Stormcrow's Hobby Farm

[U_Stormcrow]

No, its ____'n cold. High 20s.

 

[NanaK]

No, its ____'n cold. High 20s.

It would be just fine with me if they are wrong.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

It would be just fine with me if they are wrong.

Likewise. Setting up all the plant protection today, wrapping my well pump in concrete block and visqueen so the wellhead doesn't freeze again. Be at it most of the day. Then take it all down Wednesday for another month.

 

[Sally PB]

wrapping my well pump in concrete block and visqueen so the wellhead doesn't freeze again. Be at it most of the day. Then take it all down Wednesday for another month.

Pardon my ignorance... why do you need to take it down again?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

We'll be above freezing for the next few weeks. I don't like making a warm moist environment any longer than I need to to protect against freezing. It fosters rust, rot, and mildews/molds. So I'll take all the visqueen back down.

 

[Sally PB]

We'll be above freezing for the next few weeks. I don't like making a warm moist environment any longer than I need to to protect against freezing. It fosters, rust, rot, and mildews/molds.

Thank you, that makes sense. Since ours is buried about 100 (?) feet deep, this is not anything I've needed to worry about.

But when the pump dies/fails, it's a bit of a production to get it fixed. We're told they should last about 15 years. The fact that we got about 20 out of our last one is a bonus.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My pressure tank sits in the middle of my field, next to a power drop. Last year, where the water comes up out of the well casing, and the water froze there at the check valve before it entered the pressure tank, and also froze at the outflow from the pressure tank (where my first faucet connection is). As soon as the water lines go back underground, its fine.
.

 

[Sally PB]

Ah. All our lines are underground, and the tank is in the basement.

The house I grew up in in Eastport, MI, had an artesian well. My mom said when they drilled the well, they drilled down 300 feet, and were afraid they would never hit water. When they finally did, it was difficult to cap off. This was 50 feet from the shore of Torch Lake. (Yes, I know how lucky I was to live there.) My friend's house was 5 lots farther down the shore, and they needed a pump.

 

[NanaK]

My pressure tank sits in the middle of my field, next to a power drop. Last year, where the water comes up out of the well casing, and the water froze there at the check valve before it entered the pressure tank, and also froze at the outflow from the pressure tank (where my first faucet connection is). As soon as the water lines go back underground, its fine.
.

View attachment 4248722

That thing is naked!
Puts some clothes (insulation) on those pipes!

Our well set up for the house is similar except the pump is a heavy duty agricultural pump. It sits above the well instead of inside it. Inside the casing is 1 pipe and the foot valve. Tank sits beside just like yours.

I don't have to redo all this every winter.
I covered all exposed water lines with foam pipe insulation. Then covered the foam with fiberglass pipe wrap, then plastic with duck tape.
You may be able to purchase a fiberglass water heater blanket to fit your tank or make one. I had some large pieces of insulation from another project I used to cover my tank.

We also use a thermostatically controlled receptacle with light bulb to produce a little heat that comes on if it get crazy cold.

The whole thing is covered by one of those fake rocks. 1 water spigot sits beside the fake rock. It is wrapped from several inches under ground up to the spigot. I plop a piece of insulation over the spigot and cover with a 5 gal bucket. If I need water during winter easy to move the bucket and recover if needed.

Each fall we check the insulation at the well. Add new light bulb. Test. Cover spigot with bucket. Done.
Never unwrap pipes or tank unless it needs repair. No sweating problems.

I think if you insulate the lines and tank well then cover the whole thing with a tarp, you should be fine. If we have unusual cold through winter carefully add a light on the coldest nights.

This is the therm/receptacle we now use. They are heavy duty and well made. Bought 2 of them 2 years ago. Company ships fast.
https://www.qcsupply.com/products/portable-heating-thermostat-with-piggyback-plug

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yeah, it is a little "exposed".

I'll finish wrapping it at lunch. We are only going sub freezing 10 hours or so today, maybe 4 hours tomorrow - so tarps plus flowing water, we'll be fine. Will have a more permanent solution by December. This shock cold snap caught me sideways.