For home and property owners across the nation, water well drilling provides access to clean, high-quality water at a fraction of the cost of municipal sources. To do this, drilling contractors bore deep into the ground using advanced modern equipment before installing a well pump and connecting it to your plumbing system. Many homeowners assume drilling can’t be completed in winter due to the hardening of the ground in cold temperatures. However, this is only partly true.

Warmth Underground

Depending on the availability of water in your area, a well can be anywhere from 100 to over 1000 feet deep. Only the first few feet of that distance are affected by the temperature of the outside air. Past that depth, the amount of soil above acts as insulation, keeping the temperature almost constant year-round. In other words, only the surface of the ground freezes, making only a small difference in the difficulty of drilling.

Other Factors

However, winter weather does affect the process in other ways. Modern well drilling relies on high-pressure water jets to pulverize dirt and rock. If the temperature is below freezing, the water can’t flow and will freeze in place or even burst pipes. Also, if rain, snow, and ice make the area muddy, wet, slippery, or inaccessible, your well drilling contractor won’t be able to bring drilling equipment onto the property to do the job. So while winter drilling is possible, it has limitations.

If you’re interested in well drilling, talk to Hewitt-Messenger Well Drilling and Pump Service in Nixa, MO, about your scheduling options. Serving Springfield, Republic, Rogersville, Ozark, Branson, and all of Christian County for almost 40 years with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau®, this licensed well contractor also provides installation and maintenance for well pumps and water softeners to keep your home supplied with clean, healthy drinking water. To get started, call (417) 725-8816 or send a message online.