Preparing Your Pump for Winter

Every January we receive pumps that died the same death: frost. Water expands when it freezes, and a pump casing full of water in a cold snap becomes a cracked pump casing. No warranty fixes physics.

If your pump is outdoors or in an unheated space, fifteen minutes of autumn work prevents it:

  • Switch off the power and close the suction and discharge valves.
  • Remove the drain plugs at the bottom of the casing and let it empty fully.
  • Drain the suction line if water can sit in it.
  • If the pump stays in service through winter, insulate the casing and pipework, and never let it run dry to "keep it warm".

A submersible below the frost line needs none of this. A surface pump in a shed needs all of it. Which one you have decides how much winter can hurt you.

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S
Solanzo
Solanzo Engineering & Editorial Team