Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Home With a Well

The majority of Americans get their water supply from public water systems. The rest of us use water from a well. Wells are most commonly found on properties in rural areas. They are also popular among eco-friendly homeowners and those living in off-grid homes.

If you’re not used to private well water systems, the prospect of managing a well may be intimidating. The good news is that using and maintaining a water well is not all that complicated when you partner with a professional well drilling and maintenance company. If you’re interested in buying a home that has a well, make sure you follow these tips.

Have the Well Water Tested

One of the very first things you will want to do when considering buying a house with a well is to test the safety and purity of the home’s water. You will want to know if there are any water quality issues because this could ultimately determine if you will need to invest in a water filtration system in the future.

Request a Well Inspection

Most home inspectors will not evaluate private wells for functionality. For this reason, you will want to hire a reputable well contractor offering water well inspection services to ensure the system is running properly. If you don’t have the well inspected before you buy the house, you could end up having to pay for expensive repairs shortly after you move in.

Avoid Dug Wells

Dug wells are not very common anymore, but they can still be found on the properties of older homes. These well systems are often rife with water contaminants since water runoff can fall into the well. To protect your family’s health, you will want to look for homes with drilled wells.

How can you tell the difference between dug and drilled wells? Dug wells are holes in the ground protected by a cover. In contrast, drilled wells do not have a hole and instead have a pipe coming up from the ground.

If you’ve fallen in love with a house that unfortunately has a dug well, you can get a quote from a professional well driller to see how much it would cost to add a safer private well to the property.

Know the Age of the Water Well

Drilled wells last an average of 30 to 50 years. After this time, you may need to have a new well drilled. You’ll want to inquire about the age of the well to ensure you are prepared for any possible expenses.

Ensure the Well Is Safely Distanced From the Septic Tank

If the home you are interested in buying has a well, the odds are that it also has a septic tank. Because these tanks often leak when they begin to fail, you will want to ensure the water well is placed at least 100 feet away from the tank. This will prevent septic waste from seeping into the well and contaminating the water with harmful particulates.

Keep Up With Well Maintenance After Buying the House

Before buying a home with a well, you must recognize the responsibility you are taking on. You will need to perform yearly maintenance on the water well to ensure each part functions properly and you can receive a constant supply of safe drinking water all year round.

You may also want to consider installing a water treatment system to protect your home and family from contaminants such as iron and manganese. If you prefer the softness of city water, you might enjoy the benefits of installing a water softener.

Have Questions About a Well System? We Have Answers!

Don’t be scared away from buying a home with a private well system. With a thorough inspection upfront and yearly maintenance, you could enjoy all the benefits a water well provides, including fresh water and no water bills.

If you’re looking to buy a house with a well, get in touch with Quality Water Systems at 1-800-332-9462. Our professionals will be more than happy to answer your questions and perform a well inspection to ensure you get the most out of the well system.