How Do I Winterize My Water Well?
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The temperatures are extra cold during the day and even colder at night, which means winter is already here. If you have a residential water well on your property, you might be wondering whether you need to prepare this system in case the temperature drops below freezing. If you are a well owner, you need to do a bit more to prevent the water pump and pipes from freezing.
The good news is that winterizing your well isn’t too tricky. So here is all you need to know about preparing your water well for winter.
Why Should You Winterize Your Water Well?
Winterizing your water well is the process of preventing the pump from freezing. If this happened to the water inside the pump, it could freeze, expand and ruin not just the casing of the pump but the entire system.
You may be stranded without a functional and clean water source.
If your vacation home is on a well, be sure to winterize the well before closing up for the season. Otherwise, you might return the following summer to find a nonworking well pump.
A well pump can be susceptible to freezing even if it is for a year-round home. A handful of days with a pump on the shelf can be enough for the water inside the system to freeze and ice.
If you haven’t properly winterized the well pump, you could come home from a holiday weekend getaway to costly damage.
Tips for Preparing Your Water Well for Winter
When we say “winterize your water well,” we’re not referring to the well itself, which likely won’t freeze in our area, but to the well’s components – the pump and pipes. Here’s how to protect your well pump and piping system this winter:
Well Pump
The well pumps that sit at the bottom of the well are probably not going to freeze. But if you have an aboveground jet pump, you’ll need to take additional steps to prevent it from freezing.
This will help keep the water pump in a heated part of your property, and out of drafty areas, like an open basement window or improperly sealed door.
Pipes
Now, before the temperature outside drops to dangerous levels, make sure your aboveground pipes are insulated. You’ll want to add foam sleeves, a thermal blanket, or even sweaters so you don’t freeze. Using heat tape along the piping is another good idea.
How to Winterize Your Water Well When You’re Away
If you’re shutting down a seasonal home or preparing to take a vacation for at least a few days, these are the steps you’ll have to follow to winterize the water well so it doesn’t freeze:
Then turn off the water supply to the house, followed by switching off power to the pump at the breaker panel.
Turn on the faucet on the pump to remove any leftover water. Then run every tap in the house until the running water is gone.
Disrupt draining pipes and wiring from the pump, so you can remove all water, and so no one attempts to use the pump after it is winterized.
Use your air compressor to blow out any remaining water from the water.
Your well pump may warrant a different process, but these are standard.” Always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper winterization.
What if the well pump or pipes freeze?
No matter how you prep your water well for winter, it can still freeze. What do you do in this situation?
- To begin, turn on a faucet to release some of the pressure in the water system. This will help you find the problem spot as well.
- Next, try thawing the pipe with a hairdryer or heat tape.
- When water starts to come through the tap, you can remove the source of heat.
In case these operational steps fail to rectify the issue, it is best to call in the professionals for an emergency water well service.
They can identify the issue, then fix cracked pipes or a broken water well pump to put your system back in business. If you’re able to thaw a frozen pipe or pump, you still should contact a service technician to have things checked and ensure your water system hasn’t incurred any damage.
Well Inspections and Maintenance before the Winter Season
Well inspections and maintenance before the ground freezes and snow falls are the best way to prepare your water well system for winter. Schedule a professional inspection in the fall, so that service technicians can find any potential problems that could worsen during the year’s coldest months.
By planning, you’ll receive residential well repairs in a timely manner and will not be without water.
Boylan Water Well Service & Supply are the experts in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico at water well winterization tips and well maintenance services. We’ll maintain your residential and commercial water well pumps in prime operating shape, even in winter. Call Boylan Water Well Service & Supply at 505-438-3416 now if you need help with water well winterization or for water well service!