11/25/2025
When temperatures drop, water inside your pump and piping can freeze, causing serious damage like cracked housings, broken components, and expensive repairs. Winterizing your pump prevents these issues, extends its lifespan, and ensures it’s ready to work when spring arrives.
In this post, we’ll show you simple steps to protect your pump all winter long. Don’t let freezing weather catch you off guard!
Follow this Steps for Winterizing Your Above-Ground Pump:
Disconnect the Power Supply
Always start by turning off and disconnecting the pump from power.
Drain All Water
Remove the drain plug
If there’s a ball valve on the discharge pipe, keep it open.
Open the farthest outlet from the pump to allow water to drain from the pipe.
Remove the Priming Plug
If you don’t need to drain the pipe, remove the priming plug (see Fig. 2) to let water escape from the pump housing. Use compressed air if needed to remove excess water.
Disconnect Suction Line
For shallow or deep well jet pumps, or pumps with a check/foot valve, disconnect and drain the suction line.
Blow Out Water Lines
Use an air compressor to clear any water from lines exposed to freezing temperatures.
Add Antifreeze (Optional)
If the pump will remain in place, fill the housing with food-grade glycol (propylene glycol)—safe for potable water systems.
Before Restarting in Spring
Drain all glycol from the pump housing and follow your standard priming procedure before returning the pump to service.
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