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Seasonal Homes: Winterizing Your Well

Most vacation homes and cabins are considered seasonal homes. Some seasonal homes have private water wells that service the home. These types of homes are not designed to be used during the winter due to plumbing systems and structures that are not adequately insulated to withstand extreme cold. When preparing to close your vacation home for the season, leaving the home vacant and unheated, it is imperative to winterize the plumbing to protect it from bursting in freezing temperatures. This process includes going through the steps to winterize your water well.

WSC recommends that you contact a licensed plumber to winterize your home. If you must winterize on your own, follow these steps and instructions.

Year-round Homes: Your Well System 

If you are in an area that tends to reach or has ever had freezing temperatures, you should make every effort to prevent your pipes, well, and well components from freezing. When pipes freeze, the flow of water is completely blocked. Since water expands as it turns into ice, the pipes are very likely to burst. It could also ruin your well pump and other exposed well components. This can be an expensive problem to fix and a disastrous occurrence in the frigid winter months. If your well or pipes freeze, contact your licensed well contractor or plumber as soon as possible.

Help keep your well from freezing with a pitless adapter. A pitless adapter attaches to your well casing to provide a sanitary and frost-proof seal between the casing and the water line running to your home. This device protects the water from freezing and permits convenient access to the well and well components without having to dig around the well. The adapter is connected to the well casing below the frost line, which is the depth at which the ground does not freeze. Water from the well is diverted horizontally at the adapter to prevent it from freezing. Contact your licensed well contractor to discuss installing a pitless adapter. You should also protect your wellhead from getting damaged by snow and heavy equipment like snow blowers and plows. There are existing older wells that are in driveways, close to the driveway, or close to a road. Consider adding a fiberglass driveway marker to help with locating the well. If your well gets covered by snow, you will easily find it and can carefully remove the snow around it.

Freezing temps on the way and no time to make adjustments?

If your wellhead is exposed to outside elements and freezing temperatures are on the way, wrap it with insulation, blankets, towels, or anything else you can find that will not cause damage to the wellhead but can help protect it from the cold.

To learn more about protecting your pipes, pump, tank, and our tips if your pipes or well system are already frozen, download our wellcare® information sheet on Protecting Your Pipes and Well System From Freezing from our website.

A fun activity for your kiddos (and the adults!) to try – making rain. You only need a few items which you probably already have in your home.

What You Need:

A clear jar
Shaving cream (use the foam kind, not gel)
Food coloring (blue is recommended)
Water

1. Fill the jar almost to the top with water.

2. Cover the top with a “cloud” of shaving cream.

3. Let your child drop food coloring into the cloud until the
color starts “raining” into the water below.

You can explain that this is how rain works. The water collects in the cloud until there is too much, and then it leaks through forming rain. Find out more information and tips here.

Check out our new infographic for the dos and don’ts of well disinfection! Click the infographic or read our information sheet on Disinfecting a Well.

Before A Storm Hits

Storms and the damage they can create cannot be prevented, but there are a few ways you can prepare and protect your well and water supply before a storm hits your area.

Protecting Your Wellhead and Pump

Check that your well cap or seal is tightly fastened to your wellhead. If you have any well components exposed to outside elements, make sure all are secure to help protect them from flying debris or becoming flying debris.

Surge Protection

If you do not have surge protection on your pump, consider having it installed. Power surges can still affect your pump as surrounding areas lose or regain power even if you do not lose power at your home. Contact your licensed well contractor for assistance.

Note: If you lose power during a storm, make sure that you turn off your pump at the circuit breaker and leave it off for the duration of the storm.

Fill ’em up!

Fill your sinks and tubs with water in case you lose power to your pump. This water can be used to wash hands and flush toilets.

Don’t forget – Drinking Water

You should have at least one gallon of water per person per day. Power outages and cleanup can last a long time after a storm so consider storing enough water for at least two weeks for each family member in your household.

After the Storm

It is important to remember that there is potential danger of electrical shock from any electrical device that has been flooded. Rubber boots and gloves are not adequate protection from electrical shock. DO NOT touch any part of the well system before it has been thoroughly inspected by a professional.

Inspect Your Well and Components

If flooding did not occur on your property, visually inspect your well and well components to make sure there is no damage. If you notice any damages, call a licensed well contractor before turning on your pump.

Managing a Flooded Well

After flood waters have receded and the pump and electrical system have dried, do not turn on the equipment until the wiring system has been checked by a qualified electrician, well, or pump contractor. If the pump’s control box was submerged or damaged during a flood or other storms, all electrical components must be dry before electrical service can be restored. Get assistance in turning the pump on from a well or pump contractor.

Disinfection and Testing

If your well has been flooded it should be disinfected and the water tested before you start using the water.

For more information download our free wellcare® information sheet on Emergencies & Disasters and Wells and visit our dedicated web page. For more tips, look for #bestormready on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

Tannins Tannins are a natural organic material that can be the byproducts of nature’s fermentation process, created as water passes through peaty soil and decaying vegetation. This can cause water to have a faint yellow to tea-like color, and can cause yellow staining on fabrics, fixtures, china, and laundry. Tannins may give a tangy or tart aftertaste to water. They may also cause water to have a musty or earthy odor. Tannins (also known as fulvic or humic acid) are more common in surface water supplies and shallow wells than in deep wells. Water in marshy, low-lying, or coastal areas is also more susceptible to tannins. Tannins are considered an aesthetic problem. While they may make water unappealing to drink and stain laundry, they present no health risk. However, if you are considering water treatment, comprehensive water testing is necessary to help determine which treatment method will be most effective. Read more on Tannins and Well Water. Turbidity Turbidity is the measure of cloudiness of a liquid, imagine the way smoke can make air appear cloudy. Turbidity in water is caused by large numbers of suspended organic and inorganic particles, such as sediments or microscopic organisms. These particles are picked up as water moves through rock and soil, and into your groundwater supply. High turbidity levels can shield harmful microbiological contaminants from the effects of drinking water disinfection and some treatment devices like ultraviolet (UV) lights. Therefore, it is imperative to keep turbidity levels low when treating your water. EPA has set the public drinking water standard for turbidity at 1 NTU (nephelometric turbidity unit) for public water systems. Well owners should use the EPA’s standard as a guideline. If your water looks cloudy, you should have your water tested for turbidity. If you are considering installing a water treatment system, comprehensive water testing is vital. Continue reading about Turbidity and Well Water.

For information on well water testing read our information sheet and visit our website for resources.

Check out our new infographic! Click the infographic to read our information sheet on Buying a Home with a Well.

 

Septic systems require regularly scheduled maintenance just like wells. See our tips below.

Proper maintenance of a septic system includes:

• Regular inspection every 1 to 2 years
• Having the system pumped every 3 to 5 years, depending on demand
• Conserving water to reduce the amount of demand placed on the system and to prolong its useful life

Protecting Your Septic Throughout the Year

Everyone in the household must consider what is flushed into the septic system. There are certain items that can reduce or damage the natural function of the septic system. Avoid flushing items that can clog the system or chemicals that can contaminate ground and surface water, and potentially damage the biological components of the system. DO NOT flush grease, fats, oils, bandages, feminine hygiene products, disposable diapers, wipes – even ones that say ‘flushable’, pharmaceuticals or medicines, paper towels, kitty litter, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, dental floss, hair, paint, pesticides, varnish, thinners, waste oil, or other chemicals. Ideally, ONLY water and household detergents are flushed into the system. The septic system’s drain field must also be protected. The following strategies are recommended to protect the field and prolong its functional life:

• Do not drive over the drain field with cars, trucks, or heavy equipment.
• Do not plant trees or shrubbery in the drain field area as roots can plug or damage the wastewater distribution lines.
• Do not cover the drain field with hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt.
• Use grass to cover the area. It will help prevent erosion and help remove excess water.
• Divert surface runoff water from roofs, patios, driveways, and other areas away from the drain field.

A properly maintained septic system poses no threat to the groundwater that supplies a household well. However, wastewater from a failing septic system can carry contaminants such as nitrates, harmful bacteria, and viruses into groundwater and potentially the well.

For more information download our free wellcare® information sheet on Your Septic System.

Don’t fret if you do not have water treatment! You should note that not all water needs to be treated. You should also know that not all water treatment works for all water quality. We like to say there is not a ‘one treatment fits all’ approach to water quality. It is more complex and can cause more harm than good if the wrong treatment system is installed or is not needed at all. It is imperative to test your water first before considering or installing water treatment.

If you have water treatment, it is equally important to have these systems maintained per your water treatment professional or manufacturer’s recommendations. If you do not have a water treatment professional, visit Water Quality Association’s website to find a professional in your area.

For more information see our wellcare® information sheet on Water Treatment.