Winter poses a significant challenge to water pumps. When temperatures drop, the residual moisture inside the pumps can freeze and expand by up to 9%, causing damage that may result in costly repairs or replacements.
Fortunately, frozen pump issues are one of the easiest to guard against. Understanding how freezing temperatures affect your water pump is crucial for maintaining its performance and longevity.
The Impact of Freezing Temps on Water Pumps
When temperatures drop below freezing point, water trapped inside your water pump expands, hardens, and quietly begins to damage internal components. This can result in several problems, including:
Cracking and Ruptures
Water inside the pump can freeze and expand, building immense pressure that causes cracks and bursts in the housing, valves, pipes, and volute.
Water Pressure Drop
Besides physical damage to the pump’s components, frozen water can also disrupt normal water flow. Ice can block pipes, leading to a sudden drop in water pressure or no water flow at all. Such a scenario is harmful for businesses that heavily rely on consistent water flow, particularly agriculture, food and beverage, textiles, and pharmaceutical industries.
Overworked Water Pump
The winter months often see a surge in demand for water and sewage systems. Water usage can increase during the winter months, resulting in extra workload on your water pumps.
Worn or improperly sized water pumps may start overheating or break down during this season. Additionally, cold temperatures can make water more viscous, making it harder for the pump to move the water.
Corrosion and Rust Buildup
The combination of freezing temperatures, moisture, and outdoor exposure puts water pumps at significant risk of corrosion and rusting. This can weaken key components over time, resulting in leaks and total pump failure.
Maintaining Your Pump for the Cold Months
The best way to deal with winter pump issues is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Instead of looking for expensive pump repair solutions, keep your equipment safe with the following tips:
Drain Your Water Pumps
Businesses that can shut water pump during sub-zero temperatures should properly dry the components before storage to prevent ice formation. Use compressed air to blow remaining water from the lines and add antifreeze as an extra precaution.
Add a Heat Source
Commercial establishments that cannot shut water pumps down can consider using a heat tape, a handy tool that can keep your water pump warm and prevent unwanted freezing.
Use Insulation
Whether the pump remains operational or not during the winter months, adequate insulation matters in protecting it from the cold weather. Heat tracing and wrapping your equipment in foam pipe insulation or bubble wrap can keep it safe from freezing temperatures.
Check the Oil
Inspect how the water pump’s oil performs during the coldest temperature in your region. Certain oils, such as synthetic oils with a lower “W” rating, can flow more easily in the cold.
Pump Up Your Cold Season Prep at Savebarn!
A cracked pump can be a headache for home or business, but there are many ways to mitigate it. Following these simple yet effective cold-weather plumbing steps can save your water pump from winter damage and ensure it still performs smoothly when spring arrives.
If you are looking for reliable water pumps, check out the Savebarn selection. Whether it’s for feeding taps in boats and caravans or handling wastewater out of home or business, our range of water pumps is suitable for a wide variety of needs.
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Visit our website to invest in high-quality products at amazing rates. You may also use our Store Finder to locate the nearest branch in your area.
References:
https://www.h2oflowtech.co.uk/post/what-can-cause-water-pump-failure-in-the-winter-months
