Winterization tips for your well
By Susan Boser, Extension Educator, Renewable Natural Resources, Penn State For professional help with any of these Below are some winter tips from the winterizing tasks, the educational website, professionals at the National Groundwater wellowner.org, provides a tool to Find a well Association. contractor in your area. Protect Your Pump Start the New Year off Right with your Many well systems are buried underPrivate Water System ground, protecting them from the cold. But If you haven’t had your water tested for for well owners with above-ground pumps, some time, consider the new year to start action should be taken to keep the system some yearly testing for some basic parameinsulated and warm. Constructing a small, ters like bacteria, total dissolved solids, pH, insulated enclosure covering the pump will and nitrates. Private water system owners help keep the system above 32 degrees are responsible for the testing and treatment and reduce the risk of freezing and other of their water supplies so consider making damage. This small “well house” can save it a habit for regular water testing to be sure thousands of dollars in repairs and ensure your water is safe to drink. a well operates throughout a cold winter. Protect Your Pipes As water freezes, it expands and can burst ##### your pipes, leading to significant damage A cowboy is a hired hand on the middle to your home and well. Frozen pipes are a of a horse contemplating the hind end of a common winter issue for homeowners but cow. – Edward Abbey can be avoided with a few easy steps. Insulate your pipes. We suggest insulating pipes for houses with piping that runs through nonheated spaces like basements. Wrapping pipes with rubber casings or fiberglass insulation can keep their temperature above freezing and the water flowing. Inspect your pipes. Now is a great time to do a general inspection of your water system and piping. Spotting a problem in your system now could save you from a costly problem this winter. Find a certified contractor to schedule an inspection. Turn off your exterior water and blow out your pipes. Ideally, your house will have a shut-off valve for its exterior water supply. If so, turn off any water that flows to outside faucets. Once you have turned the water off, drain the remaining water or use an air compressor to blow out the pipes. If you don’t have a shut-off valve, find a local contractor for other options for shutting off exterior water. Prepare for a Power Outage While there is little that the homeowner can do to prevent power outages due to winter weather, there are steps to take so you have water to drink while waiting for the lights to come back on. Always have a portable gas generator and plenty of gas to connect to your pumping system. Stock up on bottled water before the winter; this way, if there is a prolonged outage, you can still have clean drinking water in the house. Contact a local contractor to learn more about backup generators and other options to keep your water flowing during a power outage. Penn State Extension has a fact sheet with information on power outages as they affect water systems.
Trader’s Dispatch, February 2023 — Page A19
NH Bale Wagons & Retrievers FOR SALE & WILL PURCHASE
Sod Buster Sales, Inc.’s Farm Equipment Finding Service — Phone (406) 883-2118
GLASS TRUCKING, INC.
Grain, Liquid, Hay & Livestock Hauling • In business since 1960 • Visit us at www.glasstrucking.com
Denton, MT 406-567-2232 800-325-8859