Maintaining a reliable and efficient plumbing system is crucial, especially when your water source comes from a well. Well water systems offer many benefits, including independence from municipal water supplies and potentially cleaner water. However, they also come with unique maintenance requirements and challenges.
Thankfully, it’s not impossible to keep your well water plumbing functioning smoothly and avoid disruptive issues. Plenty of helpful resources on home well water systems are available on the internet, and a quick search for a “well water plumber near me” lets you see local experts you can call for help.
To help you get started, let’s delve into how well water systems work, what issues commonly arise with water wells, and how professional plumbers can help you keep your private well in optimal condition.
Understanding Well Water Systems And Their Benefits
Wells are excavations or structures drilled deep underground to access water. An electric or manual pump and pipe are used to pull water from the well, while a screen keeps sand, gravel, and other unwanted particles out.
Installing a water well plumbing system typically entails high upfront costs. However, beyond these initial expenses, well water is more affordable than city water as there are no more monthly bills to worry about.
Having a private well also means having a reliable water source. Natural disasters can affect or cut off a city’s water supply entirely. While these events can also affect wells, the risk is much lower. Emergency plumbing services are also available to help you ensure your well hasn’t been damaged after a flood, hurricane, earthquake, or other disaster.
Maintaining Well Water Systems
Water wells are not simply holes in the ground. As such, keeping your well water system working correctly involves monitoring these three primary factors:
Physical Structure
Preserving the condition of the walls of the well and the water source can prevent large amounts of contaminants like salt, sulfur, iron, or even arsenic from seeping into your well.
Water Composition
While wells benefit from some microbial and mineral content, a low heterotrophic plate count (the amount of bacterial content in your well) is still desirable. Failing to monitor your HPC and clean your well regularly can cause iron, salt, and other substances to build up over time and create hard water.
Well Performance and Water Levels
Well performance, or the rate at which water is pumped, tends to decrease as a water well ages. However, reduced or complete loss of water production can also occur in relatively new wells due to over-pumping or prolonged droughts. Pump damage, casing corrosion, and incrustation from mineral deposits are other causes of reduced well performance.
In addition to paying attention to your well’s production and water levels, hiring expert plumbers to inspect your system is critical in protecting your water well plumbing from issues and damage.
Comparing Well vs. City Water
While many homeowners use water wells because of the lack of municipal resources, some intentionally choose them for their benefits. However, maintaining well systems is starkly different from maintaining a municipal water system.
One significant factor to consider is electricity. Most private wells need electricity to deliver water to homes. During outages, you may not have fresh water on your taps unless you have backup power.
Another thing to mention is that maintaining your well water is entirely your responsibility. While a city is responsible for maintaining municipal water quality, owning a private well puts you in total control of everything, from keeping pollutants away to hiring a water testing service yearly. This also includes replacing your water pumps every decade or as necessary.
Common Issues with Well Water Systems
Even with regular maintenance, wells can suffer from problems. Understanding these common issues can help detect them early and get expert help before they worsen.
- Cloudy Water
High turbidity or cloudiness in your well water may indicate high amounts of clay, silt, sand, and organic and inorganic matter in your water.
Check your well screen for damage if your water looks cloudy or muddy. It’s possible that breaks in it are allowing debris to contaminate your water. Moreover, consider investing in water filters like sediment filters and reverse osmosis filters to keep particles out moving forward.
- Discoloration
Many substances can discolor your water supply. For example, iron bacteria can make your well water black, slimy, and grimy, causing it to stain clothes and create sludge. The system must be shock-chlorinated and treated with chlorine to get it back to normal.
Meanwhile, copper particles can cause water to turn blue or green. While using or drinking water containing copper does not typically cause illness in healthy individuals, high concentrations can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.
- Foul-Tasting or Smelling Water
Natural bacteria, soil changes, or corroded pipes can cause poor-tasting water. On the other hand, nasty-smelling water may result from hydrogen sulfide in the water or pollution from surface runoff.
Check all your taps if you notice something off with your water’s taste or smell. A localized problem likely means the issue lies with the plumbing leading to that particular tap. However, if foul-tasting or smelling water is present throughout your home, stop using it and enlist emergency services to have your water quality checked.
- High Energy Bills
If your utility bills are unexpectedly higher than average, it’s best to have your well pump inspected for issues. A malfunction or pressure switch issue can cause well pumps to run constantly, driving your energy consumption.
4 Reasons To Entrust Well Water Plumbing to Professionals
Some homeowners take the time to learn how to plumb a water well. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to understand how to fix issues with your private well, it helps to remember that well water plumbing is better left to the experts.
- Proper Equipment and Tools
Well water systems often require specialized tools such as pump pullers, pressure gauges, and water quality testing kits. Professionals come equipped with these tools to diagnose your well’s problem and perform efficient repairs accurately.
- Compliance with Regulations
There are health and safety regulations and environmental standards you must abide by as a private well owner. Experts are well-versed in these regulations, so enlisting their help ensures your well water system stays fully compliant.
- Risk Mitigation
Working on well water systems involves dealing with electrical hazards and contamination risks. Professional plumbers are trained to manage these risks safely. They follow safety protocols, such as wearing protective gear and using specialized equipment to repair issues with your system without causing further problems.
- Cost-Effectiveness
While learning how to plumb a water well and doing DIY repairs may seem cost-effective initially, mistakes can lead to further and costlier issues down the road. A professional plumber can accurately diagnose problems and carry out repairs correctly, saving you from additional expenses.
Call Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain for Your Well Water System Maintenance and Repairs
As well water is generally more affordable and reliable than city water, owning private well water systems can bring many benefits to your property. However, maintaining it can be challenging, as you are solely in charge of monitoring its physical structure, water composition, and performance. There are also several issues commonly affecting private wells to watch out for.
However, as your reliable experts, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is here to offer comprehensive residential plumbing solutions. Whether you require a well water inspection or residential water softener installation, we quickly respond to your needs and deliver lasting results. Call us today for same-day service.
