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4 Winter Well Maintenance Practices Worth Adopting
Jan 03, 2022
As the weather turns colder, you may wonder whether your well system can perform up to its usual standard. Thankfully, the submerged nature of well design helps to insulate the water against the cold so it won't freeze. However, you still need to care for your well properly this winter.
A basic understanding of what kinds of challenges winter weather poses for well systems, combined with a smart preventative maintenance routine, can help you enjoy ready access to water all winter long. Give serious thought to adopting the following four smart winter well maintenance practices.
1. Insulate Your Pipes and Above-Ground Pump Even if the well itself enjoys natural insulation thanks to its position nestled beneath ground level, you must still think of other parts of your well system that may not receive the same protection against the cold. For instance, if the pipes carrying water from your well to your home freeze up, the change in pressure may burst them.
You can use a variety of materials to wrap your above-ground pipes and insulate them against freezing temperatures this winter, from towels and thermal blankets to more professional solutions such as foam sleeves. Your underground pipes should remain safe as long as they sit below the frost line.
Your well's above-ground jet pump might also freeze in winter weather unless it sports the appropriate insulation or occupies a part of your property that enjoys artificial heating. Your well system installer can add an insulated housing to your jet pump if it currently lacks one or replace a damaged housing if necessary.
2. Check the Well Cover's Air Seal Your well needs a reliable cover to keep debris, floodwater, and other unwanted materials from entering. While this feature can prove valuable all year round, it can also protect your well water against contaminants in snow and ice that might otherwise invade the well once the frozen precipitation melts.
Have a professional check your well cap or cover to make sure that it still provides a tight air seal against the surface elements. You'll want to schedule this inspection before a big winter storm gets a chance to cover the assembly in ice or snow.
3. Install a Backup Generator for Your Well Pump The submersible pump in your well relies on an electrically powered motor to function. Unfortunately, winter storms that wreck power lines and challenge local power grids can leave you without electricity and potentially without running water. If you want to stand ready against this threat, invest in a portable backup generator.
Bear in mind that your well pump will require considerably more power to actually get the motor going than the motor's specifications may suggest. If your system includes multiple pumps, you must also consider the power demands and limits of each pump. Consult an electrician or water well expert before buying.
4. Schedule Your Annual Inspection Before Winter Hits Your well faces plenty of challenges over the course of a year, with tiny problems increasing the odds of a major freeze, leak, or other crisis during extreme seasonal weather conditions. If you wait until a winter storm brings your well system to a breaking point, you may need to pay more for extensive repairs.
For this reason, you may want to schedule your annual well system inspection toward the end of the year but before the meteorologists start forecasting severe weather on a regular basis. This timely inspection allows your well repair technicians to make recommendations and fixes as needed before the weather complicates things. When you choose Brown & Cox as your well services provider, you can feel confident about installing your well at any time of year while also resting assured of top-quality repairs and customer service. Contact us today to request our assistance or ask any questions.
A basic understanding of what kinds of challenges winter weather poses for well systems, combined with a smart preventative maintenance routine, can help you enjoy ready access to water all winter long. Give serious thought to adopting the following four smart winter well maintenance practices.
1. Insulate Your Pipes and Above-Ground Pump Even if the well itself enjoys natural insulation thanks to its position nestled beneath ground level, you must still think of other parts of your well system that may not receive the same protection against the cold. For instance, if the pipes carrying water from your well to your home freeze up, the change in pressure may burst them.
You can use a variety of materials to wrap your above-ground pipes and insulate them against freezing temperatures this winter, from towels and thermal blankets to more professional solutions such as foam sleeves. Your underground pipes should remain safe as long as they sit below the frost line.
Your well's above-ground jet pump might also freeze in winter weather unless it sports the appropriate insulation or occupies a part of your property that enjoys artificial heating. Your well system installer can add an insulated housing to your jet pump if it currently lacks one or replace a damaged housing if necessary.
2. Check the Well Cover's Air Seal Your well needs a reliable cover to keep debris, floodwater, and other unwanted materials from entering. While this feature can prove valuable all year round, it can also protect your well water against contaminants in snow and ice that might otherwise invade the well once the frozen precipitation melts.
Have a professional check your well cap or cover to make sure that it still provides a tight air seal against the surface elements. You'll want to schedule this inspection before a big winter storm gets a chance to cover the assembly in ice or snow.
3. Install a Backup Generator for Your Well Pump The submersible pump in your well relies on an electrically powered motor to function. Unfortunately, winter storms that wreck power lines and challenge local power grids can leave you without electricity and potentially without running water. If you want to stand ready against this threat, invest in a portable backup generator.
Bear in mind that your well pump will require considerably more power to actually get the motor going than the motor's specifications may suggest. If your system includes multiple pumps, you must also consider the power demands and limits of each pump. Consult an electrician or water well expert before buying.
4. Schedule Your Annual Inspection Before Winter Hits Your well faces plenty of challenges over the course of a year, with tiny problems increasing the odds of a major freeze, leak, or other crisis during extreme seasonal weather conditions. If you wait until a winter storm brings your well system to a breaking point, you may need to pay more for extensive repairs.
For this reason, you may want to schedule your annual well system inspection toward the end of the year but before the meteorologists start forecasting severe weather on a regular basis. This timely inspection allows your well repair technicians to make recommendations and fixes as needed before the weather complicates things. When you choose Brown & Cox as your well services provider, you can feel confident about installing your well at any time of year while also resting assured of top-quality repairs and customer service. Contact us today to request our assistance or ask any questions.
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