring. Completed wooden formworks should be installed on a level surface. Cover those parts that will be in contact with concrete with polyethylene and lubricate with oil.
Wooden formwork with reinforcement cage
You can buy the reinforcement or weave it from wire yourself, not forgetting to make loops in the upper part. The wire should have a cross-section within 6-8 mm, metal rods - 8-10 mm. Manufacturing process:
- Place 10-12 metal rods evenly vertically inside the formwork.
- Every 15 cm, weld rings of wire to them at an angle of 90°.
- Attach 2-4 mounting loops to the wire rings.
The reinforcement should be placed in the cavity where the ring will be poured in the future. Clean it from rust first. You can fix the frame in the formwork using wedges. They should be removed as the concrete is poured.
Necessary professional equipment
It is almost impossible to make well rings yourself. It would be more reasonable to purchase their ready-made version, made in production using special equipment.
To fulfill orders, hydraulic equipment is used - a press or a vibroform. Oversized industrial equipment of this type occupies at most 200 square meters and can be mastered even by a person without advanced technical skills.
The technological process is structured approximately as follows:
- A concrete solution is poured into a special tank;
- Under the influence of vibration forms, the raw material shrinks and excess air escapes;
- Concrete is compacted as much as possible in the form;
- The product is delivered to the conveyor where final drying occurs.
Concrete rings should be made from high-quality cement.
The advantage of products purchased from the market is almost 100% protection against defects. It is almost impossible to achieve such a result without specific equipment.
Purchasing a vibrating press for one use is also considered unprofitable. Such equipment is quite expensive and pays for itself only after 5-10 cycles of regular use.
A well and its subsequent care are not cheap, so the owner must be prepared for possible expenses. You certainly shouldn’t skimp on the quality of concrete rings, because remaking an already finished structure will probably cost an order of magnitude more.
Manufacturing process of reinforced concrete rings
First you need to prepare a concrete solution, and then proceed to the formation of reinforced concrete rings:
- For concrete density, you should mix 2-2.5 parts of sand and 3-4 parts of gravel for 1 part of cement. You can measure materials by volume, but it is more accurate and correct to do it by mass.
- The volume of water that is added to the solution should be about 50-70% of the mass of cement. If it is less, the mold will be difficult to fill and the ring will most likely not be uniform in density. If it is more, the strength of the product will suffer significantly.
- If you have a vibration installation, you will need to lay the mortar in layers up to 25 cm thick. Each one must be compacted using a thick metal rod.
- The wooden spacers can be removed after the mold is half filled.
Pattern: ring mold - Once the mold is completely filled, level the surface of the concrete and turn on the vibration unit to eliminate any remaining voids.
- The concrete in the mold should last at least 1 day, and preferably at least 3. Then the ring must be kept for another 10 days. After this, you can use it for its intended purpose, as well as load and transport it to another place.
- Remove the internal element of the mold carefully - there is a high risk of damaging the walls of the product. It is better to do this together or with the help of a lifting mechanism.
Advice. In the case when the rings are formed in the open air, it is important to protect the solution from precipitation or foreign objects. A lid is suitable for this purpose.
Of course, making a concrete ring yourself is a rather painstaking task, requiring construction skills, time and careful adherence to technology. It's easier to buy ready-made. However, by making the ring yourself, you will save money and can use it to improve other components of the future sewer or water supply system.
Characteristic features of well construction
Before building a well from concrete rings, it is important to know its structure. There are two elements in a well: an underground element and an above-ground element. Before starting work, the location of the well is determined
They begin to dig the earth to a depth that allows for the installation of water filtration, which is required to purify the water from clay, dust and other contaminants. The hydraulic structure must be protected from the penetration of wastewater, precipitation and sewage
Before starting work, the location of the well is determined. They begin to dig the earth to a depth that allows for the installation of water filtration, which is required to purify the water from clay, dust and other contaminants. The hydraulic structure must be protected against the penetration of wastewater, precipitation and sewage.
The construction of a well structure consists of 3 parts:
Installation of the head of a hydraulic structure, which is the upper part in wells located above the ground. The above-ground structural element serves as protection against the penetration of wastewater and sediments that can contaminate drinking water. It consists of a roofing part, a blind area, a canopy and a lifting mechanism. The head is decorated with: wood, stone, plaster or other facing materials
It is important to provide an element for draining rainwater, which is installed outside the head. Arrangement of shafts of hydraulic structures. This is a place located underground in the space between the top and the bottom. Water is lifted up the trunk using a bucket and rope or other lifting device
The shaft of the mine has a casing, the function of which is to protect the concrete well from destruction and penetration of groundwater into the middle of the structure. Construction of a water intake section, which is designed to store water, filter and settle it.
Water is lifted up the trunk using a bucket and rope or other lifting device. The shaft of the mine has a casing, the function of which is to protect the concrete well from destruction and penetration of groundwater into the middle of the structure. Construction of a water intake part, which is intended for storing water, filtering and settling it.
The water intake part includes a casing, a filter and comes in 3 types:
- Incomplete - this concrete structure does not have any difficulties in execution, in it the casing column does not reach the layer of impenetrable rocks and water comes from below. The imperfect design has a small water capacity and is suitable for small families.
- The complete water intake part is complex in design and has a casing that rests on a layer of waterproof rocks. The volume of part of the water accumulation is average, and the liquid is supplied through the walls of the well.
- Perfect water intake part with sump. The depth reaches one and a half meters of water reserves. Used in cases of large amounts of water consumption.
