This blog is a continuation of our previous blog on post-winter well issues.
Having a well can be a rewarding and excellent addition to your home, but wintertime can be especially hard on these systems. Many problems can come to light when temperatures rise (like they’re doing now) and the ground thaws. We’ve identified some concerns and potential fixes to these concerns in a previous blog, but there are others you should be aware of coming out of the cold season!
Back Ups In Your Sump Pumps
Sump pumps collect and remove water from low-lying areas, such as basements, which are essential to keep in good condition! If water freezes within them or their lines, the system will not drain appropriately, and moisture may appear in areas you don’t want it to. This, unfortunately, can cause backups in the lines and, therefore, severe damage to your home!
What To Do
Continuously check on your system, test it, and make sure all debris is removed from the sump pump pits. If you find issues, switch off the sump pump before troubleshooting and check the drainage lines outside to see if there’s an obstruction. Remove extra water from the sump pump with a wet-dry vacuum, disconnect the drain line, And apply heat for about an hour near the exit to potentially dislodge a clog.
Septic Tank Conundrums
Septic tanks are one of the biggest (and grossest) culprits in post-winter well issues and can stop draining from your home or cause backups when things like toilets are flushed. Frozen sections of the effluent lines can be a major downfall this time of year, so it’s essential to try to keep them in good condition!
Undoing The Problem
Be proactive and ensure plenty of soil coverage above the septic tanks, schedule a pumping before or right after the cold months, and conserve as much water as possible. If there is an issue, open the tank door, access the cover, Identify the home’s main drain line, and attach a hose to it with a hot water supply. The hot water may take some time to melt anything frozen or unclog the line, so be patient!
Well Pump Frozen
Another major post-winter well issue is the well pump becoming frozen. The well pumps are underground and protected by the surrounding earth, so they are not as likely to freeze; however, there is a caveat. If you have a jet well pump, it must hold water at all times and should be thawed immediately if it starts to freeze.
Righting This “Wrong”
Ensuring you insulate the area around your jet wall pump is a great way to prevent these post-winter well issues in the future. If you’ve noticed it has frozen and there are cracks in the pump’s body, it will need to be replaced. Keep an eye on these pumps during the coldest days, if it seems like it’s freezing, turn it off to give it time to thaw, and maybe heat the area around the pump to encourage water flow.
The Final Step To Solving Post-Winter Well Issues
These aren’t the only post-winter well issues that could arise for your home, and we know it’s a lot to keep track of. What better way to monitor the issues and correct any problems than with a team you can rely on? The Detail View Home Inspection crew is well-equipped to take care of all your well needs, including identifying concerns with your well and fixing the problems so you can get back to enjoying your home, stress-free!
