How Does Winter Affect Homes with Well Water?

Old Man Winter is knocking at the door, which can mean many wonderful things here in Connecticut: snowshoeing, sledding, skiing, cozying up with hot chocolate by the fire, building snowmen, and making snow angels — all the wholesome seasonal works.

For well owners, though, wintertime also presents its own slew of challenges. That’s partly because of the direct effects of the harsh weather itself, and also the difficulties of inspections and repairs amid all of that snow, ice, and frozen ground.

Fortunately, if you have a private well in Connecticut, you’ve got the guaranteed, rock-solid assistance of the team here at Greco & Haines, where we apply more than a half-century of experience, know-how, and customer relations to provide the finest, across-the-board well water service in the state.

Here’s a look at some of the common winter well problems our customers may deal with, and how we can help.

Winter Well Issues in Connecticut

The frigid temperatures, snowstorms and ice storms, and other elements of winter weather here in Connecticut can cause plenty of headaches for well owners. These include:

  • Water Loss: Along with the potential for seasonal drops in groundwater level under freezing conditions, winter sometimes means less water on account of pumps and pipes clogged by fallen leaves, dirt, and other storm or meltwater-transported debris.
  • Well Water Low Pressure: Sediment or mineral buildup, let alone frozen pipes (read on!), could result in diminished water pressure during the winter. There are all sorts of reasons why your well water pressure may be depressed, and narrowing down the issue can be complicated — a good reason to get in touch with the professionals at Greco & Haines.
  • Frozen Pipes: Pipes located above ground level, or above the frost line (which is about 42 inches or so deep here in Connecticut), are vulnerable to freezing during subzero temperatures if they aren’t in a heated room or properly insulated. Thermal sleeves or blankets — even old sweatshirts or bubble wrap — can protect such pipes. Needless to say, you don’t want a freeze-up in your plumbing system, which at the very least can stop the water flow and burst pipes, resulting in costly leaks.
  • Well Pump Breakdowns: Submersible pumps should be located below the frost line and are therefore protected from freezing winter temperatures. But above-ground jet pumps need to be insulated (in a heated room, for example, or a well house) just like pipes to prevent malfunction and damage.

Well Service From Greco & Haines

From insulating your pipes to dripping your taps, there’s much you can do as a well owner to protect your water system from the ravages of winter weather. But whether it’s winterizing the system ahead of the worst of the season or tackling emergency repairs amid a blizzard, you’ll want the knowledge and resources of experts on your side! Here at Greco & Haines, we’ve seen it all, as far as breakdowns and other issues go, and we’ve done it all when it comes to repairs, inspections, and diagnoses.

And, by the way, we’re also at your service when it comes to post-winter well checkups and water-quality testing, which are especially important given the damages winter weather can wreak as well as the threat of contamination from late-winter or early-spring meltwater flooding.

Stay One Step Ahead of Old Man Winter With Greco & Haines

Here at Greco & Haines, we’re here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, wherever you might be located in Connecticut! For winter checkups, repairs, or testing, drop us a line on our website or call us at 203-735-9308, 203-777-2256, or 1-800-922-2958 from any CT area code.