Advice for energy efficient quick fix heat for pump house before winter

Need some advice.
I have an old not very well insulated pump house, last winter I used 2 large heat lamps to keep the tanks from freezing..... But the electric bill was really high. I am on a mission of updating a few things to cut my monthly cost. I welcome any and all ideas on ways to heat the pump house so I have water all winter. I can't do major jobs like re insulating. I am alone and have no help with to many chores before winter. I need a quick fix before this fall. I will most likely re insulate next year. I'm new to living in winter conditions. This will be my 3rd winter last  winter it got down to -19 Thanks in advance.

Do you need to heat the pump house, or just the pipes? If the latter, have you looked at wrapping the pipes with heat tape? Probably far more efficient than lamps.

Phil Stevens wrote:Do you need to heat the pump house, or just the pipes? If the latter, have you looked at wrapping the pipes with heat tape? Probably far more efficient than lamps.

I need to heat the pump house.

Is it the tanks that need to be kept above freezing? You can use a submersible element with a thermostat that only comes on when it needs to. I have a feeling that if you directly heat the equipment and not the air in an uninsulated building you'll be better off.

19

Phil Stevens wrote:Is it the tanks that need to be kept above freezing? You can use a submersible element with a thermostat that only comes on when it needs to. I have a feeling that if you directly heat the equipment and not the air in an uninsulated building you'll be better off.

I'm not sure, I am new to this winter and well water stuff. I moved from the city, with no snow. Inside the pump house is a tank, pump and some pipes. I think all of it needs to be kept from freezing. The room is kind of insulated, just old and falling apart. 1979 insulation and squirrel eaten.  I was thinking maybe surrounding the outside with hay bales. Then putting up more insulation if I can, some spray gap fill stuff. And maybe a space heater low watt one with a thermostat? But I would love a more off grid way to do it. I don't even know what strength insulation I need.

Opal-Lia Palmer wrote: Inside the pump house is a tank, pump and some pipes. I think all of it needs to be kept from freezing. The room is kind of insulated, just old and falling apart. 1979 insulation and squirrel eaten.  I was thinking maybe surrounding the outside with hay bales. Then putting up more insulation if I can, some spray gap fill stuff. And maybe a space heater low watt one with a thermostat? But I would love a more off grid way to do it. I don't even know what strength insulation I need.

I like the idea of using hay bales, filling in all the gaps, and using a heater with a thermostat.

I feel the hay bales will really reduce the cost of the electric bill and the heater with a thermostat can be set at about 50 degrees, just enough to keep everything from freezing.

Edit to say: A solar panel with a battery might also be able to run the heater.  I say maybe because I don't know the voltages needed to run a heater, and the available sun factor.

Just like putting lights on a Christmas tree…I’m thinking I would measure how long the heat tape needs to be. About 1 foot of tape per foot length of narrow pipe.  If it’s something larger like a pump or tank, say 1 foot of tape per square foot of surface area (In other words nominally 1 foot spacing of tape wrap). Assuming the tape produces 5 watts of heat per foot, I figure it would need at least R-3, or about 1” thick insulation. Your insulation and your money will go a lot further if you insulate the pipe itself rather than the whole building (you can always do that next year if you want).  The insulation material could be almost anything but preferably non-flammable and rodent resistant.  Furry friends will try to burrow into the warm blanket, so wrapping the insulation with something chew-resistant like chicken wire or sheet metal might help. You can do it!  Ask us if you have questions.

I suspect insulation will cost less than your current heating bill.  How big is the pump house?  

John F Dean wrote:I suspect insulation will cost less than your current heating bill.  How big is the pump house?  

Maybe 4x6 by 6' tall.

Opal-Lia Palmer wrote:  Inside the pump house is a tank, pump and some pipes. I think all of it needs to be kept from freezing. The room is kind of insulated, just old and falling apart. 1979 insulation and squirrel eaten.  I was thinking maybe surrounding the outside with hay bales. Then putting up more insulation if I can, some spray gap fill stuff. And maybe a space heater low watt one with a thermostat? But I would love a more off grid way to do it. I don't even know what strength insulation I need.

I agree, it all needs to be kept from freezing. Temperatures of -19F / -28C are enough to split pipes and tanks if they freeze.

I think you're on the right track about repairing and adding insulation, inside and out. It also helps to wrap the building with tarps to limit air movement in or out.

You will need a heat source as well. As you suggest, it's better if it's thermostatically controlled. A couple of old school incandescents could be on all the time, with a space heater on a thermostat to kick in more heat when needed.

I'm not sure heat tracing by itself will be enough when you get the extreme low temperatures. If you go that route, wrap the heat traced pipes with an insulating wrap. That's standard practice in industry.

FWIW, insulation is often free for the taking. People offer clean insulation from reno projects. Try Craigslist, Kijiji, Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace.

I would seal and insulate. Lots of insulation. You may want to install a thermometer that you can read remotely from your house. With adequate insulation, it should take minimal heat.

Opal-Lia Palmer, can you post a few photos of the interior of your well shed?