When you install a well on your property, you have to ensure regular maintenance to keep it in good working condition at all times. There are numerous things that can lead to well pump malfunction, and some of the issues experienced include the well pump not working the way that it should. Whether the pump motor is having problems starting or stopping, there are things that you can do to deal with the problem. Troubleshooting your well pump will involve inspecting the different parts for marks of damage. Here are some common malfunctions and how you should troubleshoot them:

The motor failing to start

When the well pump motor fails to start, it may be due to many reasons. Some problems may be easy to fix while others require more expertise and labor. The first thing to do in this scenario is to inspect the fuses as well as the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker trips, flip on the switch and the problem will be gone. You should also look for loose, dirty, or rusted fuses that might need changing.

Inspect the cables, wiring, as well as the pressure switch and look for signs of rust or wobbly connections. Test the voltage to check the pressure switch and if you read low or negligible voltage, replace the pressure switch.

The motor starting too often

If you are facing this issue, check the pressure switch and if the setting is incorrect reset it. If you notice any defects, replace the switch. Inspect the valve to see if it is jammed open as this means that it cannot hold the right pressure and will still start. Replace the valve in this situation. Next, look out for any air charge and note that a faulty charge can cause tank waterlog and it will need replacement. Inspect the well pump pipes and if you notice leaks, repair or replace the pipes.

The motor running continuously

If the pump motor will not stop running, you need to look at the pressure switch. Sometimes adjusting the switch can solve the problem by stopping the motor. You can also try cleaning the contacts and if this fails to solve the problem, change the pressure switch. See if any parts of the well pump are loose or broken and if you notice any damage such as a broken motor shaft or loose couplings, you need to repair or replace the parts. Examine the check valve to make sure it is closed and adjust it if it is not. Inspect the pump screen for any debris or dirt that may be blocking or clogging the pump.

An old or worn out pump

If your pump is old or has been in operation for a long time, it may be responsible for the problems you are experiencing. A well-worn pump can lead to issues that look like those experienced when the level of the water is low or when there is a leak. After confirming that the leak is not due to damaged pipes, you need to consider the fact that the parts might be wearing out. Replacing the faulty parts or the whole well pump may be necessary.

It is a good idea to get professional inspection if your well pump is still having problems. A licensed pump repair professional will ensure that you get the best results to get your water well pump working smoothly.

If you are looking for an alternative water source for your home, you should consider digging a well. When you decide to have a water well on your property, it is important to understand the types of wells available so that you can make the best decision. It is also important to talk to an expert before you make this important decision. The well that you choose will determine the water quality and quantity that you receive. It will also affect the maintenance process that you will require.

1. Dug Well

Dug wells are shallow and they are not the best option for your drinking water. This type of well poses the highest risk of contamination of the water supply due to poor protection from surface water. A dug well usually consists of a large diameter hole that is usually over 2 feet wide, and it can be constructed by hand or using excavation equipment. The large-diameter wells are usually constructed using corrugated galvanized steel or prefabricated concrete tile. Older wells are often constructed of stone, brick, or wood cribbing and they are very susceptible to surface-water seepage.

2. Bored Well

Bored wells are constructed using a boring machine and they usually have an average depth of about 15 m or 50 ft., although some wells are 30m or 100 ft. deep. The wells that are usually about 2 feet in diameter are constructed using an earth auger and concrete is the most common material used. As these wells are typically shallow, they are susceptible to contamination. Apart from the high risk of contamination, the low water levels mean that the wells are often the first to go dry during drought.

3. Driven Point Well

The sand-point or driven-point wells are constructed using assembled lengths of pipe that are driven into the ground. These wells are usually small in diameter- about 2 inches or less, and they are less than 50 feet in depth. These types of wells can only be installed in locations with relatively loose soils, such as sand and gravel aquifers. They are driven into the ground or inserted using high water pressure and they are often only installed in places with a shallow water table that contains little or no stones.

4. Drilled Well

Drilled wells often refer to all the other types of wells, and this includes those that are constructed using a combination of driving and jetting. Drilled wells for farm use are usually 4 to 8 inches in diameter and they pose a low risk of contamination when properly constructed. Drilled wells can get water from bedrock aquifers and overburden. The overburden wells are usually composed of sands and gravels and they include those constructed into the geological materials that are above bedrock.

Most water wells come with a well screen that lets groundwater into the well while keeping away sand and other materials. The well screen openings are properly sized to allow the sediment-free water to flow into the well, while enhancing the connection between the aquifer and the well. Water quality problems are directly related to the type of well, its condition, depth and the proximity to potential sources of contamination.

The above is the use of chlorine to kill microorganisms that may be potentially harmful in a well. Water that comes from a newly constructed, a repaired one, or a well that has its sanitary seal removed, is thought to be contaminated. Bacteria that are usually found in the soil and other surfaces around the well contaminate the water. The bacteria often go in the well in the course of maintenance, repair or construction and during proper decontamination of the water system and the well itself is necessary.

Reasons for chlorinating

Regular testing of well water is necessary and when the water sample analysis shows that the water contains coliform bacteria, appropriate disinfection is used to get rid of the impurity. Correct chlorination is necessary when a water analysis indicates nuisance bacteria are present in the water. It is a good idea to get professional services to ensure that the chlorination process is carried out effectively. Chlorination is also used as a way to reduce odor in the water that may occur from time to time.

Before the chlorination

You need to know that you cannot use freshly chlorinated water for bathing and laundry for at least 24 hours. This means that you should try to catch up on your laundry and other household tasks before the water is treated. Preparations will help to ensure that you do not have too much backlog of your tasks. If you intend to apply the chlorine yourself, make sure that you determine the amount of bleach that you need for your well and note that this will depend on the type of well that you have. Use non-scented bleach and remember to purchase a chlorine test kit in advance.

The chlorination process

Open the well cover and carefully pour the bleach into the well. Try to coat the well’s inner walls with chlorine when pouring it in. If you are using a cartridge filter, make sure that you have a spare cartridge, as the filter tends to clog quickly. Connect a garden hose to an outside faucet or storage tank and run it into the top of well. Open the spigot to maximum and allow the circulation process to go on until you detect chlorine from the hose. When the chlorine level is strong, use the hose to wash down the well’s inner walls and then shut the water off and replace the cover on the well.

After the chlorination

The time that it will take to complete the process will depend on the type of well that you have. Half an hour is adequate for a shallow well, while a deep, drilled well can take a couple of hours. When the hose is running the chlorinated water, keep it away from clothing and your skin as it may cause damage or staining of clothing and it can also lead to skin or eye irritation. If you have an electric water heater, run hot water for about 10 to 15 minutes to replace the un-chlorinated stored water with chlorinated water.

Discharge the chlorine 24 hours after you start chlorinating. Use a garden hose to run the water outside and monitor the chlorine level until you notice a reduction as fresh water gets into the well then dilutes the treated water.

Hydrofracking or hydrofracturing is the process which can increase the amount of water you have in your well. Basically, if the well in your yard is currently dry and it doesn’t feature a lot of water resources then you should take advantage of the hydrofracturing process which has an efficiency of up to 98%. This procedure is much quicker and cheaper than building a brand new well in your property and it can be performed with little to no effort by the experts. Here is how hydrofracking works.

First of all, a mechanism called “packer” is inserted 40 feet below the well

Once the depth of the well and the water levels are measured by the professionals, the packer mechanism is then lowered deep in the ground, reaching about 40 feet under the well pipe. Afterwards, almost a thousand gallons of water are pumped into the well at a very high pressure. The water is pre-chlorinated first and this task is performed in order to create a pressure change into the well.

Afterwards, the packer is lowered 100 feet deeper for the second phase of this process

The packer will do a similar job at 100 feet deeper in the ground in order to flush the well and restore proper water flow. Afterwards, the well pump will be reinstalled and the water will be pumped out from the well for a couple of hours as a final step of this process. After a couple of days, the well will be checked again in order to find out if the water flow has improved.

How long does the hydrofracking process takes?

The duration of the hydrofracking process depends on the size of your well and several other factors, but in most cases you might be happy to know that this procedure takes only a couple of hours. Additionally, you will also have running water in the same day and you can use your well normally with little to no effort.

Why should you request a hydrofracking service?

A well is not out of water in most cases and thanks to the hydrofracking process, you will be able to take advantage of your own personal water supply for more years from now on. This means that you can water your plants, wash your car, satisfy your thirst and wash your window blinds, for example, with water coming from your well. You will not have to spend a lot of money on your water bill in the long run and you will have running water in your house 24/7 as well! Besides, hydrofracking can save you a substantial amount of money because you don’t have to build another well in another place in your yard.

If you think that this type of service is useful for you then make sure that you call us today and we will share details about the hydrofracking process and its benefits. Our specialists will also come to your house and assess the state of your well in order to apply the correct hydrofracking procedure.

All homeowners should know the main differences between hard water and soft water because although you can’t tell the difference visually, they can influence one’s health and the condition of your appliances differently. If you live in an area with hard water then you shouldn’t worry too much about this as there are different methods and filtration systems which can soften your water up. In the meantime, here is a few facts you need to know about soft and hard water.

Soft water doesn’t have any taste while hard water might be a little bit bitter

You can find out if you have hard water by filling a glass with water from the tap and drinking it. If it has a rather bitter and heavy taste then it means that your tap water is hard and it contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These 2 elements give hard water the taste it has. If you don’t like it then you might want to drink soft water which contains sodium only and it doesn’t have any particular taste.

Both hard water and soft water are safe to drink

Most people think that if the hard water has a bitter taste, it is automatically harmful for their health. Well, you might be happy to know that this is not actually true. The minerals contained by hard water can actually be beneficial for your organism, so it is perfectly fine if you drink hard water directly from the tap on a regular basis. Soft water is also safe to drink and you can obtain it by installing different filtration systems in your house.

However, hard water can be bad for your appliances and electronics

Although your body can manage hard water without any problems, your household appliances and electronics such as your washing machine, dishwasher and so on might be damaged by the hardness of the water in the long run. This happens because the minerals contained by hard water will eventually stick to the pipes and metal components of your appliances. As a result, your washing machine and dishwasher can get seriously damaged in a couple of months and they might require costly repairing processes.

Take advantage of modern filtration systems for your hard water

You shouldn’t let hard water damage your appliances and electronics in the long run and force you to spend a small fortune on expensive repairing projects or replacements. There are various types of filtration systems which can soften the water you use in your house every day and which can also make it healthier and bacteria-free. For example, various modern devices can use UV lights in order to destroy bacteria and microbes from your water and protect your health. Also, other water filtration systems can be attached to the main water supply in order to keep harmful microbes, viruses and other impurities at bay.

If you really care for your health and you want the best for you and your family then make sure that you contact us today and we can provide you with top quality water filtration services at affordable prices!