View Full Version : Well problem no water
cookingsnow
Feb 22, 2014, 10:11 AM
The temps have been very cold. There was water two days ago and at the coldest days with windchill of -55F. So it is now at -21F in Iowa. The heat lamp is secure and the temp in the pit for the pressure tank is at 40F. The pressure switch has been changed, but shuts itself off. There is no water in the pressure tank. This leaves us wondering if there is any water in the well due to ground water possibly being frozen. The well's depth is 65F. The well pump is only a few months old as is the pressure tank and the pressure switch was the same age as the rest. The pressure tank is completely empty. Could it be that we simply have to wait for it to thaw?
Also would like to add that there is pressure of 40 pounds in the pressure tank
A week later we finally were able to get water to enter the pressure tank and the pressure tank is now full with 90 pounds of pressure. We have heated the lines, but not all are metal, some are pvc, and some are rubber leading into the house.
The pump is working fine in fact it sprayed the crew with water when they changed out the pressure switch. No water coming to house now from pressure tank.
hkstroud
Feb 22, 2014, 02:52 PM
the pressure tank is now full with 90 pounds of pressureYou have a frozen line (or some other kind of blockage) between the tank and the house.I am assuming that the pressures readings are from the pressure gauge and not from the precharge valve stem and that the reading is steady. If the pressure reading fluctuates between the cut on and cut off pressures you have a busted pipe between the tank and the house.
ma0641
Feb 22, 2014, 04:10 PM
Promise you the ground water, particularly at 65 ft. or so , is not frozen. Like Harold, I suspect a frozen line between the tank and house.
jlisenbe
Feb 22, 2014, 07:37 PM
Also would like to add that there is pressure of 40 pounds in the pressure tank
A week later we finally were able to get water to enter the pressure tank and the pressure tank is now full with 90 pounds of pressure.
Shouldn't have 90 psi in the tank. Switch is not working properly, or someone has way over-charged the tank pressure. This is not the cause of you not having water, but it does need to be addressed.
cookingsnow
Feb 24, 2014, 03:13 PM
There is no gauge at all on the pressure tank, it is by tire pressure gauge reading that we are obtaining the reading. Have not checked the pressure today, but has been maintaining the pressure for a few days. The 90 psi is with water in the tank and the reading being before the tank had water at 40 psi. Others in the area have over 200 feet of ice obstructing their pipes as well. Plumbers have no solutions. I am just too stubborn to wait until Spring. I grew up with no running water and so I just don't like it ;) If I have to wait, I have to wait. I am checking into a product called Liqui-fire, it is created to thaw piping. Liqui-Fire How to thaw a frozen water pipes - drains - Sewers - underground or in walls (http://www.woodsmansinternational.com/liquifire.htm)
I have called every True Value in Iowa and Wisconsin. They all carry the bottle of Liqui Fire for the drain and septic tank, but not for the well. I have to order it online. I am going to try it, at this point I have ran out of ideas.
hkstroud
Feb 24, 2014, 06:12 PM
You didn't read my assumptions, did you?
Put a pressure gauge on you tank or well pipe so you know what is going on.
I have no idea what Liqui-fire is, but it would have to be some kind of anti-freeze. You are going to put that in your dinking water?