Contractors Get It Done

Posted on: 10 September 2021

Whether you're buying a home with a well for the first time or you've lived on the property for a while but never had the well inspected, it's important for you to consider having a well inspection done. Well inspections are an important safety step, and they should be done once a year for the best possible maintenance and monitoring of your well and the safety of your water. If you've never been through a well inspection, you might wonder what you should expect from this process. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know about your upcoming well inspection.

Well Inspections Start Inside

The first part of your well inspection will actually begin in your home. Your well inspector will inspect your home's water tank and the fixtures and fittings that run to it. The goal is to ensure that everything is in good condition, showing no signs of leaks, wear, or corrosion.

Well Inspections Include The Pump House

If you have an external pump in a pump house, that's the next thing that your well inspector will assess. They will check the pump to ensure that it is in good condition and doesn't need lubrication or service. Then, the inspector will run water in your home to test the pump's cycle and ensure that it is functioning as it should.

Well Inspections Include The Well Itself

The next step of your well inspection involves the well itself. The inspector will evaluate the well cap and risers to be sure that they are secure and in good shape. Any damage will be noted for repair or replacement.

Then, the inspector will test the depth of the well and the diameter to calculate the water storage capacity of the well. Once the storage capacity is determined, the water level will be checked to ensure that you have sufficient water storage for your family's needs.

After the water level is checked, the pump's flow rate and the well's recovery rate will also be assessed. These are important factors because they help to determine if your well and pump are meeting the demands of your family's needs. If the pump isn't flowing sufficiently, you'll find low water pressure periodically. You may need to upgrade the pump for greater flow capacity.

If the well isn't recovering sufficiently, you run the risk of depleting the well's water reserves before it can recover. This could leave you with a dry well or sand, sediment, and other particulates in the pump. Make sure that the well is not only pumping sufficiently but also recovering enough water to keep the well properly supplied.

Well Inspections Wrap Up With Water Testing

A sample of your water will be drawn from the tap in the house to be tested for safety and content. The goal is to identify heavy minerals and other contaminants, including chemicals, volatile compounds, arsenic, radon, and other hazards. You'll be provided with a thorough report that details the tested levels as well as what's deemed safe and acceptable. From there, you may be given recommendations for treating your well water for safety.