Can My Well Freeze?

A common question about wells is whether or not they can freeze in winter. Freezing temperatures might not be the first thing you think of in North Carolina, but we do indeed experience them most winters, and they can indeed impact and even damage your water well. Below, we’ll lay out some of the common problems you may experience with your wells in winter and how basic well maintenance in Monroe, NC can prevent them.

What kinds of problems can freezing temperatures cause?

Because your well itself is located underground, the water in it probably won’t freeze, as the water level should be way below the frost line. However, the pump system and pipes that run your well and deliver the water to you are actually very vulnerable to cold snaps.

Water expands when it freezes, so if well pipes aren’t adequately insulated, freezing water can actually burst your pipes from the inside. This means no water for your residential, commercial or agricultural needs, and it can also make for an expensive repair. While some wells have pipes buried below the frost line, many in this area have aboveground pipes, so this is always an issue to watch out for.

The other main concern is with your well pump. As with the pipes, some pumps are located underground, where they are more likely to be unaffected by temperature changes, and others are installed aboveground and are susceptible to failure in severe winter weather. If your pump is frozen, that means another costly repair.

How do I keep my well from freezing?

Fortunately, you can take a few simple steps to prevent your pipes and pump from freezing this winter. The easiest way to keep your pipes functioning is to let a faucet continually drip warm water, but this isn’t the favorite choice for the conservative-minded. If you’d like a no-hassle, more permanent solution, there are options for keeping your pipes heated during the winter. Foam tube insulation is pretty standard, and you can even get creative with similar materials, like bubble wrap. There are also more encompassing solutions, such as heat cables or heat tape.

An aboveground pump requires a slightly more detailed and labor-intensive solution. You can purchase or build a small well house, which needs to be insulated and, typically, outfitted with a small heater or sometimes just a light that will generate enough heat to keep the water in the connector pipe from freezing. You can find plans for building these structures online, or have your local well maintenance company install a professional one.

Learn more about well maintenance in Monroe, NC

If you have concerns about your well system’s ability to withstand freezing temperatures, whether the pump and pipes are aboveground or below, give Love Well & Pump Supply, LLC, a call. We’ve been the go-to well service company in the area for over 50 years, and as a family-owned business, we plan to be for generations more. Our decades of experience make us the local experts at preventing frozen pipes and pumps and repairing any problems you encounter with your well. Call us for your free estimate or any questions related to well maintenance in Monroe, NC!

Categorised in: Well Maintenance

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