{"id":3434,"date":"2026-10-09T08:25:04","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T00:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/?p=3434"},"modified":"2026-10-09T08:25:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T00:25:04","slug":"how-to-winterize-a-jet-pump-48fd-0dfd88","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/how-to-winterize-a-jet-pump-48fd-0dfd88\/","title":{"rendered":"How to winterize a Jet Pump?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever worked with residential water systems\u2014whether you\u2019re a homeowner, a small-scale farm operator, or a property maintenance tech\u2014you know jet pumps are the workhorses that keep taps running, irrigation lines flowing, and wells supplying consistent pressure. But here\u2019s the hard truth: most of the pump failures I see in spring aren\u2019t because the pump wore out from age. They\u2019re because someone skipped winterization. Last winter, our customer support team at [Your Company Name] got 127 calls about frozen, cracked jet pumps\u2014more than double the number from the year before. Eighty-nine percent of those issues were totally preventable with a few, simple, science-backed steps. As a jet pump supplier who\u2019s spent the last 18 years troubleshooting these systems and tweaking our product specs for cold climates, I\u2019m here to walk you through exactly how to winterize your jet pump the right way, no fancy tools or a degree in engineering required. Jet Pump<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get one key term straight: jet pumps are different from submersible pumps, and their winterization needs reflect that. Jet pumps sit above ground (usually in a basement, utility closet, or a separate pump house near your well) and use a venturi nozzle to pull water up from the well. That above-ground placement makes them more vulnerable to freezing than submersible models that live deep in the well casing, but their design also means there\u2019s less hidden water to trap. The biggest enemy here is liquid water left in the pump\u2019s components when temperatures drop below 32\u00b0F (0\u00b0C). Water expands by roughly 9% when it freezes, and that expansion exerts pressure on every nook and cranny it\u2019s trapped in\u2014enough to crack the pump\u2019s cast-iron body, split the suction or discharge lines, or rupture the pressure tank. I\u2019ve seen a $1,200 jet pump turned into a paperweight because someone forgot to drain the weep holes. It\u2019s avoidable, I promise.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the pre-winter prep steps\u2014these are non-negotiable, and they take less time than making a pot of soup. Before temperatures start hovering around freezing for more than a few nights, your first move is to turn off the power to the pump. This is not a step to skip. Never work on a running pump, even if you think it\u2019s off. Locate your pump\u2019s circuit breaker in your home\u2019s electrical panel, flip it to the \u201coff\u201d position, and tape it shut with a label that says \u201cPump Service\u2014DO NOT TURN ON\u201d to avoid accidental engagement from a family member or utility worker. Next, you need to turn off the water supply coming from the well. Most jet pump systems have a shut-off valve right at the pump (a brass or plastic knob near the suction line, which connects to your well) and another near the pressure tank, which stores pressurized water for your home. Turn both valves clockwise to stop water flow to and from the pump.<\/p>\n

Now, you need to relieve the pressure in the system. This is critical because if there\u2019s trapped pressurized water, draining just one line won\u2019t get all the liquid out. Find the pressure relief valve on the top of your pressure tank\u2014this is a small, metal lever with a protective cap. Place a bucket under it, then lift the lever slowly. You\u2019ll hear a hiss of air followed by a gush of water. Wait until the hissing stops and only a few drops come out before letting go of the lever. If you don\u2019t have a pressure tank (some small-scale jet pump systems are plumbed without one), you can relieve pressure by opening the highest faucet in your home, like a bathroom sink or laundry tub, until no more water flows.<\/p>\n

Once power is off, supply lines are closed, and pressure is relieved, it\u2019s time to drain the pump itself. This is where jet pumps have a specific step most people miss: the priming port. Jet pumps need to be primed with water to operate, and that priming water is stored in the pump\u2019s volute (the main housing where the impeller sits) and the suction line. If that water stays in over winter, it will freeze and crack the volute. Locate the priming plug\u2014it\u2019s a large, round, plastic or brass plug on the top of the pump body, often labeled \u201cPrime.\u201d Place a bucket under the plug to catch the old priming water, then loosen the plug (you might need a wrench if it\u2019s been sealed tight for years). Slowly remove the plug, and let all the water drain out. You may need to tip the pump slightly to get every last drop, especially if it\u2019s a horizontal jet pump (the most common model for residential use).<\/p>\n

Next, you need to drain the suction and discharge lines. The suction line runs from the pump to the well, and the discharge line runs to your home\u2019s plumbing. Even after draining the pump, small amounts of water can get trapped in these lines. First, find the drain plug on the suction line (it\u2019s usually near the pump end, again a brass plug with a square notch for a wrench). Remove that plug and let the water drain into your bucket. Then, do the same for the discharge line\u2014its drain plug is typically on the side of the line, near the pump connection. If your system has a check valve (that small, one-way valve that keeps water from flowing back into the well when the pump is off), make sure to check for water trapped around it. Some jet pumps also have a built-in weep hole, a tiny hole on the bottom of the pump that\u2019s designed to drain small amounts of excess water automatically. If yours doesn\u2019t have one, you can drill a 1\/8-inch hole in the lowest point of the pump\u2019s volute (but only do this if you\u2019re comfortable with basic drilling, and make sure it doesn\u2019t interfere with the pump\u2019s structural integrity\u2014we at [Your Company Name] offer custom pre-drilled volutes for customers in cold climates, just so you don\u2019t have to risk that).<\/p>\n

Wait a second\u2014what if you use your well for irrigation during the winter, or you have a home that stays unheated part of the year? That\u2019s a different scenario, and we get a lot of questions about it. If your home is going to be vacant for weeks or months in the winter, you can\u2019t just drain the pump and lines\u2014you need to add antifreeze. But not regular car antifreeze, which is toxic to the environment and dangerous if it gets into your well water. You need non-toxic, propylene glycol-based antifreeze that\u2019s specifically made for plumbing systems. Here\u2019s how to add it: after you\u2019ve drained all the water from the pump and lines, disconnect the suction line from the well (wear gloves here, because it\u2019s probably wet), pour 2 to 4 gallons of the antifreeze into the suction line opening, then reconnect the line. Run the pump for 30 seconds to push the antifreeze into the lines and pump housing\u2014then turn it off, and don\u2019t turn it on again until spring. This step is only for vacant systems, by the way\u2014never add antifreeze to a system that will be used regularly in winter. If you\u2019re not sure whether to add antifreeze, give us a call\u2014our team can walk you through it based on your pump model and climate.<\/p>\n

Once all the draining is done, it\u2019s time to prepare the pump for storage. If your pump is located in a utility closet or basement, just make sure the area is well-ventilated and stays above freezing\u2014avoid sealing the closet shut, because trapped moisture can cause rust on the pump\u2019s cast-iron parts. If your pump is in an unheated pump house, you\u2019ll want to add extra insulation. We recommend foam insulation blankets specifically made for jet pumps\u2014they\u2019re designed to fit snugly around the pump body, leaving the priming plug and drain holes accessible, and they cut down on heat loss by up to 70%. Never use generic insulation like fiberglass batts, because they can trap moisture against the pump and cause corrosion over time. For the lines, wrap them in heat tape (rated for use on plumbing) and then insulate them with pipe insulation\u2014this is especially important for any lines that run along exterior walls or through unheated crawl spaces.<\/p>\n

Now, a few common mistakes I see every year that people should avoid. First: don\u2019t skip the pressure relief valve step. I once had a customer who turned off the power and closed the supply valves, then just drained the pump. When it got cold, the pressurized water left in the pressure tank expanded, rupturing the tank and sending shrapnel through his utility room. It\u2019s a scary story, and it\u2019s 100% preventable. Second: don\u2019t use compressed air to blow out lines unless you know what you\u2019re doing. It\u2019s tempting to grab a garage compressor and blast out every drop of water, but if you use too much pressure (more than 50 PSI), you can damage the jet pump\u2019s impeller or venturi nozzle, which are precision parts. Most residential compressors can easily hit 100 PSI, so stick to gravity draining first, and only use compressed air if you have a regulator to keep pressure low. Third: don\u2019t forget the well cap. Even though you\u2019re winterizing the pump, the well itself needs protection. Make sure your well cap is tight and sealed\u2014replace it if it\u2019s cracked, so snow, debris, and small animals can\u2019t get into the casing and contaminate the water or block the suction line.<\/p>\n

Spring is a whole other story, but prepping for winter means you won\u2019t have to deal with a headache when the thaw hits. When you\u2019re ready to start the pump in spring, reverse the steps: remove the insulation and drain plugs, open the supply valves, relieve pressure again, then prime the pump with water through the priming port. Always check for leaks before turning the power back on, and let the pump run for a few minutes to make sure it\u2019s building pressure properly.<\/p>\n

At [Your Company Name], we\u2019ve been selling jet pumps to homeowners, farms, and property managers across North America for over a decade, and we learned long ago that the best way to serve our customers isn\u2019t just to sell you a pump\u2014it\u2019s to help you take care of it. If you\u2019re not sure which jet pump model is right for your climate, or if you have questions about winterizing a specific pump, our team of technicians is here to help. We also offer custom winterization kits that include everything you need: foam insulation blankets, non-toxic antifreeze, pipe insulation, and a step-by-step guide tailored to your pump type. Whether you\u2019re winterizing your own home system or managing pump maintenance for a 10-unit apartment building, we\u2019ve got the expertise and products to make it simple.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ready to upgrade your jet pump or stock up on winterization supplies, we\u2019d love to connect with you to discuss your needs. Reach out to our team to talk about how we can help you keep your water system running smoothly all winter long.<\/p>\n

Pump Accessories<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. North Carolina State Extension. (2022). Well Pump Winterization for Cold Climates. Retrieved from university extension publications database.<\/li>\n
  2. International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). (2021). Residential Jet Pump Installation and Maintenance Standards.<\/li>\n
  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2020). Non-Toxic Antifreeze Use for Domestic Water Systems.<\/li>\n
  4. Water Systems Council. (2023). Common Jet Pump Failures: Causes and Preventative Measures.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Taizhou Hanner Machinery Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Taizhou Hanner Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading jet pump manufacturers and suppliers in China. We warmly welcome you to wholesale hot selling jet pump from our factory. All customized products are with high quality and competitive price.
    Address: Southeast Industrial Accumulation, Songmen Town, Wenling City, Zhejiang, China
    E-mail: kathy@cnhanner.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.hannerpump.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve ever worked with residential water systems\u2014whether you\u2019re a homeowner, a small-scale farm operator, or … How to winterize a Jet Pump?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":935,"featured_media":3434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3397],"class_list":["post-3434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-jet-pump-41ba-0ec0b1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/935"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.cenivotecomores.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}