A well provides a ready supply of clean water to a home. If you're considering buying a house in a rural area, there's a good chance that the property won't have access to a municipal water supply and that you'll need to rely on a well instead. As you examine and assess the property, make well inspection a priority; this way, you are taking steps to ensure clean, safe water for the household. Below are a few things you should bear in mind when buying a home with a well.

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

1. The Age of the Well Is Important

The average well lasts anywhere from 30 to 50 years. Find out the well’s age to gauge the condition it's in and properly budget for well inspections and maintenance moving forward. Wells over 15 years old may need a new pump or pressure tank soon, so figure that into your home expenses. If the well is reaching the end of its lifespan, you may want to consider a replacement sooner rather than later; this could even be a cost that you could use to negotiate a lower sale price for the property.

2. Water Quality Needs to Be Tested

You want to make sure that the water supplied by the well is safe for household use. Schedule a well inspection that will test the water's hardness, pH levels, alkalinity, and turbidity, as well as its mineral and bacteria content. The water should also be tested for radon. If any of the findings reveal unsafe water, treat the supply with the proper chemicals and filters, as recommended by the inspector, before moving into your new home.

3. A Well Should Be at Least 100 Feet From the Septic Tank

A home with a well will also have a septic system to treat outgoing wastewater. The septic system needs to be a minimum of 100 feet from the well to avoid cross-contamination. Most areas require this berth as the legal minimum distance between the two, but some properties, especially older ones, may have violated this standard. This is not an issue to ignore; a contaminated water supply poses serious health risks. If there are less than 100 feet separating the two systems, one of them should be moved before you buy the property.

When you need help with a water well on a property you're thinking of purchasing, contact B & H Well Drilling Pump Service, Inc. They have 25 years' experience serving the Jefferson City, MO, region. They offer well inspections, maintenance, repairs, drilling, and installations, as well as sump pump sales and service. Call (573) 455-9111 or visit their website to request a quote for water well service.