Hi all:
We have a well in Missouri that serves about a dozen homes.
Our two 86-gallon pressure tanks have been in a cellar for 35 years (tanks are newer tho!). The cellar walls are cinder block and caving in. We are have bids for a) fixing the cellar or b) moving the pressure tanks above ground to a pre-made concrete well house and getting two new 44-gallon tanks.
Both options cost about the same but due to time constraints (we'd like to get 'r done within the month), we are leaning toward the well house.
We are all very nervous about the tanks or some part of that tank system freezing if we bring them above ground. They have never frozen where they are, but the cellar is in such bad shape, we don't think it's wise to wait until spring when we can fix it.
The weather can be bitter cold here and these homes are off by themselves in the woods; it is not uncommon for residents to be snowed in for a week (gravel roads don't get plowed).
The gentleman who gave us the bid on the well house claims the tanks won't freeze in the concrete well house but that just doesn't seem possible, given some of the ice storms we've had here. We are probably overly sensitive -- so here we are, seeking a sanity check from the forum.
What's been the collective experience of the forum with these? Should we be concerned? Are there any measures like heat tape, etc. we should take to minimize the risk? Or are we worrying over nothing? (I should mention the guy who is bidding also grew up in the area and is reputable.)
Thanks for any advice you can offer.
We have a well in Missouri that serves about a dozen homes.
Our two 86-gallon pressure tanks have been in a cellar for 35 years (tanks are newer tho!). The cellar walls are cinder block and caving in. We are have bids for a) fixing the cellar or b) moving the pressure tanks above ground to a pre-made concrete well house and getting two new 44-gallon tanks.
Both options cost about the same but due to time constraints (we'd like to get 'r done within the month), we are leaning toward the well house.
We are all very nervous about the tanks or some part of that tank system freezing if we bring them above ground. They have never frozen where they are, but the cellar is in such bad shape, we don't think it's wise to wait until spring when we can fix it.
The weather can be bitter cold here and these homes are off by themselves in the woods; it is not uncommon for residents to be snowed in for a week (gravel roads don't get plowed).
The gentleman who gave us the bid on the well house claims the tanks won't freeze in the concrete well house but that just doesn't seem possible, given some of the ice storms we've had here. We are probably overly sensitive -- so here we are, seeking a sanity check from the forum.
What's been the collective experience of the forum with these? Should we be concerned? Are there any measures like heat tape, etc. we should take to minimize the risk? Or are we worrying over nothing? (I should mention the guy who is bidding also grew up in the area and is reputable.)
Thanks for any advice you can offer.