Winter Well Care Tips

Winter Well Care Tips: Keep Your Water Flowing All Season Long

As winter settles in, ensuring your well and water system are in top shape is essential for uninterrupted water supply and to avoid costly repairs. Here are some simple tips to help you care for your well during the cold months:

1. Insulate Your Well System

Protect your wellhead and pipes from freezing temperatures with proper insulation.

A. Use pipe insulation sleeves or heat tape to safeguard exposed pipes. The better the Pump House is insulated, the smaller the heat source required. Poor fitting doors, missing siding boards allow heat to escape which will quickly allow pipes to freeze.

B. Ensure your well cap is sealed properly to keep out snow and moisture.

C. Every Pump house must have some kind of heat source in it. The smaller the pipe, like the ¼” pipe nipple to the pressure switch, the quicker it will freeze and shut off your water supply.

D. Use approved heat sources. Heat tapes are vey good as they have built in thermostats but they have to be installed properly. Check the manufacturers instructions. Also inspect the heat tape every fall for damage. Rodents can chew through the cable making it inoperable. Always touch the heat tape to detect that is giving Ceramic heaters with a kill switch should it be knocked over are good. I don’t really recommend heat lamps because there is no safety shut off and I can’t tell you the number of times I have seen pipes melted, switch covers melted, and fires started because the lamp was placed to close to combustibles.

2. Keep the Area Clear

Avoid piling snow or debris around your wellhead.

A. This ensures easy access for maintenance and prevents contaminants from entering the system.
Keep the Pump House clean and don’t store combustibles, toxic chemicals or hydrocarbons in it.

3. Check Your Pressure Tank

A healthy pressure tank is key to maintaining water flow.

A. Regularly inspect it for leaks, rust, or unusual noises.

B. If you notice any issues, call a professional to avoid further damage.

C. Your air charge should be 5-10 PSI below the cut-in pressure on an empty tank.

D. For systems using a VFD it should be 70% of the operating pressure.

4. Run Water Regularly

Even minimal water flow helps prevent pipes from freezing.

A. Let a faucet drip on particularly cold nights if you suspect freezing may occur.

5. Test Your Water Quality

Cold weather can affect water quality in some cases.

A. Consider testing for contaminants like bacteria or sediment that may have entered after heavy rains or snowmelt.

6. Schedule a Professional Checkup

Annual well maintenance is essential for peace of mind during winter.

A. EDS Pumps & Water Treatment offers expert inspections to keep your system running smoothly.

With a little care and attention, your well can provide clean, reliable water throughout the winter season. If you have questions or need assistance, contact EDS Pumps & Water Treatment—we’re here to help.