PRESSURE SWITCH
YOUR PRESSURE SWITCH
YOUR PRESSURE SWITCH
YOUR PRESSURE SWITCH
Insects, ants, bees, spiders, lizards, leaves, grass, etc.. If it is outside, it can and will get into your pressure switch and cause the points to not connect resulting in NO WATER.
THE MIGHTY ANT!
YOUR PRESSURE SWITCH
YOUR PRESSURE SWITCH
It only takes ONE ant or spider leg to disrupt the connection on the points.
Preparing for a Freeze!
Which ever type water well system you have, above ground or below ground pump ... tall or short tank... preparing for a freeze is the same.
Wrap your pipes..
First -
Wrap all pipes with pipe insulation, you can find this at almost any hardware or home improvement store.
If you can't find pipe insulation you can wrap your pipes with towels, then with trash bags to keep the towels dry, then tape the whole thing real well so they don't fall off or have any gaps.
Heat source..
Cover everything..
Second -
Put a heat source on the pressure switch and components. This heat source can be a 100 watt incandescent light bulb, heat lamp, small heater. Make sure it is not touching anything and will not get wet.
Cover everything..
Cover everything..
Cover everything..
Third -
Cover your entire tank, filter, well and light with a tarp. Secure the edges with bricks, wood or whatever you have that is heavy so the wind does not blow the tarp off.
Run water..
Cover everything..
Cover everything..
Fourth -
Run water from your faucets inside and outside with a hose if possible. If you can't run them outside then make sure they are covered completely.
You want a small steady stream of water, not a drip.
Open the cabinet doors under the sinks so the warm air from your house can reach those pipes.
IF WE LOOSE ELECTRICITY DURING A FREEZE
If you loose electricity during the freeze and do not have backup power, there is nothing to be done till the electricity comes back on and the ice thaws out.
Until the electricity comes back on AND THE ICE IS MELTED….
- Turn off the breaker to your Water Well so the pump does not burn up when the electric comes back on and everything is still frozen.
- Also, be sure to turn the breaker off for your water heater so it doesn’t burn up,
- and open faucets around your house so that when the water freezes and expands, your pipes are less likely to break.
Remember... there is water in every part of your tank, pump & pipes for your Water Well.
It will take time for all that ice to thaw out, especially if it is in the shade or a well house were the sun can't warm it up.
When the electricity comes back on:
- You can put a hair dryer or small heater on the components & pipes that have frozen during the power outage to help the thawing along.
- Once everything is thawed and water is flowing freely once again, turn your breaker back on for the pump and run the water for a little bit to flush the pipes and check for leaks.
- Turn on your water heater after any leaks in your plumbing have been fixed.
When everything is back to normal (may take a few days), if you still don't have water, give us a call.
AFTER THE FREEZES ARE OVER....
After all the freezes are over and Spring has arrived....
UNWRAP your water well, tank, filter, etc...
Water well systems need to be able to breathe and dry out.
If you keep it wrapped all year you will experience an increase in rust, mold, ants, etc... and you will not be able to see issues that need addressing until there is a major problem.
OPEN AIR VS WELL HOUSE ...
This section addresses OPEN AIR vs WELL HOUSES in our small area of South East Louisiana and may not be best for other parts of the country.
OPEN AIR.....
We love open air. Plenty of fresh air allows for the components to dry out and any water that the well spits, drips or leaks will not ruin any building or possessions stored in the building.
Also, being in the open makes it much easier for your Well Repair Men to work on it when needed.
A lean-to or roof with one wall is all that is needed if you want something over it. All the components for your Water Well are made to be outside so the elements won't cause a problem ( unless you have a fiberglass tank.. they don't like the sun so a lean-to is best for them ).
WELL HOUSE...
These are wonderful for winter to put a heater or heat lamp during freezes and to hide what you don't want seen.
HOWEVER.. keep in mind that the inside of the Well House and Everything in it WILL get wet and possibly moldy.
The combination of cold water, heat, Louisiana humidity & the normal moisture and water the Water Well spits and drips adds to the situation. Not to mention if you have a leak...
To help prevent this there needs to be fresh air circulating through the building (open windows, vents, etc...) so everything can dry out and any issues can be seen and addressed quickly.
If you decide a Well House is best for you, please make it big enough for your Water Well repair men to be able to get to all the components easily.
