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Posted by FragileWarrior on February 4, 2007, 7:13 pm
> On Sun, 4 Feb 2007 16:48:31 +0000 (UTC), FragileWarrior
>
>>
>>> On Feb 4, 5:33 am, FragileWarrior
>>>> Bear with me here, I might have some of the terminology wrong:
>>>>
>>>> I water my horses from an outside well that's powered by an
>>>> electric pump down in the well. The "pump" that's frozen is the
>>>> pump unit that's at ground level, not the electric one down in the
>>>> well. At least I HOPE it's not the one down in the well...
>>>>
>>>> Normally, when using the water, I hook up the hose to the ground
>>>> level "pump" (I don't know what else to call this part), lift the
>>>> handle up and then flip the switch to start the electric pump and
>>>> pump the water. After I'm done filling the troughs, I put the
>>>> "pump" handle down and shut off the electric.
>>>>
>>>> Yesterday, there was an ice block in the hose so I shut off the
>>>> electric, detached the hose BUT I FORGOT TO PUT THE PUMP HANDLE
>>>> DOWN.
>>>> An hour later, when I got back with the thawed hose, everything at
>>>> the "pump" was frozen solid. The handle is frozen in the up
>>>> position and won't budge. No water will come out when the electric
>>>> pump is on.
>>>>
>>>> I did try to thaw the ground level pump with a small propane torch
>>>> for almost an 45 minutes. I thought the only block must be in the
>>>> top of the ground level pump since no water would have been pushing
>>>> upward from the well without the electric running, right? But I
>>>> had no luck. It did cross my mind that parts that weren't
>>>> receiving direct heat were refreezing faster than I could keep them
>>>> thawed. What do I need to do to thaw this out? We're due to be in
>>>> a deep freeze here for another week at least. Do I need to call in
>>>> professional help? Who do I call? A plumber?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any help and suggestions.
>>>>
>>>> Giselle (obviously a city girl gone bad)
>>>
>>> You apparently have a submersible pump with a ground level
>>> antifreeze spigot, Which drains when you put the handle down, which
>>> you forgotand therefor it froze. You need to just thraw the pipes
>>> out in however manner you can. An electric heater wire made for
>>> just such , might do the trick. But just thaw it out and then
>>> remember to drain that spigot each time you use it, DO YOU HEAR????
>>> Jack
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>If I *EVER* forget to put that handle down again someone should just
>>take me out and shoot me because my brain has obviously seen better
>>days and has turned completely to mush.
>>
>>Here's the latest: I schlepped into town (30 miles round trip) and
>>got two heat lamps. I set up the tent, plugged them in and one didn't
>>work. (I must have broken a mirror recently or something...) I could
>>tell pretty quick that this set-up wasn't going to do much --
>>especially with one lamp -- so when I schlepped back to town, I bought
>>heat tape. I put that on -- six foot of it, spiral around the pipe
>>but not touching itself -- and covered it with two huge pieces of R30
>>insulation. I taped it the best I could (the tape is freezing and not
>>sticking) and then I jammed a plastic garbage can down over the whole
>>set up. I figure I will leave it until tomorrow without undoing it.
>>
>>Thanks to everyone who is replying and trying to suggest ways to help.
>> Strength-wise, I don't have what it takes to remove spigots/piping or
>>other heavy-duty stuff. Until this thaws out, I'll be running out
>>with buckets of water every hour.
>>
>>Thanks everyone.
>
> Be prepared to blast a torch at the soil at the base of the hydrant
> after the top thaws. (Remove heat tape first). Its likely frozen
> under the soil, If you can, take a turkey baster and make a thick
> paste of table salt and water. See if you can inject that into the
> part where the hose connects.
>
> By the way, what state are you in? This midwest cold spell is horrid.
>
>
Central Indiana, and, yes, doesn't it figure that THIS is the first time
I made this mistake??
I'll try the saline injection tomorrow if the heat
tape/insulation/garbage can-shed didn't work.
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