Protecting Your Well From the Cold

December 5, 2022

When winter comes, you want to ensure your property is well protected. This also includes the winterization of well pump equipment. Your well provides water for drinking and other important uses, and you want to make sure it is safe during the colder parts of the year. Knowing how to winterize your well pumps is important to prevent damage and loss of use. Here are some tips to keep your well’s pump equipment safe this winter.

Protecting Your Well Pump From Freezing

  • Pipe Insulation: Cold weather conditions can cause the water in your well’s pipes to freeze bollocking them or causing your pipes to burst. Insulation can prevent damage like this from occurring. Foam tubes can be purchased to snugly fit on your pipes and help keep the cold out. Once you have your pipes wrapped, zip ties and pipe wrap tape can secure the insinuation tubes in place.
  • Heat Strips: Extreme conditions can damage even properly insulated pipes. The use of heat strips can keep your pipes and heat pump protected. A heat strip wraps around your pipes and other components and is plugged into an outlet to generate slow and steady heat. These strips should be warped around important parts such as pressure switches, booster pumps, and where your pipes connect to your home. Like with insulation, heat strips can be secured with heat tape and zip ties.
  • Use Covers: Larger components such as aboveground pumps, the well itself, and other components can be covered to protect it from the cold. Blankets offer a quick solution, but there are other methods you can use insulated covers. Some of these covers resemble fake rocks and blend the well into the surrounding environment keeping it safe during the winter. Just don’t forget where your well is. Also, don’t forget to cover your black-flow preventer if you have one installed.
  • Faucet Dripping: One of the most common methods to prevent pipe freezing is to let your faucets drip. A slight drip or low drizzle can help protect your pipes from the cold by bringing slightly warmer water through the pipe system and encouraging a small amount of water flow, preventing the water from sitting in the pipes and freezing.

Final Thoughts

Cold weather is common in many parts of the nation during the fall and winter, and the coldest parts of the year can lead to expensive repairs if you don’t take precautions. However, by being proactive, you can keep your well and its equipment safe and prevent issues such as a damaged pump or broken pipes.

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B&M Pump Irrigation Sales & Service, Inc.