Seasonal Well Problems Around Massillon, and How to Stay Ahead of Them

Winter: freezing and power outages

Freeze-ups are most common where well equipment sits outside a heated space: a pressure tank in an unheated garage or pump house, a shallow line crossing a driveway, or an old well pit. Ice can crack pump housings, split fittings and ruin pressure switches. Jet pumps installed above ground are especially vulnerable.

Winter storms also bring power outages, and a well pump needs electricity. Keep stored water on hand, and if you use a generator, make sure the pump is wired to it safely by a qualified electrician.

• Insulate exposed pipe and the pressure tank area
• Use a thermostatically controlled heat source in pump houses
• Seal drafts around where the line enters the building
• Keep snow on the ground over buried lines instead of clearing it
• Know where your pump breaker is in case you need to shut it off

Spring: high water and flooding

Snowmelt and heavy spring rain raise groundwater and can flood low ground, including areas along the Tuscarawas River valley. If floodwater reaches the top of a well casing or seeps around a loose cap, surface water can enter the well. Treat that water as unsafe until the well has been disinfected and a bacteria test comes back clean.

Flooding can also damage electrical components at the well head and pressure switch. Do not turn the pump back on until the area has dried and the wiring has been checked. After the water recedes, we inspect the equipment, disinfect the system and check that the cap and casing are sound.

Summer: heavy demand and dropping water levels

Long, dry stretches lower the water table, and lawn watering, gardens and pools increase demand at the same time. A pump that kept up easily in May can begin pulling air or sediment by August. Signs include sputtering faucets, cloudy water and a pump that runs much longer than usual.

Spread heavy water use throughout the day, fix running toilets and dripping faucets, and hold off on filling a pool all at once. If the problem returns every summer, the pump may need to be set at a different depth, a dry-run protection device may help, or a different pump may be a better match for your well.

Fall: the best time for a checkup

Autumn is a smart time to have the system looked at, before cold weather makes a failure more painful. We check the pressure tank's air charge, the pressure switch contacts, the check valve and the pump's electrical draw. We also look at the cap, casing and drainage around the well head, and we drain outdoor irrigation pumps for winter.

If you notice pressure problems that could be the well or the house plumbing, our Massillon troubleshooting service covers both. Hard well water is common, and a water softener installation in Massillon can protect fixtures. For underground leaks between the well and house, see our water line repair in Massillon.

How we handle repairs

Every job begins with a free estimate. You approve the specifications, we complete the repair, disinfect components we worked on and finish with a quality inspection. Our well service page for Stark County covers pump types, tanks and treatment options in more detail.