Okay, here’s my story about how I kept my well from freezing this past winter, hope this helps someone out there:
So, winter was coming, and I started to worry about my well freezing up. I live out in the country, and we rely on our well for all our water. No well water means no drinking water, no showers, nothing. I knew I had to do something. First, I checked the well pump and the pipes leading into the house. These were all above ground, and I knew that was a problem.

I remembered reading somewhere that exposed pipes are a big no-no in freezing weather, So I went to the local hardware store and picked up some foam insulation sleeves. They were pretty cheap, and looked easy enough to install. Cut it to the right lengths, and wrapped it around all the exposed pipes. And secured the insulation with duct tape.
Then I thought about the pressure tank. It’s in a little shed outside, and although it’s somewhat protected, I figured it could still get pretty cold in there. After that, I also wrapped the pressure tank in an old blanket I had lying around. I know it’s an ugly solution, but it can help a little. I also bought a small ceramic heater, I plugged it and set it up inside the shed, near the pressure tank.
The well itself is pretty deep, so I wasn’t too worried about the water in the well freezing, but make sure it’s way below the frost line. But I also learned about something called a “pitless adapter.” Apparently, it helps create a frost-proof seal. My well already had one, but if you don’t, it might be worth looking into.
Here are some things I did:
- Insulated all exposed pipes with foam sleeves.
- Wrapped the pressure tank with an old blanket.
- Placed a ceramic heater near the pressure tank in the shed.
- Checked that the well had a pitless adapter.
I monitored the weather pretty closely all winter. Whenever the temperature dropped below freezing, I made sure the heater in the shed was on. I also checked the pipes and the tank regularly to make sure the insulation was holding up. This winter was a tough one, but I managed to keep my well from freezing. It was a bit of work, but it was definitely worth it to ensure we had running water all winter long. If you rely on a well, I hope my story can help you.