Well Inspection Guide: What It is and Its Relevance in Households

A well as a primary source of water has many benefits for households. Firstly, you do not need to pay water bills any longer. Secondly and last, expect thirst-quenching, safe, and mineral-rich water from it.

However, precaution should come first before enjoying these perks. Testing the well water is a must. Hence, before deciding to buy a home with a private well, these are the most crucial things you need to know about well inspection services to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones’ health and lives.

Understanding Well Inspection

Getting a well inspection is necessary for purchasing homes with wells as their primary water source. A professional will conduct a set of tests to understand the well’s water quality and quantity. Such is crucial to protect the inhabitants against any health hazard present in the water, especially pathogens, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Besides, it gives homeowners the idea of the well’s capacity to hold water, enough to supply the household.

Aside from checking the overall water’s characteristics, the licensed inspector will also look if the well meets regulatory criteria established by each state. Generally, the professional will check if the well is in the right location and with no damaged parts. 

When Do You Need It?

Unlike their urbanized counterparts, many rural areas have no public water services. You will most likely do the plumbing chore when something goes wrong, including repairing and adding filtration systems. A well inspection is also needed.

With most states requiring an inspection, buyers can never skip this process. It sounds like spending money but has many pros in return. However, inspection helps you save time, energy, and dollars on the brighter side of things. For example, you can reconsider your purchase if the well water system needs extensive repairs or the water is not safe for consumption. Negotiation for a lower deal may also come in the process. Expect to live in a home with safe water to drink or use whatever the choice is.

Moreover, a well inspection should occur at least once a year to keep your water safe, and the well remains functional. It is not a one-time thing.

Researching may also be beneficial on your part. Be knowledgeable of the area’s groundwater where you are about to buy land with a well. Either of the following may suffice:

• Look for present water issues via the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
• Talk with your neighbors if there are problems; or
• Ask your real estate agents about it.

Two Main Types of Tests Conducted

Inspecting the well’s water comes in testing water purity and water quantity.

Water Purity: An inspection test for water purity and safety details the elements and nature of the water found in the well, including the passing limit for each. The PH levels, hardness, alkalinity, and turbidity get tested for the water’s cloudiness or clarity measure. 

The laboratory will also examine the mineral content, typically iron, calcium, chloride, fluoride, copper, and manganese. These minerals make water healthy, nutrition-packed, and taste good.

The well inspection will also assess and evaluate the existence (if there is) of coliform bacteria and the severely huge hazard in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are man-made chemicals; MtBE, benzene, other gasoline compounds, and chloroforms.

Water Quantity: A home should have at least 100-120 gallons of water per person a day on average. The water quantity test executed by the well inspector will measure if the well can provide a six to 12 gallon per minute flow rate. Like the water purity evaluation, the volume of the water coming from the well is also crucial as you do not want to leave the shower with unwashed shampoo on your head or for other purposes like cooking and gardening.

On inspection day, the expert may check your pressure tank to look for rusting, leakages, and other mechanical defects that can lower water pressure or lead to contamination.

How Much Does It Cost?

Seeking professional help means asking yourself, “how much is a well inspection?” 

An inspection is worth 300-500 dollars on average, but rates vary for each inspector. With most well evaluations in rural areas, a professional may charge you for the travel fee. There are also lab expenses amounting to 100-300 dollars.

Given its significance when using a private well, septic systems need checking too. Inspecting the well and the septic tank plays a vital role in ensuring the functionality of both. Its costs are between 400 to 650 dollars. 

All inspection costs are on the shoulder of the buyer, but without such, it compromises water safety.

Its Benefits

A well inspection is necessary given the following advantages it brings to the table:

• Safety from Health Risks: Whether your state requires it or not, investing in inspection keeps your water safe from all kinds of elements, including chemicals and microbes. In this way, you can use the well’s water for drinking and other daily activities.
• Managing Finances: Learning the well’s age and amount of water it produces from an inspector can help you plan for future maintenance costs, especially if the source is already 15 years or older.
• Securing Worthy Real Estate Deals. A skillful realtor can inform you about the current water issues in the rural area where you plan to buy a home. In this way, you can close a deal fairly and transparently with the assistance of a trusted well inspector.

For high-quality well inspection, contact Foster’s Pumps Inc. by calling us at (209) 667-5454 or (209) 667-6666 in fax, or send us an email at fosterspumpinc@gmail.com, or through our contact page.