Considering adding a water well on your property? Thinking about purchasing a home that relies on well water?
Before you do either, it’s important to understand just what a water well is and does, its pros and potential cons, and your responsibilities as a well owner. We’ve compiled some helpful information that should provide a lot of answers for you. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and ask!
More Complicated Than Digging a Hole
Some 15 million American homeowners get their water from a well on their land. Private wells offer many benefits over municipal water, but they do require some additional obligations from the owner.
Of those millions of wells across the country, no two are exactly alike. Drilling a water well is a challenging and complex process (see what we mean by watching a few of our videos here) that requires specialized equipment, precision and experience, and a fair amount of patience, too. Although rare in central Indiana, it occasionally takes several drill holes to find a suitable source of groundwater and even then, there’s no guarantee that such a source will be found.
Knowing this before you hire a professional well team will save you a lot of stress and second-guessing down the road.
Pros (and Cons) of Private Water Wells
We mentioned earlier that having your own water well can be far better than relying on a public water source. That’s true! Well water is often cleaner and free of the detergents and harsh chemicals used to treat municipal water. Well owners don’t have to rely on their water utilities to maintain aging infrastructure. And did we mention – no more pesky water bills!
Those are just a few of the many perks, but wells can and do face issues of their own. Some well problems may include:
- Groundwater contamination
- Low water levels
- Fluctuating water pressure at home
- Water that tastes and smells “earthy”
- Well equipment failures
Thankfully, the vast majority of well problems can be prevented in the first place.
- Keep household and agricultural chemicals away from your water source.
- Use your water efficiently and don’t waste it.
- If you have a septic system, be sure to follow suggested maintenance schedules.
- Properly maintain your well and have the components cleaned and inspected on a regular basis.
- And always hire a licensed, insured, and experienced well contractor.
Maintaining Your Water Well
What happens to your vehicle if you never change the oil or replace the battery? It breaks down. Likewise, regular maintenance of your water well is vital and ensures a long, efficient life. Wells don’t require a lot of maintenance. Rather, the key is to keeping up with the maintenance schedule. If you are serious about adding a water well at home, expect to do the following once that well is operational:
- It is recommended you have your well equipment professionally inspected at least once every 3-5 years.
- It is also recommended you clean and sanitize your well annually.
- Test your water source for quality on a regular basis.
- Keep a detailed record of maintenance, testing, and other relevant topics.
Learn More
We hope this article has helped while you consider adding a water well to your home. If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact us! As central Indiana’s most experienced and reputable well contractor, you can count on C&J Well Company to be there every step of the way.
