update on frozen well

Bob Huntress · Jan 6, 2014

Last night I posted my concerns regarding my water system. I did leave the pump running with a trickle at each sink. I woke up every 2 and a half hours to make sure the fire was burning and while I was up, I would run each sink for a few minutes. All was going well until 4:30, when the pump stopped. I verified that it actually was the pump and not simply ice obstructing the lines. I'm hoping that once the weather warms up enough to melt ice on Wensday that the pump will be alright. I did stock pile lots of water that hopefully will keep us a day or so, even a few buckets to flush with. I should know tomorrow, sometime, whether the pump is still good. Thank you folks, however, for your imput. If you know of anything I'm missing, let me know. BTW, I did open the valves up all the way after the pump stopped and collected water in a few pans, and the rest just drained from the system as best I could.

old · Jan 6, 2014

If you can do so get a heat lamp or electric heater close to that pump ASAP to thaw it out before it becomes a piece of scrap iron

waltdavies · Jan 6, 2014

Insulate the area where the pump is if it's outside build a small room around it. I used 2 in. Foam on mine but you may need more. Next put a 100 watt bulb old type. Leave it on.
Walt

DaninKansas · Jan 6, 2014

As the others have said you need some heat in your well house. A little electric heater or a heat lamp does a world of good.

Janicholson · Jan 6, 2014

Bob, If there is water in the pump housing, it will freeze expand and ruin the pump. (assumes it is a shallow well pump, or a jet pump with the pump housing at ground level not a submersible) The earliest possible resolution of the situation is best. Make sure the electricity is supplied to the pumphouse. Make sure (if belt driven), that it is not a broken or smoked belt. Use plywood or sheet insulation to make a "dog house" around the pump and pipes. Put a 250 watt infrared heat bulb in the enclosure aiming at the housing. Best of luck getting thins going.
Do not shut off valves on lines or faucets. Freezing happens in a pipe then that freezing pressurizes the remaining (liquid) until it splits lines where there is no ice. Jim with massive experience in this situation

Bob Huntress · Jan 6, 2014

It's a submerged pump. What I think has happened is water frozen somewhere along the discharge line.

Janicholson · Jan 6, 2014

much less problem if submersible. I would get heat tapes and Foam pipe insulation. Put the tape on the pipe in s straight line using plastic tape to hold it every foot. Then use the foam insulation "tubes" to cover it. Plug in and thaw. Using a timer on the tape will allow it to be cycled on and off to prevent issues. (also assure the pump is getting electricity) Jim

JayinNY · Jan 6, 2014

Kinda hard to fallow what your having trouble with, were us the pump, and water tank? Outside, inside? non heated area? I have a 180' drilled well, the pump is in the well 170' down, it pumps water into a holding tank in the basement. The horse farm has a pump house about 30 feet away from there house, it's insulated and has power it it, the well pump again is down in the well, not sure how deep there's is, but the water tank is also in the house, so we put a little electric heater on the floor of the pump house so nothing freezes. How deep is your well, need more info.

RayP(MI) · Jan 6, 2014

I lost water in the last cold snap.
Turned out the 1/4" pipe going from the manifold to the pressure switch was frozen. A little heat from a propane torch was all it took to get things going. I had verified the problem, as I could manually trigger the switch, and pump ran... Submersable pump, and only pipes are about 3 feet in the well house, along with expansion/pressure tank.

Dr. Walt · Jan 6, 2014

Bob, put thermostatically controlled "Heat Tapes" on all exposed piping. Apply it parallel with the pipe, DO NOT SPIRAL WRAP around PVC pipes, it will get too hot & melt the pipes. BTDT ! Then wrap at least 2" of Fiberglass insulation around the pipes and covered with black plastic sheeting.

My well with submersible pump, pressure tank & associated plumbing are done this way and are NOT in a shed or well-house but exposed to the open weather, and have been so since they were installed over 30 years ago, and have NEVER frozen. And we've had many, many below freezing nights in all those years.

Doc

PJH · Jan 6, 2014

I agree with Ray - that little line to the pressure switch will freeze first, all things being equal.

rrlund · Jan 6, 2014

Mine was froze in the house Saturday morning. We relocated a pipe about five years ago and it laid on top of the ground in a crawl space for about 3 feet. That was the first time we'd had a cold south wind like that since we put it in there. Less than five minutes with a hair dryer took care of it. I went and got some of that split foam pipe insulation and slid it on,then I banked snow up against the house up to the bottom of the windows.

rrlund · Jan 6, 2014

I forget what they called the kit that's on mine,but it uses antifreeze to the pressure switch and gauge.

update on frozen well

Bob Huntress

Member

old

Well-known Member

waltdavies

Member

DaninKansas

Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

Bob Huntress

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Janicholson

Well-known Member

JayinNY

Well-known Member

RayP(MI)

Well-known Member

Dr. Walt

Well-known Member

PJH

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

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