What Kind of Fitting Do I Use to Connect Well Casing to a Well Pipe?

Well Casing

• The well casing supports the sides of a drilled well. Usually, it is made of steel and completely solid, except for the hole to admit a pipe into the side of the well. The top of the well stretches above the ground, capped off by the well cap, but the hole for the well pipe will be underground. This means that you must dig a trench to the well casing location where the hole will be located for the well pipe.

Well Pipes

• There are two main types of pipes used in and around wells. Well pipe hangs vertically in the well and is attached to the pump. This pipe brings the water up to the pipe in the side of the well casing, which is known as the water supply pipe. Both pipes usually are made of polyethylene (PE). Once the water gets into the house, a different type of pipe is used for the water distribution, because PE pipe cannot handle hot water.

Pitless Adapters

• The type of fitting needed to connect the well pipe to the casing is known as a pitless adapter. The installer pushes half of the adapter through the casing from the inside, and attaches the gasket and retaining ring from outside the casing. Threads on the adapter hold the well pipe tightly once it has been screwed to the adapter. Match the pitless adapter to the size of the supply pipe you use in the trench from the well to the house to ensure you have a proper, watertight fit.

Seal

• The seal around the well pipe and casing is critical. Choosing the wrong fitting can cause this seal to leak and let soil into the well, contaminating the water. A well fitting uses gaskets and retaining rings to create this needed watertight seal. Always use the parts included with your well pipe fitting to ensure that you have the correct gasket and retaining ring for the fitting.