How To Prepare Your Well Pump For Winter

Wells offer a number of benefits to your home, including better tasting and natural water, but just like the rest of your plumbing system, it can suffer from a variety of issues when the winter months roll around and the temperature ticks below freezing. In order to prevent any damage to your well pump and the connected plumbing, there are a few simple maintenance tasks that you should complete.

Insulation

The first and easiest thing that you should do to prepare your well pump system for the cold is to purchase plumbing insulation from a hardware store, and then apply it to all exposed plumbing inside and outside of your home. Plumbing insulation can simply be cut to size and then attached with tape or attached adhesive to cover the entirety of the pipe – this makes it much less likely that the water inside will freeze and cause the pipe to burst or otherwise become damaged.

Install a Backup Generator

Beyond ensuring that your pipes are protected against the elements as much as possible, you should also purchase and install a backup generator – even if it's just a small one that is only designed to power your well pump, not your entire house. This ensures that even if a winter storm snows you in and knocks out your power, you will still have access to running water. Most hardware stores sell small portable generators that use different fuel types, so pick the one that is best suited for your needs

If you already have a backup generator for your home or well pump installed, you'll want to do some general maintenance before the snow falls. Make sure that the generator is properly cleaned and oiled, and that you have enough fuel to last a few days of operation. If necessary, replace the spark plugs and air filter (follow the instruction manual for your specific model, since individual generators can vary widely) and check to make sure that the battery is charged, and replace or recharge it as necessary.

Cover Your Pump

In a similar train of thought to the first point, you'll want to make sure that your well pump itself is protected from the elements as much as possible. Well pumps that are underground are likely fine, but if you have an above ground pump, you may want to consider building a small weatherproof shelter around it or moving the pump into an existing shed if possible. For the best protection, keep your well pump in a covered area that has a portable heater installed as well.

For more information, contact a professional service, such as Quality Plumbing.


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