What should I do while I wait for you?

Turn off power to the well pump at the breaker so it doesn't burn itself out running against a frozen line. Open the faucet closest to where the line enters the house so melting water and pressure can escape. Never use an open flame or torch. Use gentle heat only on indoor, exposed pipe - never on the buried line. Keep the house warm and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls.

Has my frozen line already burst?

In most cases, no. A frozen well line usually means an ice blockage, not a burst pipe - the classic sign is no water at the faucet while the pump still runs. We can usually get you flowing again the same day without your line being damaged.

Can you fix it the same day?

In most cases, yes. Our thawing machine works from inside the buried pipe, so we can get you flowing again the same day, cleanly, and without tearing up your frozen yard.

Why not just use a space heater or torch?

A space heater or hair dryer only helps on indoor, exposed pipe you can reach - it can't thaw the buried line where the blockage usually is. An open flame or torch can crack the line or start a fire. The frozen section underground needs the right equipment, which is what we bring.

Frozen Line Repair & Prevention

Q: How do you thaw a frozen well line?

We use a custom-built thawing machine made specifically for private well lines that melts the ice from inside the buried pipe - no digging, no guesswork, no waiting for spring. It is the fastest, cleanest way to thaw an underground line, and almost no one else in the Hudson Valley has one.

When the Water Stops in Winter – We Bring It Back Fast

Kappus Well Pump & Water System Services "The Pump Man" can help with frozen systems
It always happens during the coldest week of the year: you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out, while the pump still hums in the basement. That is the classic sign of a frozen well line – the underground pipe that carries water from your well into your house has an ice blockage. The good news: in most cases the pipe has not burst, and The Pump Man can get you flowing again the same day, cleanly, and without tearing up your frozen yard.
Most companies can only offer a space heater, a hair dryer, or a shovel. We built something better. We use a custom-built thawing machine made specifically for private well lines that melts the ice from inside the buried pipe – no digging, no guesswork, no waiting for spring. It is the fastest, cleanest way to thaw an underground line, and almost no one else in the Hudson Valley has one.

Frozen Right Now? Do This First

While you wait for us, these steps lower the risk of a burst pipe:

Turn off power to the well pump at the breaker. A pump running against a frozen line can burn itself out.
Open the faucet closest to where the line enters the house. As the ice melts, water and pressure can escape instead of building up and bursting the pipe.
Never use an open flame or torch to thaw a pipe – it can crack the line or start a fire.
Gentle heat only on indoor, exposed pipe – a space heater or hair dryer is fine on sections you can reach, never on the buried line.
Keep the house warm and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls.

Then call The Pump Man. We will handle the part you cannot – the frozen line buried underground.

Frozen Well Line? We Thaw It Same Day.

Forget the space heater and shovel. Our custom-built thawing machine melts the ice from inside the buried pipe – no digging, no waiting for spring. Almost no one else in the Hudson Valley has one.

Call 845-528-2929

Non-emergency? Request an appointment

Signs Your Well Line May Be Frozen:

No water flow – but the pump still runs
Water flow suddenly stops overnight during a cold snap
Low pressure after cold exposure
Frost or ice near the pressure tank or well entry point
You had a past freeze and never upgraded the line

The Thawing Machine Nobody Else Has

Here is the difference between us and everyone else. A hair dryer or heat tape can only reach the few feet of pipe you can see indoors. The freeze that actually shuts off your water is almost always in the buried section of line outside – and you cannot reach that with a hair dryer, and you should never dig it up in frozen ground.

We use a custom-built thawing machine designed specifically for private well lines. It feeds heat into the pipe and melts the blockage from the inside out – even when the ice is deep underground – and restores your water without excavation. Faster than digging, safer than open flame, and it solves the freeze that plumbers and DIY fixes simply can’t reach. In most cases your water is back the same day.

Why Lines Freeze (and How to Prevent It)

In the Hudson Valley, the frost line runs roughly 3 to 4 feet deep, and our worst freeze-ups hit when a hard cold snap follows a stretch of little water use. A water line buried shallower than that frost line – or exposed to cold air where it enters the house – is the first thing to freeze. It is also why the same homes tend to freeze winter after winter until the real weak point gets fixed.

Most frozen lines around here are caused by:

• Shallow pipe burial (less than 3-4 feet, above our frost line)
– Cold air drafts running down the foundation during deep cold
– Cracked or collapsed insulation around entry points
– Broken heat tape or disconnected thermostats
– Wind chill entering through foundations or conduit sleeves
– Long stretches with no water running, so still water sits and freezes

Our team inspects your system, identifies the weak points, and gives you a repair and prevention plan so you don’t end up in the same situation again next year.

In-Line Heat Cable Installation (No Digging Required)

For long-term freeze protection, we offer an in-pipe electric heat cable that runs inside your existing well line – no digging or excavation needed. It keeps the pipe warm from the inside during cold weather and is perfect for shallow or problem-prone systems.

Key Benefits:

• Installed inside your existing pipe – no trenching required
• Thermostat-controlled, activates only when needed
• Prevents freezing through the entire buried section
• Ideal for homes with shallow lines or repeat freeze issues

What’s Included:

• Site evaluation and access assessment
• Use of our custom well line thawing machine
• Pressure test after thaw
• Optional line replacement or heat trace installation
• Freeze risk assessment for future protection
• Emergency winterization tips and recommendations

“We Haven’t Found a Line We Couldn’t Thaw”

With our custom-built in-house thawing machine, we’ve restored water to homes across the Hudson Valley during ice storms, deep freezes, and power outages – and we’ve helped many of those same homeowners avoid repeat emergencies by fixing the real problem instead of just thawing the line and walking away.

Don’t Wait for It to Freeze Again!

If your line froze once, it will likely freeze again. Let The Pump Man inspect your system and recommend the right fix – whether it’s insulation, heat tape, or a full well line replacement set below the frost line so it stops happening for good.

Call Now or Request Service Online

Call The Pump Man Request Service Online

Need Frozen Line Help Now?

Call us immediately for emergency thawing – or schedule a freeze prevention assessment before the next deep cold arrives.

Frozen Well Line Repair – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my well line is frozen?

The most common sign is sudden loss of water during a cold snap while the pump still runs. You may also notice low pressure after cold exposure, or frost and ice near the pressure tank or where the line enters the house. If your water stopped overnight in freezing weather, a frozen line is the likely cause.

Can I thaw a frozen well line myself?

Sometimes. If the frozen spot is an exposed indoor pipe in a basement, crawlspace, or where the line enters the house, you can often thaw it safely with a space heater or hair dryer – with a faucet open and the pump powered off. What you cannot safely thaw yourself is the buried section of line outside. A hair dryer will not reach it, an open flame can crack the pipe or start a fire, and a pump left running against a frozen line can burn out. That underground freeze is exactly what our custom thawing machine is built for. When in doubt, shut the pump off, open a faucet, and call us.

Can you thaw a frozen line without digging up my yard?

Yes. We use a custom-built thawing machine designed for private water lines that safely melts the blockage from inside the pipe – even underground – without full excavation. In most cases we restore water with no digging.

How fast can you get my water back on?

Frozen lines are an emergency and we treat them that way. In most cases we thaw the line and restore water the same day. Call us as soon as you lose water – the longer a line stays frozen, the higher the risk of a burst pipe.

Why does my well line keep freezing?

Most frozen lines come down to shallow pipe burial (less than 3 to 4 feet, above the Hudson Valley frost line), cold air drafts, cracked or missing insulation around entry points, or broken heat tape and disconnected thermostats. We inspect your system, find the weak point, and give you a plan so it does not happen again.

How can I prevent my line from freezing in the future?

Depending on your setup, options include an in-line electric heat cable that warms the pipe from the inside with no digging, added insulation, or in some cases replacing or reburying a shallow line below the frost line. We assess your line and recommend the right long-term fix.