Freezing water line. - HomeModders.com

klyph · 11-14-2007, 05:36 PM

Ugh, I think my well line is freezing

If we're away all day and don't use any water until late at night, the pump will kick on (it's inside the house) but it's not drawing any water and I have to shut it down. It happened last night when we got home late, there were a bunch of dirty dishes, I desperately needed a shower, and I dropped a gnarly dump in the toilet that wouldnt flush because my gf had just flushed before me. I turned the heat trace on the well line last night and this morning it finally started getting water after running for a while. I managed to clear the toxic biohazard that had been stewing in the bathroom overnight, but didnt have time to shower this morning...

It worries me because it's only 5 deg F right now and it gets a LOT colder than that (like -40 or worse) I don't want this problem to get worse and bust the water line, but I don't want to have to leave the heat trace on all the time because it uses a lot of electricity. It's usually fine as long as we keep using water, I'm wondering if I should let a faucet trickle a little bit when it gets really cold so that the pump will run periodically...

Suggestions?

ScrapinSTi · 11-14-2007, 05:39 PM

Put a timer on the heat trace line and turn it on at night when it gets cold for 3-4 hours a day... That, and leave a faucet trickling... When I go out of town during the winter I leave the bathroom faucet (Farthest from the well pump) in a very slow drip just in case...

klyph · 11-14-2007, 07:01 PM

Ahh, a timer would be a good idea, I just gotta find where the heat trace is wired in...

Do they have electonically controlled valves that I could hook to a timer? I could hook that up to a hose bib in the utility room.
I think the heat trace is hard wired (I use the breaker box to turn it on) and would be difficult to put a timer on. Besides, I think that running the well a couple of times a day would use less electricity and it would keep the septic system flowing and unfrozen.

klyph · 11-14-2007, 07:13 PM

Gould Solenoid Valves

Which of these should I get? I was thinking the type D, (since there's no type R

)

I'll be tapping into a standard hose bib, wiring in a timer, then running it straight to a drain. I know it needs to be one that's normally closed, and open when current is applied. but what size? I'm thinking 3/8? what is the standard hose bib threading?

ScrapinSTi · 11-14-2007, 09:13 PM

The D type is nice because it has a manual open on it as well... But any one should work.. i would recommend one you can setup to be Normally closed, that way it doesnt stay open if something fails...

I would definitely recommend doing something with the heating trace... Your septic won't freeze... I'm not even home alot, and I can usually see a "melting point" over the septic where the pump access is...

You would be better off just going with the heating line, as thats what it is for... Where is your breaker box? See if there is anywhere near it that wire runs out of that you can tap into, so that you can just leave the breaker on...

klyph · 11-14-2007, 10:12 PM

Yeah, I guess I could pull the breaker panel and try to tap in a timer there. It'd be nice to mount it on the breaker panel somewhere. Hmm...

ScrapinSTi · 11-15-2007, 10:25 AM

Run some sort of an extension so you can mount it externally... Just make sure the timer you buy is rated for the amperage you need...

klyph · 11-15-2007, 01:33 PM

Right on, temp was -10F this morning, so we're on our way

I'll have to ask the builder where the heat trace was wired in...

11-14-2007, 05:36 PM	#1
klyph Igloo Architect Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Pole, AK Age: 24 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Freezing water line. Ugh, I think my well line is freezing If we're away all day and don't use any water until late at night, the pump will kick on (it's inside the house) but it's not drawing any water and I have to shut it down. It happened last night when we got home late, there were a bunch of dirty dishes, I desperately needed a shower, and I dropped a gnarly dump in the toilet that wouldnt flush because my gf had just flushed before me. I turned the heat trace on the well line last night and this morning it finally started getting water after running for a while. I managed to clear the toxic biohazard that had been stewing in the bathroom overnight, but didnt have time to shower this morning... It worries me because it's only 5 deg F right now and it gets a LOT colder than that (like -40 or worse) I don't want this problem to get worse and bust the water line, but I don't want to have to leave the heat trace on all the time because it uses a lot of electricity. It's usually fine as long as we keep using water, I'm wondering if I should let a faucet trickle a little bit when it gets really cold so that the pump will run periodically... Suggestions?

11-14-2007, 05:39 PM	#2
ScrapinSTi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In Debt. Posts: 240 Rep Power: 2	Put a timer on the heat trace line and turn it on at night when it gets cold for 3-4 hours a day... That, and leave a faucet trickling... When I go out of town during the winter I leave the bathroom faucet (Farthest from the well pump) in a very slow drip just in case...

11-14-2007, 07:01 PM	#3
klyph Igloo Architect Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Pole, AK Age: 24 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Ahh, a timer would be a good idea, I just gotta find where the heat trace is wired in... Do they have electonically controlled valves that I could hook to a timer? I could hook that up to a hose bib in the utility room. I think the heat trace is hard wired (I use the breaker box to turn it on) and would be difficult to put a timer on. Besides, I think that running the well a couple of times a day would use less electricity and it would keep the septic system flowing and unfrozen.

11-14-2007, 07:13 PM	#4
klyph Igloo Architect Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Pole, AK Age: 24 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Gould Solenoid Valves Which of these should I get? I was thinking the type D, (since there's no type R ) I'll be tapping into a standard hose bib, wiring in a timer, then running it straight to a drain. I know it needs to be one that's normally closed, and open when current is applied. but what size? I'm thinking 3/8? what is the standard hose bib threading?

11-14-2007, 09:13 PM	#5
ScrapinSTi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In Debt. Posts: 240 Rep Power: 2	The D type is nice because it has a manual open on it as well... But any one should work.. i would recommend one you can setup to be Normally closed, that way it doesnt stay open if something fails... I would definitely recommend doing something with the heating trace... Your septic won't freeze... I'm not even home alot, and I can usually see a "melting point" over the septic where the pump access is... You would be better off just going with the heating line, as thats what it is for... Where is your breaker box? See if there is anywhere near it that wire runs out of that you can tap into, so that you can just leave the breaker on...

11-14-2007, 10:12 PM	#6
klyph Igloo Architect Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Pole, AK Age: 24 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I guess I could pull the breaker panel and try to tap in a timer there. It'd be nice to mount it on the breaker panel somewhere. Hmm...

11-15-2007, 10:25 AM	#7
ScrapinSTi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In Debt. Posts: 240 Rep Power: 2	Run some sort of an extension so you can mount it externally... Just make sure the timer you buy is rated for the amperage you need...

11-15-2007, 01:33 PM	#8
klyph Igloo Architect Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Pole, AK Age: 24 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Right on, temp was -10F this morning, so we're on our way I'll have to ask the builder where the heat trace was wired in...