Digging 100 Year Old Well 01: Digging a Filled-in Water Well

[@TheCrazzyToobinator]

"So how are we gonna fill this well in? Oh look, an old fridge and a toilet, that'l do..."

[@sixtyfiveford]

That's funny they jammed an appliance down there

[@hvaughan84]

I am super excited to see what's down there! Can't wait for the next video.

[@madmarkthepyro5247]

I'm with you definitely explore more. Good show today too by the way.

[@keithyinger3326]

Yup, lookin forward to the next chapter in this archaeology adventure. That and geothermal cooling would be a neat project.

[@lizcrain3204]

Omg I love that you did this and shared this with us. I just ran across this by accident. I found an old stone well out behind my house in the woods and wanted to explore it, but don’t have any idea where to start except pulling the top “filling” out. It’s all just rocks that at some point we’re tossed in (I’m assuming so no one falls in). I can’t find any records on a homestead back there or any type of foundation. It’s not part of an area that can be developed anymore. I’m going to keep watching and see how this all develops for you! So awesome!

[@raym9691]

The sound of the water dripping into the well sounded really neat

[@jdcjr50]

My dad and grandpa drilled water wells all over N. Illinois and S. Wisconsin in more recent times- the 40s/50s. Looks like fun and yes get that box out of there if possible.

[@Adamisgood24]

I love burning wood, drinking a few beers, and listening to good music!

[@davelewis2174]

A geo thermal cooling system would be a great use

[@frankryan2505]

That would take a lot of digging, last one I saw was a fair chunk of land down to a 2 or so metre depth. He was there for life though so would have definitely paid itself off

[@davelewis2174]

Yes that's a different design , Water Well's use the flow exchange the heat

[@novanut1964]

@@davelewis2174 she could use the cold water and expell the water onto the yard to water plants and not put back into the well

[@mattparker9726]

oh my gosh! I love the flywheels, so cool.

[@Skulldrag88]

Beautiful in your outlook and approach to project you are undertaking .

[@mugenlee8276]

Treasure !!! Keep it alive next video 😍

[@christopherphares3399]

It seems like you really care about safety around this. I applaud that

[@RinoaL]

thanks

[@KetansaCreatesArt]

This is going to be very interesting

[@orionfl79]

I wonder if maybe that mystery gyzmo is an old well pump? When you put the camera down there, it sorta looked like there were pipes coming down from the bottom of it.

[@RinoaL]

washing machine would have water pipes as well.

[@orionfl79]

@@RinoaL I have to admit, the curiosity is killing me. I can't wait till the next episode to find out! :D

[@RinoaL]

well i have a 1925 house video coming and a "town trash day goodies" video coming up so might be a bit. its bloody hot right now so i'm going to take it easy.

[@orionfl79]

@@RinoaL Awesome sauce! And totally agreed, given the heat summers are always best for indoor things. :D

[@shaynelowther8893]

Well well well you sure left us hanging on the edge , i would put it back to use if anything it is part of the history of the house.

[@adamsacresoffgridpermicult499]

Wow your amazing!

[@m.griffith2059]

Super. I have three old wells. Curious about yours. I want to open ours n use it. I will look for your next video.

[@tysondundas1947]

Just stumbled across this video & it's interesting how different people work. If it was myself digging out the well I'd be trying to remove as much as possible while it's easy to get at rather than washing & dropping it into the well. And I'd guess that's an old twin tub washing machine. I've now got to find the next video to find out if I'm right 🙈🤣

[@thomasthompson6799]

My favorite part of this episode of the Perils of Rinoa was when you were standing on the very same thin concrete slab that you were breaking up with your maul. I can hardly wait for the next cliffhanger.

[@RinoaL]

how is that a peril?

[@thomasthompson6799]

@@RinoaL More of the slab could break unexpectedly under your feet dropping you in the hole. You had just said this is how people get killed.

[@RinoaL]

i wasnt over the hole.

[@thomasthompson6799]

@@RinoaL You take too many risks and I fear that your pretty vanity will suffer when you lose a finger or foot or eye.

[@michaelkessler3813]

Thomas Thompson She was fine, the slab was together enough when she was standing on it, its not like she was jumping on the hole in the middle of it while breaking it apart.

[@sarahhoward9081]

I would get the water tested. Many times wells are filled in because of contamination or poisoning. When I was a kid some of my neighbors uncovered an old well for drinking water and the whole family ended up getting cancer and dying within a few years.

[@RinoaL]

oh this isnt for drinking water, i have tap water for that, this is for using the water circulating through a system to cool my workshop.

[@huckleberry9196]

Don't invite little Timmy over until you get that thing covered up

[@michaelkessler3813]

I was thinking the same thing, lol

[@Travecmo]

I like your style

[@8Bitrabbitech]

Well done, Rinoa.

[@HDXFH]

You joints epic, got all kinds of cool features there, maybe theres a secret bunker

[@Hitngan]

The engineering brick has no mortar bedding. The bricks are just stacked on each other.

[@andykey80]

Another piece of very nice smile and grace :) Making this well fully working besides of your target to cool down the room, could be a nice place to relax. Adding round brick wall over it would make the place climatic. Later on you can add a pump and make small fountain or something, create nice place in the garden.

[@daniele3275]

Hi rinoa we have a similar situation We have a well in our property in the woods. Someone filled it up clogging it In our case it happens to be 8 to 10 meters deep (meter/yard/3 feets I believe ) and 5 meters wide in diameter . It's being digged in the rock so we don't have the problem of a possible "self destroying " sorry I can't find a better term to say what I mean hope you'll understand. Despite its clogged it fills till pouring the water out during the winter and it has water in it almost all the time . So I can say that your well could be usable yet ,it just needs to be cleaned. From your scrapyard trips I've seen that you could get large diameter steel pipes , which you could use to avoid the walls from collapse . And maybe later put brick for aesthetical purpose . I like the idea of the ladder and the 1930's pump . Hope you continue this project . I wish you good luck . Cheers from Italy . Ps sometimes we had some misunderstanding but I think it's normal

[@RinoaL]

yeah misunderstandings are normal, but i think i understood you. btw 5 meter wide well is huge! lol

[@daniele3275]

@@RinoaL here they used to use excavators to make well for this reason is so big to have clearance for the boom

[@spiritwings4592]

@@daniele3275 They didn't have excavators when this well was dug. This well was dug by hand.

[@IslandHermit]

I'm guessing that the mystery appliance is one of those "portable" top-loading washer-dryer combos that they make for small apartments.

[@steffankaizer]

that machine in there kinda looks like its part of the well and it has a conduit with wires leading down so the pump is probably still in there

[@Ragnar8504]

I think that _is_ the pump. Shallow wells (less than about 30 feet) can have the pump above ground, sucking up. Only deep wells need a submersible pump at the bottom.

[@BixbyConsequence]

@@Ragnar8504 That makes sense. The one piece being a reservoir and the other a pump. And you can see a pipe dangling down towards the bottom of the well. Someone probably covered it all up whenever the area got "city water".

[@joesmoe71]

I'm anxious to see you open it up and truly see what kind of shape it's in! I agree with you about having some kind of permanent ladder if you keep it, otherwise it's like having a potential deathtrap around even if you think you've got it secure. I don't think you have any intention of rushing in there but be careful about the air quality and potential poisonous gas like methane or co2, leave it open and let it air out for a bit before going in if you do.

[@RickRose]

What's your theory on why it was capped in the first place? I would think that would inform your decision on where to go with it.

[@RinoaL]

probably because the pump broke and they stopped needing it due to city water.

[@RickRose]

@@RinoaL Just finished watching part 2 -- Too bad it was such a mess. But you gave it every chance. Good job.

[@yesjohnny01]

That was cool decent into the well. I wonder what appliance is that. It would neat to have a well with a hand pump.

[@dollasignmic18344]

I have 2 in my back yard almost dug it up but only to show the first layer of brick and I've been on the property since I was born 81. I'll just leave as is just showing the top to let my kids know there's a well its all covered with good thick size rocks thick dirt I don't think it will cave in I usually water it but it never goes all the way down.

[@SAM_1010]

It was well good you done this as it was well worth the watch like awlays

[@mikehanahan9187]

Thanks for the vid, don't live far from you.. over by Brighton

[@backwoodsbungalow9674]

Interesting project. Are you planning on buying a water source heat pump or will you figure out how to adapt an ordinary air conditioner?

[@RinoaL]

honestly i was thinking pump the water through a big truck radiator and blow air through it

[@reactiontoeffectiveenemyfire]

You left the tools on top why

[@mnshp7548]

geo cooling is amazing, you have a constant supply of very cool clean water. you can use a small pump with a solar panel ~ directly connected so the pump only runs when the suns out and just run the water though old radiators above head to cool the air

[@RinoaL]

thats a good idea for solar cooling, however id probably want it to run in the evening because the air stays hot fairly late here

[@shiftlock4355]

It would be interesting to know what the temperature of the water is at all times of year.

[@defjamsgreen]

YOU ARE A ONE STRONG INDIVIDUAL . YOU 'VE UNCOVERED THE WELL WITH NO PROBLEM UNTIL YOU GOT TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A FRIDG , OR WASHER OR SOMETHING STUCK . DESPITE CURIOUSITY , WILL KILL A CAT , I KNOW YOU GENIUS WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO REMOVE IT AND SEE WHATS FURTHER DOWN . HAVE FUN .

[@danielhall7571]

I'd say it's definately worth saving if you can. It will be such a valuable resource. What do you call those boots in America? They're called wellies in the UK.

[@RinoaL]

i call then wellies, most call then rubber boots

[@danielhall7571]

@@RinoaL wellies is better so wellies they shall always be.

[@StevenIngram]

Here in Kentucky (depending on the region) they'd either be muck boots, clodhoppers or galoshes. :)

[@Prairiedrifter1]

Love that AvE shirt!

[@RinoaL]

thanks he gave it to me

[@victoryfirst2878]

The number of wells that are just like this is mind boggling. Since back in the day no one kept a record just word of mouth. Pennsylvania has between one million to one and a half million oil wells that are not capped correctly. Get this, the state does not even know where they are. Surprise Rinoa.

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

if the yard floods all the water wud fill the well up, u can always pump the water out of it into the city drainage system at the road if its aloud.... and u can use a sump pump with a float switch on it so when it fills up in rainy season it pumps out automatically. U could also pump the water into a rainwater tank and use it IF its potable water, but i wud filter it b4 it goes into the tank.

[@footplate0]

So i dread to think what you would do if you found an old septic system in your yard :-)

[@thecatsupdog]

Make one of those Jack and Jill water bucket things!

[@RinoaL]

those crank pails suck, best to use an old style well pump

[@drumid1881]

I think it's a twin tub washing machine

[@drumid1881]

Called it.

[@mattparker9726]

they do make solar powered well pumps. you know, depending on how you are going to cool your shed, I would use the opportunity to generate electricity with a peltier plate system. Seeing as how you could get both hot and cold water for next to nothing via solar heating, then have the hot and cold water run through some pipes (copper for the heat transfer let's say) that way you could be doing two things with the same effort.

[@popepaul4438]

It would be good to have a water supply For the work shop to wash your hands and keep you cool through the summer look forward to the next one

[@MattTheComputerGeek]

Should have called Aquachigger. He loves old wells.

[@RinoaL]

he has watched my videos for years, so he‘ll probably comment soon anyway lol

[@mikepelletier1399]

Chipping away at that concrete bring amityville horror to mind.

[@michaelkessler3813]

I would say if it is operational, put an old hand pump on along with whatever you have planned for geothermal cooling. Just gotta also got to develop a hatch for whatever ladder you have planned. With the root problem, it seems to be near the top, i would remove the bricks around it, cut our the roots and re-add the bricks

[@alexmg8251]

You are just fucking awesome. I love the way your mind works! You really are a super genius ;)

[@CheriBenIesau]

At 10:24 "Are you f--ng kidding me?!' Truly enjoyed the video. Can you come help me renew my old well near New Orleans?

[@sarahhoward9081]

All you would have to do is dig a hole on the side and cut the root out and then put the bricks back in place and fill it back in

[@RinoaL]

well that tree is sickly as it is, i dont want to hurt it. been trying to save it. i think i have a fix though.

[@alex4alexn]

nice!

[@dilbyjones]

No way,cool

[@dilbyjones]

Geothermal is so easy and cheap construction cost wise

[@RinoaL]

yeah especially if you already have a well and just need to fix it up and add a pump.

[@dilbyjones]

@@RinoaL I definitely like watching your videos because you come up with really inexpensive ways of attaining the things that all of us should / could do

[@dilbyjones]

Geothermal would save Texans in general hundreds of thousands of dollars on Heating and Cooling because we have such drastic variations in temperature and we usually need to stay towards 75 or so

[@andersson.l.e]

It's the entrance to your underground shelter. Would've been cool if it was. Or the silo for your future rockets.

[@Gordonseries385]

I would check with your town maybe a liability issue?

[@RinoaL]

owning a well isnt a liability.

[@Gordonseries385]

@@RinoaL contact your local building department to see if there are any regulations that must be followed.

[@Gordonseries385]

@@RinoaL check this out you may find this of interest www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/drinking-water/private-well-users/Pages/abandoned-wells.aspx

[@RinoaL]

maybe you dont know what abandoned means.

[@Gordonseries385]

@@RinoaL yes i think i understand but their is still liability's in regard with the EPA

[@verogrant3105]

You can probably salvage the bricks out of it And fill it in with clay if you wanted another well you could just get Backhoe in there Have them Digg it preferably down to the water sand

[@mathiasnilsson7996]

i think you should restore it

[@PracticalCat]

Looks like an old twin tub!

[@Adamisgood24]

A wood louse, I always liked those insects!

[@trollmcclure1884]

what a fun. I'd wake up early tomorrow if you need a hand but there's that freakin ocean. Make a live show so that we can spam you with ideas 🙂

[@RinoaL]

oh ill need to clean up the mess i've made before i do anything more. i'll also maybe get some mortar and more bricks to repair the top part.

[@trollmcclure1884]

@@RinoaL awesome 🙂

[@jacobgreenmanedlion1863]

Know I’m late watching it, but oh well... (ba-dum-tsch) (I have no shame, sorry lol) Cool new project, Rin, but I was wondering if you know why it was closed to begin with? That would be a relevant data point, I think, in considering how and if moving forward makes sense.

[@RinoaL]

most wells were closed in because the town got running water in the 1960s or so and people stopped repairing the well pumps

[@shaknit]

Looked like a magnet from a microwave oven

[@verogrant3105]

You can probably salvage the bricks out of it If you wanted another well you could just get Backhoe in there Have them Digg it preferably down to the water sand

[@grendel1960a]

maybe do a part and part, install piping to the water level, but then fill in above a small water collection chamber, this would give you your cooling water, but also make it safe.

[@RinoaL]

that could be done, but i do like the idea of having a well i can go down in. i'd like a nice well cover above made from brick with a roof.

[@grendel1960a]

@@RinoaL in that case i would definitely make sure the brickwork is sound and good, even if it means redoing the pointing between bricks.

[@RinoaL]

oh dont worry im probably going to be rebuilding the top 10 rows of bricks or so, and then adding mortar to the lower ones. this well seems to have no mortar originally.

[@grendel1960a]

@@RinoaL well the circular form is certainly a strong one until it is disturbed, which is why the bricks dislodged by the root make that section more dangerous.

[@danharold3087]

@@RinoaL Maybe a system that has lasted 100 years is not a bad system. Think about repairing it in the original way if possible.

[@guarionex1961]

Save that well! 🚧

[@steve64464]

Its some kinda haunted tomb with a dead zombie fridge in it , They must of used the fridge to erm cool the water for some reason.

[@neur303]

That is some serious reasoning! I think I have to agree.

[@njphilwt]

Rin... Nice video! Subterranean exploration! I think it would be great to keep the well if it is at all functional.

[@dancoster7332]

I would suggest being careful since that water probably contains a lot of nasty chemicals with all of the EPA stuff that has happened there. But cold groundwater, it would be perfect for creating a solar powered cooling system for your house and shed.

[@RinoaL]

oh yeah i do not trust this groundwater for drinking one bit, maybe for washing parts, definitly for washing vehicles, and cooling buildings, but not for drinking.

[@grendel1960a]

looks like there is a water level in there

[@Ragnar8504]

Yup, not much of it though.

[@pulesjet]

Any water to be had in one of those here would be like 150ft down. LOL Still wish I had one. The one I do have is 9 inches around. No cats and dogs down in the bottom I think.

[@MichaelHagberg]

Maybe not pump out the water for cooling, but insert a coil that you could run distilled water or antifreeze through.

[@jayhiz3514]

I think thats a rail road spike hammer.

[@RinoaL]

its called a spike maul, as i say in the video

[@oliviasaraceno5868]

This could have been an old cesspit. Doesn’t look like one but it have septic leaking into the water! Be careful.

[@markhodgson2348]

Explore it dig it out ,you may be surprised by what you see and you will get some good content out of it

[@amnesiac-original]

maybe someone was hiding corpse there ...

[@KarmaElectronics.]

cool to look at. but yes its not worth digging up. better to fill it in.

[@RinoaL]

if i fill it in then i'll need to dig a seperate well someplace else because i need a well.

[@kall399]

I'd say it's worth fixing doesn't look too bad

[@RinoaL]

i may add some mortar to make sure its strong

[@JeremyPS-wx4ti]

Let’s explore it further, when it’s cooler, lol.

[@Ellenslife851]

I think you should pull out I try to salvage that fridge raider or whatever that thing is to see if you could even bring it back to life

[@RinoaL]

yeah im curious about it as well.

[@Ellenslife851]

Rinoa's Auspicious Travails Do you internals looked like cast-iron in the styling of the internals looked to be at least 1950s or 60s would be my guess of how old whatever it is is made but I could be wrong about that and it could be a different material and it could be newer than what I think it is but from what I saw the internals that’s what it looked like to me cast iron internals that had a style indicative of the 1940s 50s to 60s at least And if the top piece that I saw is what I think it is and it’s a chrome plated metal it’s most likely an old stove from the 40s or 50s or 60s at least and it would be cool to see it resurrected and brought back to life if possible and they don’t take my actual little bit of welding and some bodywork and maybe some new bolts and you could have that thing back in service in no time clean up the burners and weld rot holes in the burners and you could have a good gas stove again

[@Ellenslife851]

Rinoa's Auspicious Travails You should check out my channel I think I have some videos on the gas stove that I have that I’m restoring it’s a little one burner gas stove from at least the 1940s it’s been in the family for a long time and it’s something that I cherish and it’s back when they made quality items back when things were made more heavy duty in Welbilt. Timeless classic

[@wolfboy9471]

Maybe turn it into a bunker

[@laquettabeason6623]

That's a great thing..but you really needed to careful about snake hanging out there ..

[@schultz903]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16‭-‬17

[@Contantq]

That is an excellent resource so remove the box put a ladder in there, dig out as much of the rubble to the bottom. The temperature should be near fifty. You would have low cost ac for the shop. May have to pump some out to clear out the bottom. This is what I would do. Filling it in is just a waste of a good resource.

[@arthurroberts491]

Bring in a truck load of sand and fill in the well, remove all safety hazards.

[@RinoaL]

and then i dont have a well, you arent too bright are ye.

[@therugburnz]

Please fill it in. Kids are kids and will mess with anything. It's your property though. Get good insurance.

[@RinoaL]

if kids tresspass, theres more dangerous stuff in my workshop than in this well

[@therugburnz]

@@RinoaL The well is outside. The shop not so much.

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

When in doubt, use a bigger hammer. Works in so many situations.

[@jimleonardson4268]

What if you begin your videos with "Previously on Rinoa's Auspicious Travails…"? It would be cool if Thermionic Man or AvE did the voiceover.

[@RinoaL]

that could be funny

[@Madsstuff]

Well well well..... Screw Minecraft, you've got "Well Craft" Come to think of it, I'd name a mallet manufacturing company "Well Craft Tools"

[@Electrondivize]

See any bars of gold down there.

[@joanward5089]

take up all the brick. Fill with gravel or cement from demo sites.

[@arthurroberts491]

"What were you thinking? A hundred years from now some woman is going to come along and dig this thing up and expose our shortcuts, unless she falls in first and kills herself." The other guy says, "Your crazy, women don't dig up wells, that's a man's job."

[@pegtooth2006]

A portal to Oak Island, Rin? lol

[@pegtooth2006]

They obviously made sacrifices like your shiter and a small refrigerator. Who knows what you're fine at the bottom LOL protected by those sacrifices. My only complaint is that you didn't get the top bit off with a chain hoist or a come along so that you could reseal it later other than that. nice vid

[@MrJeep75]

I thank you should clean it out, and restore it's function

[@martinmikkelsen246]

Restore it

[@RinoaL]

im leaning towards that as well.

[@tebollenbacher]

Wow what a mess

[@thejll]

I bet Cody could test the water. Or Nilered.

[@RinoaL]

i think i'd use a certified test company.

[@Ragnar8504]

@@RinoaL I'd try to pump it dry first to clean it from all the stagnant water, wait until it fills up again and then have it tested.

[@RinoaL]

i would pressure wash it whilst pumping it dry, get everything out, then line the bottom with gravel or sand, add some bleach, then pump it dry like 20 times using the water, and then have it tested.

[@1981dasimpson]

i think salvage bricks and fill due to mosgitos

[@RinoaL]

this wouldnt generate mosquitos, dont worry. i'd have a cover over it.

[@1981dasimpson]

@@RinoaL oh thats good then i thoght it just had to be standing water for the little shits to bread etc

[@RinoaL]

no even a small window screen or piece of fabric would stop them getting in. also i'd be pumping water out of this regularly and mosquitos wouldnt survive so much agitation.

[@1981dasimpson]

@@RinoaL cool i just remembered the video of water colection behind the shed was all