Winter is one of the best times to perform preventive well maintenance. We recommend that our clients book their winter checkups before the first freeze, which protects your well system equipment and saves you money over time. Preventive care helps protect your well system equipment, prevents water damage, and could prevent an emergency water outage or a loss of service. This article will show you how to avoid these problems by providing tips on what to do during winter well maintenance. We will go over why you should invest in preventive care and what steps you can take to ensure exceptional performance from your private water well system.
Preventive well maintenance protects your money over time
Well maintenance is an important part of maintaining a healthy, functioning well. It can be difficult to know how to maintain your well properly, so here are some tips and guidelines that will help you ensure that your water source is in good working order:
- Preventive well maintenance saves you money by preventing costly repairs and replacements. The cost of replacing a broken pump or a contaminated supply line can easily run into thousands of dollars—not counting the extra money spent on bottled water for family members who don’t want to drink from their taps. Preventive maintenance helps keep wells running smoothly and efficiently, performing as expected when needed most.
- Properly maintained well components are also less likely to fail than others without regular upkeep checks. This means fewer trips out into bad winter weather conditions or getting up early on weekends if it’s not an emergency.
Make sure the water flow is appropriate for your needs
Before considering well maintenance, you need to know how much water your family uses and your well’s production. Then you can determine if the water flow rate is appropriate for your needs.
First, check the GPM (gallons per minute) on your well pump packaging. This number shows how much water it can pump out at full capacity. Next, check how many gallons are needed for each function in your home daily—if multiple people stay in one household, make sure to multiply by their numbers as well! Once you have these two figures, calculate how long it would take a certain amount of time with that exact speed before considering any other factors, such as whether there’s anyone else using other appliances like washing machines or dishwashers while simultaneously running outside sprinklers while trying not to flood everyone’s basement—which could happen if there’s too much pressure causing excess liquid being pushed out through pipes faster than usual.
Check your well water for bacteria
Bacteria continue to flourish during colder months. This is why you must do a winter well maintenance checkup and ensure your plumbing system is working properly. If you suspect bacteria in the water, there are several things you can do about it. Check for signs of bacterial growth around faucets or pipes by taking off their caps and inspecting them closely. Suppose there are any signs of contamination (such as white or greenish slime). In that case, it’s best to contact a professional immediately so they can clean up your system before further harm is done to anyone using the water supply inside their home or business building.
Analyze the pressure switch settings
Next, you’ll want to analyze the pressure switch settings. Your water system and its capacity determine the correct pressure settings. You can find these specifications in your owner’s manual. If you need help locating this information, ask a professional or contact the manufacturer of your well pump or pressure tank.
Examine the water piping for leaks
To examine the water piping, look around your home for wet spots on the ground, foundation, basement walls, and floor of your house. You can also check for leaks in your plumbing system by monitoring how much water you use daily. If you notice that you’re using more than usual or find some unexplained soggy areas around your house (like under a washer or dryer), you may have a leaky pipe somewhere that needs to be addressed.
Maintain the proper pressure tank PSI
Pressure tanks are an important part of your water system. They maintain water pressure in your home and help eliminate sudden changes in pressure, which could cause damage to pipes and well components. An over-pressurized or under-pressurized tank can lead to several issues with your water system:
If the PSI is too low, you may experience water loss because of backflow into the faucets or shower heads when there is no demand. This can also lead to premature wear and tear on the system’s pumps, valves, and other equipment. If the PSI is too high, you may experience water hammering from sudden atmospheric pressure changes when using appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines while taking showers or baths simultaneously. If left unchecked, it can result in burst pipes or ruptured fittings due to excessive vibration caused by these sudden changes.
Monitor well pump performance by checking amps/ohms
You can check the amps and ohms to monitor your well pump’s performance. This test measures the electrical current and resistance in a circuit. It is also known as Ohm’s Law, which calculates power or wattage by measuring resistance and current through an electrical circuit. Abnormal readings could indicate a larger problem with your well pump.
C&J Well Company can check all of these things during our six-point inspection
We’ll check all these things when you call C&J Well Company during our six-point inspection. We’ll do it in a friendly, professional manner and help you understand exactly what’s going on with your water well and how to keep it safe from freezing or failing. If there are concerns about the integrity of your well or if it’s time for maintenance, we can help.
We’ve only scratched the surface of what can be included in your winter well maintenance service, but these are some of the most important things to look at. If you’re looking for a company that offers complete well maintenance services from start to finish, contact C&J Well Company today!
