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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
 
Location: somewhere in the south | How do I know if I have frozen lines in the ground or in the well house? I tried heating the pump switch but nothing........it's 43 degrees here, should the ground be thawed yet?
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
 
Location: Bastrop, Texas | turn3nhome - 2014-01-08 1:12 PM How do I know if I have frozen lines in the ground or in the well house? I tried heating the pump switch but nothing........it's 43 degrees here, should the ground be thawed yet?
It should thaw out soon enough, but if I were you, I would put a space heater in the well house and stoke it up real warm. Sometimes it doesn't take much. I've had my line freeze in my pump house when I've accidentally left the door open a bit on more than one occasion. Before I get visions of back hoes etc, I have managed to get the water runnning again within less than an hour. Just be aware that sometimes a line can crack during a freeze like that and you could find your well house full of water if you aren't on the lookout. Know where your shut off valves are beforehand. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Well sweet thing, I did go out with the hair dryer and got everything warmed up but nothing kicked on and it does have insulation in it so I'm figuring the ground is still frozen..............I got some buckets of water out of the pond but it still had an inch think ice cap on it so hopefully it is just the ground still frozen...............don't ya wanna come help me????????????
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | You just need one of those cheap ass plug in space heaters and turn it on. Don't screw around with a blow dryer. I assume your well house is enclosed and insulated? Just do it. LOL |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | oh my gosh.................such authority!!! I just really need a big strong man to do it for me.......................... |
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 Ima Fickle Fan
Posts: 3547
 
Location: Texas | Hot Bear is right. A blow dryer is not going to get it warm enough.
You could also try using heat tape around the pipes.
Not sure where you are located, but to freeze the pipes underground would take quite a few days, if not weeks, of sustained freezing temperatures to lower the ground temp to the point the pipes there would freeze.
When we had an ice storm in December, the pipes to our well froze. Using a heater and heat tape, we were able to get it thawed out. Good luck, but I would check the pipes that are exposed before trying to find anything under ground. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Thanks guys! |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | Our well freezes up every now and then due to cold temps but I've never had it not start to work after the outside temp was over 32 or even before then. If a heater in there doesn't work, it may be a problem in the well itself. |
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| HotbearLVR - 2014-01-08 1:43 PM
You just need one of those cheap ass plug in space heaters and turn it on. Don't screw around with a blow dryer. I assume your well house is enclosed and insulated? Just do it. LOL
Do you have frost free hydrants or the regular kind with the twist type regular faucets ?? I would heat these up too ... with a heating tape or a heat tent or something to warm them up . ..
Turn your facets on and see if you can get a drip from any of them and leave it on ... so the drip will thaw out where ever it is frozen .... if hooked up to a water hose ... disconnect it ....
Heating your well house is a must anytime it gets below freezing .... especially in southern states because we do not bury lines nor insulate the way we should ...
Do what Pappa Grizzly sez .... GOOD ADVICE!! |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Set the heater on high and direct it directly at the pump and pipes just a couple feet away so the hot air blows right on them. All you need is one of those little ceramic $20 dollar electric heaters. Remember, when it thaws, you could see a leak somewhere because a line or pipe can sometimes crack right where it froze, and it might not be evident until it thaws. Check on it every 15-20 minutes. Usually it doesn't take long. Is there a pressure guage connected to your well? Do you run your house water from this well? When you get freezes into the lower teens or less, that is a different kettle of fish than the candy ass 30 degree ones you all see from time to time.
You southerners are really a blast to watch whenever it gets cold or icy! My oh my! LOL
One of my favorite things to do when I lived in Dallas was watch people drive after an ice storm. A couple times I actually took out a lawn chair and a cup of coffee to watch the demolition derbys at the intersections. You could just predict when there was going to be a fender bender. The ones involving 3-4 cars are always a treat. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| we buried our line 2 and 3 feet and insulate the pump house we in middle ga never had a problem with frozen line for 13 yrs new onwers are having nothing but frozen pipes
i can/t figure it out |
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| vjls - 2014-01-08 2:43 PM
we buried our line 2 and 3 feet and insulate the pump house we in middle ga never had a problem with frozen line for 13 yrs new onwers are having nothing but frozen pipes
i can/t figure it out
They are probably leaving their water hoses hooked up to their faucets and even the frost free cannot drain back into the ground and will freeze due to the hoses ...
Or they added some pipes which freeze back into the main lines ... lol ...
Let them figure it out ... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Well, I am originally from Indiana so I know alot more about the freezing situations than most southerners but this one has me a little baffled. I now have the heater out in the well house so hopefully all will be well soon! If it doesn't get fixed this way, I guess I'll be needing a plumber to check a little further! And yes, Hotbear Lvr I use to enjoy watching the southerners drive in the "frozen" situations as well................but hey, they even cancel school down here with the mere threat of frozen precipitation!! At least all the horses have heated water troughs and are enjoying the extra hay!  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | We had this issue last month as well, only it was with the cattle tanks. Our "well house" is built below ground in hopes of alleviating frozen pipes.....in our case, the well pump went out. Good Luck! |
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Veteran
Posts: 234
| be sure to check the breaker in your box - might just be that simple |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Ditto on the power supply. Also, depending on the pump setup, it might have a "point type" pressure switch that the points need cleaned.
Just might be a coincidence that pump has issues not due to the cold.
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My mind still works
Posts: 8912
| HotbearLVR - 2014-01-08 1:43 PM
You just need one of those cheap ass plug in space heaters and turn it on. Don't screw around with a blow dryer. I assume your well house is enclosed and insulated? Just do it. LOL
yeah, they call them milk house heaters down here but you can get one at Walmart for about $40. Luckily ,mine has stayed going with just a 100 watt bulb in there but it's really insulated.
Any space heater will work but the best results and longer life is one that doesn't have an exposed heating element showing. A few years ago when the wind chill got down to -31 here in Oklahoma, I put a heat lamp (bulb) in the socket and it worked great. Just another option :) |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Spin Doctor - 2014-01-08 4:59 PM Ditto on the power supply. Also, depending on the pump setup, it might have a "point type" pressure switch that the points need cleaned. Just might be a coincidence that pump has issues not due to the cold.
Good point. I've had that happen too. Mine kept "sticking" because the points were carboned up and I just cleaned them with fine sandpaper. Got things going again. Make sure you shut the power off first! LOL |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | turn3nhome - 2014-01-08 3:06 PM Well, I am originally from Indiana so I know alot more about the freezing situations than most southerners but this one has me a little baffled. I now have the heater out in the well house so hopefully all will be well soon! If it doesn't get fixed this way, I guess I'll be needing a plumber to check a little further! And yes, Hotbear Lvr I use to enjoy watching the southerners drive in the "frozen" situations as well................but hey, they even cancel school down here with the mere threat of frozen precipitation!! At least all the horses have heated water troughs and are enjoying the extra hay!
call a well service. not a plumber.  |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| SG. - 2014-01-08 10:36 PM turn3nhome - 2014-01-08 3:06 PM Well, I am originally from Indiana so I know alot more about the freezing situations than most southerners but this one has me a little baffled. I now have the heater out in the well house so hopefully all will be well soon! If it doesn't get fixed this way, I guess I'll be needing a plumber to check a little further! And yes, Hotbear Lvr I use to enjoy watching the southerners drive in the "frozen" situations as well................but hey, they even cancel school down here with the mere threat of frozen precipitation!! At least all the horses have heated water troughs and are enjoying the extra hay!
THIS - because if it is a well problem, a plumber will not even look at it - at least that was my experience last month. $4500 later and a new well, pump and pressure tank and I am all fixed up - Merry Christmas to me - NOT. My well was dug in the 70s and they used to case them in steel. The steel rusted and the well collapsed on mine. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Well, happy to let you guys know that the water came on yesterday evening and all is well!! Thanks so much for all the help and advice! Hopefully this won't happen for another long while................I surmise it was frozen ground! What great friends and advice you find here on BHW!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| turn3nhome - 2014-01-09 9:30 AM Well, happy to let you guys know that the water came on yesterday evening and all is well!! Thanks so much for all the help and advice! Hopefully this won't happen for another long while................I surmise it was frozen ground! What great friends and advice you find here on BHW!!!!!!!!!!!!
AWESOME!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1295
Location: Chehalis, Washington | W |
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Blessed
Location: Here | turn3nhome - 2014-01-09 9:30 AM Well, happy to let you guys know that the water came on yesterday evening and all is well!! Thanks so much for all the help and advice! Hopefully this won't happen for another long while................I surmise it was frozen ground! What great friends and advice you find here on BHW!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH!!! |
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 The Non Sky Diver
Posts: 9004
Location: SE Louisiana | HotbearLVR - 2014-01-08 2:42 PM
Set the heater on high and direct it directly at the pump and pipes just a couple feet away so the hot air blows right on them. All you need is one of those little ceramic $20 dollar electric heaters. Remember, when it thaws, you could see a leak somewhere because a line or pipe can sometimes crack right where it froze, and it might not be evident until it thaws. Check on it every 15-20 minutes. Usually it doesn't take long. Is there a pressure guage connected to your well? Do you run your house water from this well? When you get freezes into the lower teens or less, that is a different kettle of fish than the candy ass 30 degree ones you all see from time to time.
You southerners are really a blast to watch whenever it gets cold or icy! My oh my! LOL
One of my favorite things to do when I lived in Dallas was watch people drive after an ice storm. A couple times I actually took out a lawn chair and a cup of coffee to watch the demolition derbys at the intersections. You could just predict when there was going to be a fender bender. The ones involving 3-4 cars are always a treat.
Something to keep in mind.... Someone mentioned the pressure switch. If the line freezes in front of that switch (between the switch and the pump) The pump will come on and not shut off. This causes cavitation and will form an air bubble around the pump. Because it is cooled by the water and is now surrounded by air it will burn out. If the line freezes in the ground, it will take just as long to thaw the ground as it took to freeze that deep. A broken line underground will send the water to the surface but it can come up a long way (usually downhill) from the break. |
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3781
Location: n.c. | Hallalujah! Good news. We lost our well pump motor during this cold snap. Even at 90 feet in the ground. Something above ground froze and caused the motor to continuously run. Oh what fun! Summer can't come soon enough. |
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My mind still works
Posts: 8912
| runningk - 2014-01-09 6:34 PM Hallalujah! Good news. We lost our well pump motor during this cold snap. Even at 90 feet in the ground. Something above ground froze and caused the motor to continuously run. Oh what fun! Summer can't come soon enough.
My old well was like that and I just plugged in it when I needed it...lol |
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Location: Over by those oil wells, TX | Mine was doing the same thing and putting an oil heater on the lowest setting has fixed the problem. i think the oil heaters are safer than space heaters, aren't they?
Edited by hopin4$ 2014-01-10 1:25 AM
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 2014-01-10-01-17-24--1697037876.jpeg (2KB - 250 downloads)
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