Basics Steps for Winter Water Well Maintenance

Winter as a homeowner can be tough — there’s snowed-in driveways and ice-covered roofs. If you rely on well water in your home year-round, then you have another cold-weather problem to confront.

An average American home uses 88 gallons of water a day so if you don’t have access to that water you have a huge problem. Familiarize yourself with these winter well upkeep tips to steer clear of a visit from your local water well company.

Insulate Plumbing

Once the temperature starts to drop, frozen pipes are a common concern. Although a large portion of your well is underground and this does prevent the water itself from freezing, those pipes that bring the water into your house are susceptible to the cold weather.

Wrap them before they freeze. Efficient heat tape and insulated wrapping should help. If your pipes are located within your home, you may want to add insulation to your pipes and/or the walls of your home.

Also, insulate any other plumbing-related component including the filter, pressure tanks and any switches that might freeze.

Run the Water Regularly

Using another trick to avoid freezing your water or pipes is to make sure the water you are using is used frequently. Water that doesn’t flow for long certainly freezes and causes larger problems later.

If you’re heading for winter away from the farm, or plan to be away for several weeks at a time, make sure to take the steps to properly close your well.

Tip: Disable the control system and any water treatment and filtration systems in place. For help properly closing your well, contact a well company immediately.

Check the Air Seal

You must check the air seal of your well. This is the intersection of the well house lid and the ground. Sealing the hole in the wardrobe is as simple as covering it with mulch or dirt and making sure no air escapes or moisture gets in.

Put off this chore, and the snow might cover the area before you have time to ensure that it’s properly sealed.

I know water well maintenance can be tricky. But if you perform our tips for the winter, you’ll have a well that’s all set to go when spring comes around.

Feel free to reach out to a licensed and experienced water well company, like Boylan Water Well Service & Supply, the top Santa Fe Water Well Service provider, if you have any doubts, and want to enjoy your indoor time this winter.