No Water?
#1
01-07-14, 11:18 AM
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No Water?
first timer here and not too tech knowledgable so be kind. Hard freeze last night, 1st time ever that I can remember in coastal Mississippi. I left 2 faucets trickling but I guess not enough. This morning well wasn't running but A little while ago noticed it was running, went to look & there was no pressure. Turned off power & opened faucet at tank. Could here a bit of a gurgle in tank but no water came out. I do have some back up water in barrel for toilet but am worried something is seriously damaged. Any comments or suggestions?
Last edited by Pilot Dane; 01-07-14 at 11:20 AM. Reason: edited thread title
#2
01-07-14, 11:36 AM
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Running a faucet is not as foolproof with a well as it is with city water. Your pressure tank stores an amount of water so the pump does not have to run every time you use water. Unfortunately this means letting a faucet drip or trickle means the pump may go hours without running, allowing the plumbing to freeze. Then your pressure switch calls for water and turns on the pump which can be damaged by running long periods without water flowing through it.
What type well pump do you have? Deep well submersible (pump is down in the well) or a shallow (one pipe going to well) or deep well jet pump ( two pipes going to well) with the pump above ground?
What type well pump do you have? Deep well submersible (pump is down in the well) or a shallow (one pipe going to well) or deep well jet pump ( two pipes going to well) with the pump above ground?
#3
01-07-14, 11:46 AM
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I've got the same problem. South Mississippi hard freeze.
I have a shallow well with a submersible pump....water is at 25ft....75ft well. Can't get water. I can hear the pump trying to work but nothing.
I have a shallow well with a submersible pump....water is at 25ft....75ft well. Can't get water. I can hear the pump trying to work but nothing.
#4
01-07-14, 12:14 PM
To both posters. Are any of your pipes above ground? Post pix of your setups at the wellhead. If you have a cute fiberglas rock covering the wellhead, and no pipe insulation then "cute" is as good as it gets. We'll wait on pix
#5
01-07-14, 01:45 PM
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unfortunately my camera is at my friends house so can't post photo but I can describe my set up. I have an above ground pump and a very shallow well(30 ft at bottom, 18 to water level)old set up, here when I bought the place. I replaced the pump about 3 years ago. Recently had problem with water logged but I got instructions online and fixed that myself. It's got just one pipe going to the well and pipe going to old tank. Faucet to tank is frozen so I put a light in there and was able to turn it after a while but still no water came out. I know how to prime it but if pipes are frozen what's the use? Should I just set it out till we thaw or go ahead and call someone? I am not that familar with working of pump and well and don't want to do more damage
#6
01-07-14, 01:54 PM
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I don't have a cute anything here, everything is functional. My pump has a small shed around it and has always been sufficient but not this time. I run a small animal rescue and unfortunately got too involved in building insulated crates for the animals and forgot about my well. Wont happen again that's for sure
#7
01-07-14, 02:03 PM
I went to school in Hattiesburg (before Camille) and don't recall winter to be that long a deal. I think your light will help a lot with initial thawing and it will return to normal, unless there are burst pipe. It's going to depend on your being w/o water for a day or so, and if you can "camp out".
#8
01-07-14, 02:30 PM
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I have 2 rain barrels so am in good shape for water for animals and toilet. I was without power for 2 months after Katrina(house was caved in, I lived on the front porch)just wondering if anyone thinks there might be serious damage so I can go ahead and start having a breakdown about the costs of repair. am hoping I just need to prime it when it thaws. We are having the coldest winter here that anyone can remember with night temps in low teens and highs only in the low thirties.
#9
01-07-14, 02:40 PM
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gonna bother you guys one more time. My water heater just kicked on for the first time today. It sounds empty although I don't know why it would be. I flipped the breaker so it wont burn up. Is this significant? Why would it come on? Btw, been online since 95 and this is first time on this site, love it! As a single woman I need all the help I can get with this old place so I will not be a stranger.
#11
01-07-14, 03:09 PM
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The water heater will turn on any time the water inside cools which happens even when water is not being used and is perfectly normal. Still, it's best to keep it off until you have water flowing again.
You also want to keep the pump turned off. Turn it on briefly to check if you've gotten the pipes thawed but you don't want it running without water moving.
Unfortunately there is no secret to thawing pipes. Start with the most exposed pipes as they are most likely to be frozen. I do NOT like using a torch. It's easy to set other stuff on fire and even with steel or copper pipes the valves have plastic and rubber seals that can be damaged. Simple space heaters and hair dryers are sufficient. You're not trying to make hot water. All you have to do is get them above freezing.
You also want to keep the pump turned off. Turn it on briefly to check if you've gotten the pipes thawed but you don't want it running without water moving.
Unfortunately there is no secret to thawing pipes. Start with the most exposed pipes as they are most likely to be frozen. I do NOT like using a torch. It's easy to set other stuff on fire and even with steel or copper pipes the valves have plastic and rubber seals that can be damaged. Simple space heaters and hair dryers are sufficient. You're not trying to make hot water. All you have to do is get them above freezing.
