Water is essential for daily living. You use it every day and probably don’t think about it. You use water to clean your dishes, wash your clothes, and cook your food. The toilet and shower rely on water. Most importantly, you drink water daily. Because of water’s importance for daily living, every homeowner needs to be protective of their water supply. Well owners need to proactively pay attention to their water supply. Every well owner should be aware of their well pump location, professional well inspectors, and pay attention to the quality of their water. This Well Water 101 Guide will discuss some specific things well owners should pay attention to.
Check the well cap
The well cap sits on top of the well casing. The casing which is the round tube coming out of the ground. The visible part of the well consists of the plastic cap and metal well casing. There is an opening in the cap used to equalize the wells pressure.
Look for cracks in the cap. Look to see that the cap is attached securely to the casing. Observe the condition of the visible seals around the well cap. If you observe problems with the cap you should contact Master Plumbing to have a professional investigate.
Electrical conduit
Some wells have an electrical conduit visible on the outside of the casing and cap. The electric conduit conducts power to your well. You should visually inspect the electrical conduit. This might be as simple as making sure that any visible wires look neat and have no exposed metal. If the wires are contained in a metal box, look to see that the shield has no gaps exposing the wires.
Make sure there are no signs of corrosion. Corroded wires will be discolored. Corroded junctions will be rough and uneven. Lastly, make sure there are no burned electrical scents.
Check the well cap vent
On top of the well casing is the well cap. Somewhere on the well cap is the well vent. The vent is used to let the well breathe. If the well cap vent becomes blocked then the well can’t let gas escape as the water column rises. Check for debris like leaves, dirt, insects and animals. You should be able to clear the debris around your filter. If you can’t clear the debris call Master Plumbing and let a professional deal with it.
Water quality and taste
According to Wellowner.org you should take note of the following qualities in your water:
- If you experience taste or odor problems
- If you experience turbidity—cloudiness of water caused by presence of suspended matter
- If there is a loss of capacity or pressure—the well is not producing as much water as before, the pressure drops and surges, or the pump cycles on and off frequently
The importance of water for daily living can not be understated. Your family uses water everyday. You can protect your water supply by proactively checking your well pump and being aware of your water quality.
Keep this Well Water 101 Guide handy and if you observe problems with your well call us and we will send out our professionals. We will make sure your well works so you can get the quality water you deserve. Well problems can be costly if not fixed swiftly.
