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If you rely on a water well to cook, clean, and bathe in your home, you want to maintain it correctly for the freshest, safest supply. Knowing how to properly maintain the well and detect issues is vital. Below are a few tips to remember. 

How to Maintain Your Water Well

1. Schedule Annual Inspection

Make sure your water well is inspected every year by a technician. Experts will test the system’s components to ensure they are working. If there is an issue, they can detect it before a major malfunction occurs.

Preventive maintenance prolongs the life of your system. Ask for water testing as well to ensure no bacteria or other contaminants are tainting your supply.

2. Note Differences

If you notice a difference in taste, color, and smell regarding your water supply, contact a professional. The filter may need to be changed, but the well itself may need repairs, especially if contaminants are getting inside.

Some problems are colorless and odorless like radon, but if you suspect a problem or have recently had work done around the property, ask for a water treatment test to ensure it’s safe to consume.

3. Keep Records

Log every appointment and repair service you schedule, and note any time you do your own maintenance, such as an at-home water test kit. Keeping track ensures that no services are skipped and protects your water supply from disrepair and contamination.

4. Watch Landscaping & Waste

water wellBe mindful of your water well equipment when you use a lawnmower or other landscaping machine. Getting too close can damage vital components, which then opens the well up to contamination and even pest infestations.

Also, keep hazardous chemicals and waste away from the well. Never dump or use these items near the well, and make sure it is situated uphill from a septic tank so sewage runoff doesn’t enter.

5. Test the Tank

Pressure tanks work with the well pump to push your water supply into your home when you need it. If the tank fails, the pump has to work harder, which then shortens its lifespan. Open the closest faucet to drain the tank. Place an air pressure gauge on the air charging valve at the top.

The pressure reading should be set at 2 psi below the pressure switch’s cut-on point. While this can differ per system, most are set at 30 psi, meaning the pressure should be 28 psi. Add air with a compressor if the pressure is too high or call your technician for help.

 

For water well maintenance and drilling in Nevada, call Rosenlund Drilling LLC. With more than 40 years of combined experience, the residential water well contractor in Elko is licensed and bonded, giving you peace of mind your system is in good hands. To learn more about their well pumping and drilling offerings call (775) 753-7960. Stop by their website for their full list of options.

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