In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the factors at play when deciding whether to turn off your water well pump when leaving town for a trip or vacation. There are a few important variables to consider here, from the length of your trip to your plans with the home’s HVAC system and the time of year, with the goal of keeping the pump and other well components in great working order.
At Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC, we’re happy to provide a variety of water well services, from well drilling and installation to well rehabilitation and repair – and we’re also here to offer expertise on numerous well-related questions like this one. Here are some of the primary benefits of turning off the well pump during a trip or vacation you’re taking, plus some basic steps on how to do this if you’ve decided it’s the prudent course of action.
Preventing Unit Damage Risks
Particularly when it comes to longer trips you plan to take, you should be wary of the potential for minor issues with the well pump that will simply sit and fester if you’re away. The most common such issue is some kind of electrical problem such as a surge, which can impact the well pump in several ways – but if you’re away for weeks and the pump is left on, it will continue to experience issues until you return.
This is simply a preventive perspective: For such trips, it’s generally better to avoid these risks and turn the pump off. Just in case anything happens with a related system, whether it’s the electrical system, HVAC components or others, the pump is not at risk.
Water Damage and Health Risks
As we touched on in part one, one of the primary risks associated with the water pump and water system during a trip, especially one during colder weather, is frozen pipes and related bursting issues. These lead to flooding and serious water damage in some cases, which in turn risks exposure to bacteria, viruses and other contaminants from water that stagnates in various parts of the home.
If you turn the pump off ahead of a cold-weather trip, however, this risk is heavily reduced or even eliminated altogether. Especially if you plan to turn off the HVAC system during such a vacation, the pump should be turned off as well.
How to Turn Off Your Water Well Pump
If you’ve decided to turn off the well pump for a trip, doing so is easy enough. Simply head to the electrical panel in your home and turn off the breaker that connects to your well pump system. Some will also cut the power to their water heater as well, helping prevent a broken water line from attempting to pull water from it. If you have any questions or concerns about turning off the pump, contact our team.
For more on whether or not to turn off your water well pump when leaving on a trip, or to learn about any of our water well services, speak to the staff at Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC today.
