Mothballing deep well?

[2manyrocks]

My Mother had to move to assisted living. Since her house isn't being used, I was considering winterizing her pipes and drains, and then shutting off the electricity.

She has a 500' well, however, and that got me thinking that maybe I need to keep the power on and cycle the well pump periodically to keep it from sticking?

Thoughts on this?

 

[Egon]

If the down time is extended why not pull the pump.

 

[Deere Dude]

My Mother had to move to assisted living. Since her house isn't being used, I was considering winterizing her pipes and drains, and then shutting off the electricity.

She has a 500' well, however, and that got me thinking that maybe I need to keep the power on and cycle the well pump periodically to keep it from sticking?

Thoughts on this?

If you winterize your house, every time you run your pump you may un-winterize it, depending on valving situations. Don't want to make that mistake to often.

I was gone for 6 months a year in the winter and I winterized the house with RV antifreeze, insulated a small area where the water heater, softener and pressure tank are located and just run a small electric heater. The water pump breaker was off and never expected it not to start up. It would cost probably $500 to pull the pump and it is below the frost level anyway. It cost us $20 a month to have the electric meter in anyway so it only cost a couple bucks a month extra to keep the utility room above freezing.

If you think the house will be empty for years maybe pulling the pump would be a better option just so you don't have to worry about anything from freezing.

 

[RickB]

I'd not pull the pump, or even consider it. The chances are better that the pump will be serviceable after an indeterminate period of inactivity right where it is than if it was pulled and sitting on a shelf to dry out and corrode. If it could be run periodically, so much the better.

 

[Deere Dude]

I'd not pull the pump, or even consider it. The chances are better that the pump will be serviceable after an indeterminate period of inactivity right where it is than if it was pulled and sitting on a shelf to dry out and corrode. If it could be run periodically, so much the better.

That is right. They are meant to stay in water.

 

[MossRoad]

My Mother had to move to assisted living. Since her house isn't being used, I was considering winterizing her pipes and drains, and then shutting off the electricity.

She has a 500' well, however, and that got me thinking that maybe I need to keep the power on and cycle the well pump periodically to keep it from sticking?

Thoughts on this?

Personally, I would never shut the heat off in an insulated house completely for a long period of time. Moisture will creep in along with mold and mildew. It will end up smelling musty.

Tough decisions as our parents age. Perhaps you could rent out the home until it is determined what the long range plans will be.

 

[MikeInMaine]

My two cents -- that pump is way the heck down there! I wouldn't bother pulling it up; it's meant to live in that environment. I would only pull the pump to replace a faulty one.

Once the well is re-commissioned, be sure to treat it as a new well -- following proper procedures for having it tested.

 

[Egon]

Water and bore hole conditions should be taken into account on how the well is left.

Pump corrosion, chemical deposition is much more probable down hole than sitting on a shelf.

 

[bironacad]

My cottage is winterized but to save $ I would keep the heat at just above freezing but I found that this in itself cost $ as in damage to structure in mold and expansion cracks. A house can change temperature 10-15 degrees on a daily basis when not heated. Keeping a residence at a min temp has reduced maintenance costs and labour for me. I do purge my water lines, pump rv anti freeze through the machines with pumps, dishwasher/wash machine and shut down the water pump. I take these precautions as we can lose our rural hydro for a couple of days at a time. Maybe others could pitch in on their experiences with cold weather winterizing of a residence.

 

[Gator6x4]

Sorry to hear your mother has to move to assisted living. I am sure she will miss her home daily. If I considering mothballing, I would obtain about a half a cup of the Chlorine Well Drillers use when they are finished drilling to treat the well head. I would pour this in the well and run the water for several minutes. You will be able to smell the Chlorine when it is circulating in the water. I would then cut the power then water to the hot water heater. Drain the heater and if possibe use compressed air to blow the water that did not drain out, out. I would then drain the storage tank, all pipes and again use the compressed air to blow water from the pipes. The Chlorine will treat the well and the pipes and prevent algae and bacteria from forming in the water pipes, storage tank and the well. Leave the pump alone, it will be good for years in the well and should start right up when power is reapplied. This way if your mother decides she wants to come home you will be able to restore electrical service, start the pump and flush the system and she will be good to go.