Hinds Well Service LLC

Congratulations to Jose Rocha. He is the recipient of this year's Hinds Well Service Scholarship. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Come out to the Val Verde County 4H Stock Show at the Fairgrounds today. They'll be serving barbecue brisket, pork and lamb at noon.

Dolan Creek, Val Verde County, Texas

Castle Canyon, Val Verde County, Texas

Tips for water well owners during extreme cold:

Wrap exposed pipes, if you can't get the ready made insulation, you can use feed sacks, blankets, pink insulation, etc. If you can't wrap the pipes, lay any of the above materials over the pipes and cover with a tarp. This will help hold the warmth from the ground.

Electric heating tapes work if you have an outlet to plug into. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

If you have a pump house, you can place a heat lamp inside. A regular incandescent bulb will usually keep it warm enough to prevent freezing. Be careful the bulb or lamp is not close to flammable materials. A small space heater is an option.

Probably the easiest thing to do is leave some water running. This will cause the pump to cycle from time to time and bring warm water from the well into the system. If it is cold enough, a trickle may not be enough. Run enough water so your pump comes on several times an hour.

Obviously, during a power outage your only choice is insulation.

If your pipes do freeze, it is best to thaw them with a blow dryer. Using hot water can cause the pipes to crack.

The small tube the pressure switch sits on will often freeze first. If frozen, it will not allow the switch to close and start the pump. You can use a blow dryer to heat the tube.

Stay warm and good luck.

Lowe Estates, Del Rio. Texas

Rough Canyon, Val Verde county, Texas

Another one at Mail Trail