How To Winterize Your Well Pump: Step-by-Step Guide

That winter chill in the air can mean cozy nights and holidays. However, it can also bring a sinking feeling to homeowners in Salisbury, NC, and beyond who have a private water well. A frozen, busted well pump is a nightmare nobody wants, potentially cutting off your entire water supply.

Learning how to winterize well pump systems properly isn’t just another chore. It’s your first line of defense against disaster. In fact, following a few simple winterizing steps will save you from major headaches and huge well repair bills. This process also helps protect your investment and gives you peace of mind.

Why You Can’t Afford To Skip This

Water expands when it freezes. When that water is inside your water pump or water pipes, that expansion has nowhere to go. This force is powerful enough to cause cracked pump casings, burst pipes, and serious water damage to your property.

You could wake up to a flooded well house or, worse, no water at all. This means no water for showers, washing dishes, or flushing toilets. A simple pump repair for broken pipes or a full replacement can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, making prevention a very good idea.

How To Winterize Your Well Pump: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting your water systems ready for freezing temperatures is something you can do yourself. You just need a little time and a solid plan. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about preparing your jet pump or submersible pump system for the cold air.

Step 1: Power Down and Disconnect

First things first, you have to cut the power supply. Go to your home’s circuit breaker and flip the breaker for your well pump to the off position. This is a critical safety step to prevent the pump from trying to turn on while you work on the water feed lines.

Next, locate the main shutoff valve for your water main and close it to isolate the system. Then, walk outside and disconnect all garden hoses from any outdoor faucets. Drain them completely before coiling them up and storing them in a garage or shed, as a frozen hose can damage the spigot it is attached to.

Step 2: Drain Absolutely Everything

Your goal is to extract every last drop of water from the pump and the pipes above the frost line. Find the drain faucet on your pump and open it up to let all the water run out. This process helps to drain the remaining water that could cause damage.

You should also drain your pressure tanks. Most water tanks have a tank drain valve near the bottom. Open a nearby water faucet, like an outdoor spigot or laundry sink, to let air in and help the system drain faster and more completely.

For a thorough job, consider using compressed air to blow out the feed lines. After the system has drained, connect an air compressor with an air hose to a drain valve. This will push any remaining water out of the pipes and even from the toilet bowls and floor drains.

Step 3: Insulate Like Your Water Depends on It

Once everything is dry, it’s time to protect it from the cold. Water pipes exposed to the elements, especially in crawl spaces, are the most vulnerable to freezing. You can use foam pipe insulation sleeves, which you can get at any hardware store, to cover them.

If your pump is aboveground, it needs a jacket, too. You can buy insulated well pump covers made for this purpose.

For an added layer of defense, you can use heat tape. This product acts as a small heat source wrapped directly around the pipes to keep pipes warm during extreme cold snaps. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely when installing heat tapes.

Insulation Method	Best For	Key Benefit
Foam Pipe Insulation	Exposed pipes in garages, basements, and crawl spaces.	Inexpensive and easy to install for basic protection.
Insulated Pump Cover	Aboveground well pumps (like a jet pump).	Protects the most expensive part of the system.
Heat Tape	Pipes in the most vulnerable, coldest areas.	Provides active heat to prevent freezing in deep cold.

Step 4: Consider Nontoxic Antifreeze

For vacation homes or cabins that will be unoccupied for the entire winter, you might consider using antifreeze. It’s critical to use a nontoxic, food-grade antifreeze like propylene glycol. Never use ethylene glycol, the type used in vehicles, as it’s highly toxic and can contaminate your clean water source.

After draining the system, you can pour the propylene glycol into the pipes through the drain valves or faucets. This is often done for winterizing irrigation systems and their sprinkler heads as well. Always consult the pump and fixture manufacturer’s instructions before adding any substance to your water system.

Step 5: A Quick Checkup

While you’re already focused on the pump, this is a great time for a quick inspection. Look for any visible cracks in the pump casing or water lines. Check for frayed wiring or leaks around the fittings, and take a look at the pump pressure gauge to see if it’s holding steady.

Catching a small well pump problem now is much easier than dealing with a big failure in the middle of January. This little bit of preventive maintenance can save you a lot of trouble and prevent a future need for water treatment or major repairs.

What About Submersible Pumps?

You might be wondering if you need to do all this if you have a submersible pump. The water pump itself is usually deep in the well, far below the frost line. So, the pump itself is generally safe from pipes freezing.

But you’re not totally off the hook. The water feed from the well, the pressure tank, and the pipes that bring water into your house are still at risk. You absolutely still need to drain and insulate these components to stay protected from the damaging effects of ice.

Our Conclusion

Taking an afternoon to properly winterize well pump components is a smart move. It protects your investment and makes sure you have a reliable source of hot water and cold water all winter long. Following these steps helps prevent a catastrophic failure of your water flow.

By draining the water, insulating pipes, and performing a quick check, you can also avoid the stress and expense of a frozen system. Now you can enjoy that first snowfall without worrying about what is happening with your water wells. A small amount of preparation truly goes a long way.