Can frozen pipes cause pump to break?

[Panda]

While we were away, our furnace stoppped running so the house wasn't getting heat. When we got home, we found the furnace off and the pump broken. We have not seen any signs of frozen pipes, yet. But is it possible that we have some broken pipes that we don't know about and that somehow caused the pump to fail?

 

[Valveman]

Broken pipes usually just cause a leak. Pumping against a frozen pipe (no water moving) will destroy the pump.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Panda]

Oh, crap. So maybe we had a frozen pipe somewhere. Is it a for sure that the frozen pipe will also be a broken pipe later? Now that the weather has been thawing during the day, would we be seeing a puddle of water somewhere if there are broken pipes or is it possible that there won't be a sign until we get the well running again?

Why would the pump be pumping against a frozen pipe? If no water is being called for wouldn't it just stay turned off?

 

[Valveman]

The pipe usually freezes between the well and the pressure tank. If the pressure tank and pressure switch doesn't freeze, it will still turn on the pump when some water is used and the pressure drops. Then the pump can't get water to the pressure tank. The pump continues to run for a few minutes, and either the impellers melt together and lock up the pump, or the plastic pipe gets soft and the pump falls off the pipe.

 

[Panda]

Oh, got it. So you are talking about the pipes between the well and the tank not the pipes between the tank and the house freezing. That totally makes sense.

Maybe we are ok, then. Because the tank is in a pit that is never heated. So if the pipes in there froze then we are going to have to think about getting some heat down there in the winter or maybe some insulation around the pipes or something.

 

[Cyber Man]

Broken pipes usually just cause a leak. Pumping against a frozen pipe (no water moving) will destroy the pump.

 

[Cyber Man]

Valveman said:
Broken pipes usually just cause a leak. Pumping against a frozen pipe (no water moving) will destroy the pump.

I believe my pipes froze coming right out of the well. There is zero pressure at the tank and the well was not covered. How long would it take for the pump to be ruined? We noticed it right away, within an hour. It's a brand new 1HP 100 feet deep pump in the well.