Can a frozen pressure switch stop my well from working?

Yes. The pressure switch connects to the system through a small tube that holds very little water, so it often freezes first. When it freezes, the switch cannot sense pressure and the pump may never get the signal to start.

Is it safe to thaw frozen well pipes myself?

You can safely warm the area with indirect heat and use a hair dryer on exposed pipe you can reach. Never use a torch or open flame, and do not open the pressure switch cover or control box. If the frozen section is buried or hard to reach, request service.

Can a frozen well damage my pump?

It can. A pump that keeps running against a frozen line can overheat, and freezing can crack fittings, the pressure switch or an above-ground pump housing. If the pump is running nonstop without delivering water, turn off its breaker and have the system checked.

How can I keep my well from freezing in Idaho Falls?

Keep the well house or pump room above freezing, seal gaps around doors and walls, insulate exposed piping and the pressure tank area, and use heat tape rated for the job on vulnerable pipe sections. Checking the well area before the first cold snap helps catch problems early.

Idaho Falls, Idaho · Bonneville County

Frozen Well Pipes or Pump in Idaho Falls?

Eastern Idaho winters are hard on private well systems. When temperatures drop, exposed piping, the pressure switch and its small sensing tube, and above-ground pumps can freeze and stop water from reaching the house. If your water stopped during a cold snap in Idaho Falls or Bonneville County, follow the safe steps below, then call (208) 751-8885 or send a service request.

Call For Well Pump Help Request Service

(208) 751-8885

Request Well Pump Service

Tell us what's happening with your well system.

Signs Your Well System Has Frozen

Water stopped suddenly after a very cold night
The pressure gauge reads near zero even though the breaker is on
The pump runs nonstop but no water reaches the faucets
The pump will not turn on at all in cold weather
Frost or ice is visible on pipes near the pressure tank or wellhead
Water returns slowly as the day warms up, then stops again at night

What to Do If Your Well Is Frozen

1. Turn off the pump if it is running nonstop. If the pump is running but no water is coming out, switch off its breaker. A pump running against a frozen line can overheat and fail.
2. Find the cold spot. Check the piping between the wellhead, the pressure tank and where the line enters the house. Look closely at the pressure switch and its small tube, which freeze easily.
3. Warm the area gently. Raise the temperature of the well house, crawl space or utility room with safe, indirect heat. A hair dryer can be used on exposed pipe you can reach easily.
4. Open a faucet. Leave a cold water faucet open so you can tell when water starts flowing again.
5. Check for leaks after thawing. Freezing can crack fittings, the pressure switch or the pump housing. Watch for drips or spraying water once things warm up.
6. Request service if water does not return. If you cannot find the frozen section, the line is buried, or anything looks cracked, have a professional inspect the system before running it again.

Pressure tank and well piping in a cold well house in Idaho Falls, ID during winter

What Not to Do

Do not use a torch or any open flame to thaw pipes or well equipment.
Do not open the pressure switch cover or control box. Both contain live voltage.
Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again.
Do not leave a space heater unattended near the well, pressure tank or anything flammable.
Do not run the pump for long periods while the line is still frozen.

Why Wells Freeze in Eastern Idaho

Unheated well houses and pump rooms

A well house without heat, or with gaps around doors and walls, lets cold air reach the tank and piping.

Exposed or shallow piping

Pipe that runs above ground, or line that was not buried deep enough, is the most common place for a freeze.

The pressure switch sensing tube

The pressure switch connects to the system through a small tube or nipple. Because it holds very little water, it often freezes first and stops the pump from starting.

Above-ground jet pumps

Jet pumps sit outside the well, so the pump body itself can freeze and crack if it is in an unheated space.

Power outages during cold weather

When the power goes out in a winter storm, any heat source protecting the well also stops.

How to Prevent Frozen Well Pipes This Winter

Keep the well house, crawl space or pump room above freezing.
Seal gaps, cracks and doors around the well house.
Insulate exposed piping and the area around the pressure tank.
Use heat tape rated for the job on vulnerable sections of pipe, installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Check the well area before the first cold snap and after big storms.
Have an inspection done before winter if your system has frozen in past years. See well inspection.

Frozen Well Help Across Idaho Falls and Eastern Idaho

Homeowners on private wells in Idaho Falls, Ammon, Rigby, Shelley, Firth, Iona, Ucon, Blackfoot and Rexburg can request help here. Rural acreages and farm properties with outbuildings and long pipe runs are especially exposed during cold snaps.

Ammon Rigby Shelley Firth Iona Ucon Blackfoot Rexburg

Frozen Well: Frequently Asked Questions

The most common signs are water stopping suddenly after a very cold night, a pressure gauge reading near zero, and a pump that either runs nonstop without delivering water or will not start at all. Frost on pipes near the pressure tank or wellhead is another clue.

Well Frozen? Request Help Today.

Call (208) 751-8885 or send a service request. Tell us when the water stopped, what the pressure gauge reads and whether the pump is running.

Call For Well Pump Help Request Service

(208) 751-8885