Do you have to winterize a well?

Homes with a water well require special attention during the winter season. When the weather dips below freezing, the well pump can freeze and become damaged. No matter if you live in your home all year or just at different parts of the year, water well pump winterization is important.

Do I need to winterize my well?

Winterizing seasonal or vacation homes becomes crucial for the longevity of your water system. Always be sure to winterize your water well pumps before closing up your home for the season. Even for year-round homes, a water pump can freeze if it's left idle for long enough.

How do you protect your well from freezing?

If your wellhead is exposed to outside elements and freezing temperatures are on the way, wrap it with insulation, blankets, towels, or anything else you can find that will not cause damage to the wellhead but can help protect it from the cold. Use insulation, or rubber or foam pipe covers to wrap exposed pipes.

Can you winterize a well?

Winterize your water well by first insulating the pipes with foam insulation sleeves. Make sure the well is securely covered and the pump is inside an insulated enclosure. The water inside the well cannot freeze since it is always below the frost line.

Does well water freeze in winter?

Winter weather may cause a few common problems for homeowners. Wells are designed to access groundwater that does not freeze, which is why most of your well components are below the freeze line. However, problems do arise and homeowners should be prepared to watch out for possible signs of danger.

winterize house will well setup

How do I prepare my well for winter?

Any pipes that are above ground should be insulated. Foam sleeves are a common solution to prevent freezing, but you can also use a thermal blanket or even old sweatshirts that are double wrapped. It can also be beneficial to use heat tape – just be sure to space it out about an inch or so along the pipe.

What do you do with a well in the winter?

How do I turn off my well for winter?

Step 1 Turn off the water supply to the entire house. Locate the well pump breaker inside the breaker panel and turn it to the OFF position. Do not turn off the main breaker; leave this switch in the ON position. (This way if someone accidentally turns on the main, they will not trigger the pump.)

Should well pump be turned off in winter?

Since cold weather is the number one cause for a burst pipe, turning off your well pump will help protect your property. Also make sure that you have a well pump cover that fits securely. This will keep cold air from disturbing the pipes in and around the well pump itself.

Can water wells freeze?

Wells are dug below the "frost line," or the point where the ground might freeze during cold weather. Problems arise when water gets closer to the ground as it travels above ground through pipes. This can cause water to freeze in the pipes, blocking the flow to kitchen or bathroom faucets.

Do I need to insulate my well?

The well head and casing may not need to be insulated but all the plumbing that comes from the well to either storage or bladder tanks should be wrapped with material and/or electrical heat generating strips.

Should you cover your well head in the winter?

A simple tip to keep your well equipment going through the coldest days of winter is to cover it up! An old blanket can work with some plastic on top. Other options are to purchase well covers that look like a rock or insulated covers that can be slipped over the top.

Does a well pump need to be covered?

Should I use a well pump cover? In short, the answer is YES. Well pumps play a vital role in delivering water from the well to where it is needed. Properly covering expensive well pump equipment with a pump cover or enclosure protects it from the elements, weather and potential vandals.

How deep does a water line need to be to not freeze?

The classic rule-of-thumb procedure for avoiding cold-weather damage to water pipe is "bury it deep." If water lines are located below the lowest level of frost penetration—five to six feet or more in many cold region locales—they should be safe from freezing.

Should I turn off well pump if pipes are frozen?

Your first step to thawing outdoor or well water pipes is to prevent them from bursting before you can thaw them. This means you'll want to shut off the main water valve to stop water from trying to flow into your house.

Is it safe to turn off well pump?

By shutting off the breaker, there should be no harm to the well pump system, provided the pump system is in good mechanical working order. But you should also shut off the power to the hot water heater. In rare cases, a broken water line can siphon water out of the hot water heater, causing damage to the unit.

Should I shut off well pump when on vacation?

If you plan to stay away from your home for a long time, switch off your well pump before leaving incase some type of electrical problem occurs this will not continue until you arrive home. Prevent Water Damage and Potential Health Issues: Your water pump can develop leaks, or a pipe may burst while you are away.

Will pipes burst if water is turned off?

“This evening before you go to sleep, go out and turn that main turn off, turn some faucets on so your pipes can drain. They can't burst if there's no water in them to freeze," Director of Public Works for the City of Houston Carol Haddock said.

Can a well run dry in winter?

To keep your well from running dry, you should know when water levels rise and fall in your local area. As a general rule, there's more water available in later fall. Water levels can run low again in winter if your area experiences freezing temperatures.

What temperature will a well freeze?

The water inside a well pump and any pipes exposed to temperatures around or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit are at risk of freezing up.

How do I keep my well from going dry?

Should you cover well tank?

Benefits of a Well Pump Covering

Enclosing your well pump's components, including the pump's casing, pressure tank, switches, and associated electronics, hides these unsightly parts and protects them from the elements, keeps them dry, and helps prevent them from freezing.