Most frozen wells are really a frozen pipe: in a pump house, a well pit, an unheated crawl space, or a shallow line under a plowed driveway. Turn the pump breaker off if the pump runs with no water, open a faucet, and warm only exposed pipes gently. Never use an open flame. Buried or in-well freezes need a licensed pro.
Updated October 2026
Safety first: well pumps run on 230/240-volt circuits. Don’t open the pressure switch, control box or well cap wiring. Never use a torch, open flame or fuel-burning heater on pipes or in a pump house or pit.
Where wells and lines freeze first
- Pump houses with no heat, or a heater that quit.
- Well pits. Many older pits don’t meet today’s code, and pit or noncompliant wells were the top reason for local replacement wells in DNR records. Don’t climb into a pit; they can trap bad air and water.
- Lines under plowed driveways and shoveled paths. Snow insulates the ground, so frost drives deepest where it’s cleared, especially in a cold winter with little snow.
- Exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages and along outside walls.
Safe steps if you have no water
- If the pump runs but no water comes, turn the pump breaker off.
- Open a faucet near the likely frozen spot.
- Warm the room, or use a hair dryer on exposed pipe. Keep cords away from water and wiring.
- Watch for leaks as it thaws. Frozen pipes can split.
- If nothing changes in a few hours, or the freeze is buried, get help.
Frozen well: likely spots
| Likely cause | What you can safely check | Needs a licensed pro? |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen pipe in the house | Cold room; exposed pipe | Often no, if you can warm it safely |
| Frozen pressure switch tube | Pump won’t start; cold tank area (don’t open the switch) | Yes |
| Frozen line under a driveway | Line runs under a plowed area | Yes |
| Frozen well pit or pump house | Heat source failed | Yes; don’t enter a pit |
| Split pipe after thaw | Water on the floor | Plumber inside; installer before the tank |
Can a well pump freeze?
A pump down in the well sits below the frost, so it rarely freezes. The trouble is usually in the pipe between the well and the house, or in the equipment around the tank.
Before the next cold snap
- Check that pump house heat works.
- Insulate exposed pipes.
- Know where your water line runs, and leave snow on that path when you can.
When you need a licensed professional
- The freeze is buried, in a pit, or at the wellhead.
- The pressure switch or tank area froze.
- Freezing keeps happening.
Wisconsin rules require a DNR-licensed pump installer for pump and pressure-tank work on a drinking-water well; check with DNR if you’re unsure.
