How to Cap a Well Casing

A wrench will secure the bolts on your well cap.

Most states don't require a well cap, but a cap might improve your health. Sanitary wells are sealed airtight with a well cap; the cap prevents insects, rodents and surface water from entering the well. A well cap might protect against other surface contaminants containing coliform bacteria, a bacteria that causes illnesses. Installing the cap provides long-term protection for your well casing.

Things You'll Need

• Tape Measure
• Wrench

Instructions

1. Measure the size of your current well cap or the diameter of your well casing; select a well cap. Most well caps are sealed on the well casing with bolts or screws around the side of the cap. Some well caps feature a small screen or vent in the top of the casing to allow for airflow. Caps are usually made of food grade plastic, concrete or fiberglass.

2. Lay the well cap over the top of the well casing. The well cap must extend out of the soil to prevent water from entering the casing.

3. Line up the well cap with the bolt holes on the well casing.

4. Thread the bolts or screws through the holes to connect the well cap to the well casing. The bolts generally come with the well cap.

5. Mold the soil around the well with your hands, so that any water or rain is redirected away from the well cap.

References

• Well Aware: Well Cap
• Penn State; Sanitary Well Caps; Bryan Swistock, eta al., 2003