Well pump question

[HilltopDaisy]

We've had below freezing temps here in NY for some time. I live in an old mobile and deal with frozen pipes fairly often. It's not unusual for the water to freeze even with the faucet trickling, if it's super-windy.

Normally, as soon as I realize the pipes are froze, I shut the power off to the pump, so it doesn't run constantly. I'll flick it back on a few times during the day and usually the water comes on at some point. No problem. I can always hear the pump when I flick the switch, and if the water doesn't come on I just shut it off (the pump) and try again after a few hours. There have been many times that the water stayed off for a week at a time, and once for 3 weeks (last winter).

This morning when I flicked the breaker the pump did not come on. I tried it a couple more times, still no pump. What do you think?

The pipe freezes in a few different places, and I'm wondering if it's now froze right at the ground. We've had below freezing temps here for several weeks. But the pump would still come on, right?

[HilltopDaisy]

Nevermind, I heard it come on this time ~ maybe it's just my hearing.

[JK-NY]

Hope your water is still working. Is your pump a submersible (in the well)? They are hard to hear. I know someone who has an older trailer and they solved the pipes freezing problem by running new pipes on the inside of the trailer along the top of the wall from the bathroom to the kitchen. The water comes up through the floor to the water heater and from there everything is run inside above the floor . They used the PVC water pipe that glues together, it was an inexpensive and effective solution!

[agmantoo]

Hilltop, with the frequent freezing what prevents the pipes from bursting?

[caroline]

wrap the pipes with heat tape......

[Bearfootfarm]

Frozen pipes shouldn't cause the pump to run at all.

The only advantage to turning it off would be if the pipe burst on thawing, you wouldn't have a flood

If it's cycling when the pipes above ground are frozen, I'd suspect a leak somewhere underground

[Dry Bridge]

Question on Bladders.

I'm in the process of centralizing the supply water coming into the house. Naturally we're limited with the space available, and while we can fit a standard size tank in the shed addition - we're in search of a 'skinny' tank that has the same volume (we're not so limited with height).

Any suggestions?

Paul B.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Frozen pipes shouldn't cause the pump to run at all.

I have an above ground jet pump. If the whole pump freezes up and then the piping around the pressure switch thaws first when I warm it up the pump will run while the plumbing is still frozen. It trips the breaker rather quickly though.