To keep your family comfortable throughout the winter, it’s wise to winterize your home for the coming chill. This includes a private water well. As the temperature drops and water freezes, the ice inside the water well pump can expand and crack the casing, causing serious damage to the system. The following guide explains how to prevent your water well from freezing.

A Guide to Winterizing Your Water Well

Protect the Water Well Pump

Part of the reason wells freeze in the winter is lack of usage. As long as you continue running heat through the system by using warm and hot water, the water well pump should remain in good shape. Unfortunately, you might not always be home to provide that heat. Well pumps can freeze over a weekend away from home.

To avoid the hassle of repairs, winterize your well pump. Start by switching off the power to the pump. Turn on a faucet to drain out the water and relieve pressure from the system. Getting rid of water significantly lowers the likelihood of the well freezing, while lowering the pressure in the system helps prevent pipes from bursting.

Detach all connections from the water well pump, then use an air compressor to force out any remaining water. You can typically rent air compressors from hardware stores if you do not wish to purchase one yourself.

Add Insulation to the Pipes

Insulation will also help protect the well. Use foam insulation sleeves to cover the water supply pipes and enclose the pump in an insulated container. These covers come in many forms, including artificial rocks, pouches, and well houses.

If your system has an exposed jet pump, this component should also be covered. You will not need to worry about the water inside the well freezing because it is located far below the frost line. At a certain depth within the soil, known as the frost line, moisture is insulated by the ground and will not freeze.

What to Do if the Well Freezes

If you’ve taken these steps and the water well pump or a supply pipe freezes anyway, try to locate the frozen spot. Open a faucet to release pressure and use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw the problem area.

Once the water inside is able to flow, it will melt any remaining ice in the pipes. For extensive freezing or problems you can’t reach, you should contact a professional water well service.

Make sure your well is delivering clean, fresh water all winter with the help of Dansville Water Well. These experts have over 40 years of experience providing water well drilling, maintenance, and repair services to homeowners throughout Livingston County, NY. Their skilled technicians are dedicated to customer satisfaction, boasting quick response times, efficient work, and precise repairs that will return your water well pump to peak condition. Learn more about their services online. To schedule a free estimate, call (585) 335-3356 today.