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First Alarm LLC, Seymour, IN (2026)

02/08/2025

Busy week! Unfortunately a frozen pump, frozen gauges on another, compartment lighting with broken wires and some fab work.

01/03/2025

According to the weatherman, we are all about to experience some cold weather that we haven’t seen in many years. Here are a few recommendations that may keep you from damaging your fire pump and related components.

• If it is going to get below 10 degrees, DRAIN YOUR PUMP! I recommend draining your pump a day or two prior to the big freeze to allow for accessory and gauge lines to burp and drain. Assuming your tank to pump and tank fill valves are not leaking; the pump should stay dry. If you do have a fire and need the pump for fire operations, a simple pull of the pump primer will help you bleed the air from the pump for tank water operations. Once the pump and discharges are drained, close the drains to keep them from possibly freezing in the open position. Keep in mind, a wet pump will freeze solid in less than an hour at below 10 degrees. Valves and accessories will freeze in much less time.
• Don’t forget about your pump cooler/recirculation valves. Many trucks have a check valve to keep tank water from back flowing into the pump, but sometimes those valves leak. Some trucks do not have a check valve and if the pump cooler/recirc. valve is open, tank water will freely flow back into the pump after it is drained.
• Open your discharge and intake caps and let them drain. If First Alarm performed your pump PMs this past year, there is no need to add anti-freeze lubricant to the threads, that has already been done.
• Once the cold weather has passed, I recommend transitioning back to a wet pump. A long period of running a dry pump can cause calcium and rust to accumulate. When I say long period, I’m talking months.
• If you choose to stick with a wet pump anytime it’s below freezing, be sure to keep the tank to pump open and tank fill valve partially open while enroute and operate the pump while recirculating water, off idle while on scene.

Stay safe and warm. Any questions please give me a call.