- Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Joint
- Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Kit
- Well Casing Prices
- Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing
Well casing determines the size of well seal needed. Example: a six inch casing requires a six inch well seal, eight inch casing requires an eight inch well seal. Several holes are available that penetrate the top of the seal to accommodate well pipe and wires etc. Pipe hole in the seal is situated on center of the well seal, with other smaller. Secondly, check for a malfunctioning well pump. Finally inspect for cracks or breaks in the water pipes above the pump. Your Pump is Running Constantly. If the well pump is running continuously, this can be a sign that your well pump is struggling to draw water from the well to fill up the pressure tank.
A residential well is a great resource and can provide you and your family excellent water for many years. In most cases, they require minimal servicing. Most wells can operate for years without maintenance, but that doesn’t mean your well doesn’t need occasional servicing. It is important to know the signs of well water problems so you can identify a possible problem before it becomes too serious.
How Does a Well Pump System Work?
While wells can work a few different ways, a typical water well has a submersible pump that pumps water directly into a house. Some wells have pumps that are called jet pumps. These are located on the surface or top of the well and are used in conjunction with a pressure tank. A well water pump system maintains a constant supply of pressurized water throughout the house and piping system. The well pump switches on and off with a pressure switch in order to maintain water pressure.
Common Signs of Well Issues
While there are multiple reasons your well pump could be experiencing issues, there are 7 typical signs of well water issues:
1. Well pumps air and well yield is reduced
If your kitchen faucet blasts out a mixture of air and water when you turn it on, this is a big indicator that something is wrong with your well. This could mean that your water table has dropped at or below the well pump and the pump is drawing in air during the pump cycle. This could also be caused by a broken well pump drop pipe. These pipes can become broken, corroded or develop cracks which can allow for air to be sucked in.
2. Well is pumping sand or sediment
If your well starts to fill with sand, this is a common sign that your well is silting in or filling with sand and silt. Another cause for sand in your water could be that the well screen has become degraded and is allowing sand or sediment from the gravel pack around the well screen through. Sand will wear out the pump valves and fill up the bottom of the well.
3. Water pressure is low
Low water pressure can have many causes, but most commonly can mean a failing well pump, stuck check valve, partially closed or bad ball valve, or leaking/failing pressure tank. In one case, iron bacteria to clog the pipe leading to the pressure switch which causes the pressure switch to incorrectly sense the pressure.
4. Power bill has greatly increased
When a pump wears out or becomes blocked with sand, silt or iron bacteria it has to work harder than if it was in good shape or unblocked. When your pump has to work harder, it can result in an increasingly higher power cost. If the check valve in the well goes bad, this can also contribute to a high power bill.
5. Water quality has changed
If your water is spurting out of the tap or if air is dissolved in the water, this could mean a problem for your well. Some groundwater tables can contain distinct types of gases which may be dissolved in the water but later come out of solution and will cause the water to spurt or sputter at the tap.
6. Bubbles or dissolved gases in the water
It isn’t unusual for small air bubbles to appear in a glass of water from a kitchen faucet. These bubbles can be both naturally occurring and or caused by mechanical reasons. As mentioned above, some groundwater tables contain usually small amounts of various types of gases, which can be carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide or other gases. Some of thee gases can be harmful and cause safety and health problems, so if you are seeing quite a few bubbles you should have your water tested. Bubbles can also occur when the water level in a well is low, causing air to get inside of the pump.
7. The pressure switch and pump continuously cycle on and off
A leak in your home or corrosion of casing, liner or screen can cause the well pump to run continuously. Holes will allow water of undesirable quality to enter your well. You should be on the lookout for leaking toilet flush valves, reverse osmosis systems, iron filters and the backwashing filter systems that could be malfunctioning. Some other common causes are a failed check valve or the pressure tank losing its captive air pressure.
What Should You Do If You See One or More of These Signs?
Now that you know some signs to be on the lookout for, it is important to know that you shouldn’t try to fix any of these problems on your own. Regular maintenance and inspections are very important in order to help try to prevent any costly well pump issues.
Well pump systems can be tricky to fix, which is why it should be left to the experts. When you notice a problem, you should shut your water pump off and call Mosman Well Works right away. We are available 24/7 for emergency services, so don’t hesitate to give us a call! We specialize in emergency well pump replacement, no well water issues, and water treatment services for residential and commercial.
When you get your water from a private well instead of from a public source, the water your family uses for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing is your responsibility.
If you can identify the warning signs of potential problems, you can avoid the hassle of having no running water in your home, or worse yet, compromising your health and safety because of poor water quality.
We’ve identified some of the most common signs that a residential well is having issues or that there could be a contamination concern.
1. Your Faucets are Sputtering
You turn on the kitchen sink, but before you see any water, there’s a blast of air and then short bursts of water spit out before it flows normally.
This probably means there is air in your plumbing system, and if it’s happening on a regular basis, it could mean your well pump needs servicing. The fix may be as simple as replacing a failing valve, or it could be a sign the drop pipe connected to the pump is damaged.
There’s also the possibility your well pump may need to be lowered because the water table has dropped and the pump is drawing in air.
2. Your Electricity Bill is High
If you have a private well and your jaw drops when you open your utility bill, it could also be thanks to the pump.
One of the first signs many homeowners get that their well pump is failing or needs to be lowered is a gradually increasing electric bill. This is because the pump is running continuously or cycling on and off all the time as it tries to maintain water pressure.
Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Joint
3. You Hear Strange Sounds
Are your pipes groaning and moaning? Is your well pump making loud humming, grinding, or growling noises?
Avant garde gothic alternate. These are signs that there are potential problems with your pump, and you should contact a professional to check things out as soon as possible to avoid damage.
4. Something Looks, Smells, or Tastes Strange
Mac os catalina direct download. Even more obvious than odd noises in your plumbing system is the occurrence of strange odors, tastes, or murkiness in your well water.
Any time there is a noticeable change in your well water’s taste, smell, or appearance, it is best to have it checked by a professional.
Undesirable changes in your home’s water could indicate the presence of many different things. They may not necessarily pose an immediate risk to your health, but they do affect the aesthetics of your water.
For instance, a metallic taste could be a sign your water is high in iron and manganese. If your water smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, it may be the result of hydrogen sulfide coming from decaying organic matter in the groundwater.
Murky water is yet another sign of potential pump problems. It could mean water levels have dropped too low or that dirt is in the pump.
Causes of Discoloration in Water:
- Reddish/brown: Iron or manganese. May cause staining.
- Blue/green: Copper. Corrosive water may be leaching from pipes.
- Yellow: Suspended organic particles. Common in shallow wells.
- White/cloudy: High turbidity. Large amount of fine inorganic and organic particles.
A home filtration solution, like a Water-Right’s Sanitizer Plus Series® featuring our exclusive Crystal Right™ media, is ideal for eliminating unwanted tastes and odors. The same water treatment technology is available through our Evolve and WaterCare brands.
You can also install a reverse osmosis system for further filtration, providing your family with delicious drinking water!
5. Poorly Installed or Damaged Well Caps
It’s important to have a properly installed well cap or cover because if not, contaminants can enter your home’s water supply. If the cover on top of your well casing is damaged, insects and animals could crawl inside, decompose, and elevate bacteria levels, causing diarrhea and other digestive issues if consumed.
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The well cap should be at least six inches off the ground, and homeowners should avoid growing plants or building boxes around the well casing.
A properly sealed well cap is the first line of defense against non-point source pollution such as runoff of pesticides, herbicides, and elements from nearby roads. Keep an eye on the cover of your well to make sure it’s in good shape.
6. Signs of Agricultural Contamination
Since many homes with well water are located in rural areas, agricultural runoff can be a common culprit of contamination. It may be from livestock waste (manure) or from fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that are spread on nearby farm fields.
As the rain washes over agricultural land, it can pick up chemicals from these contaminants, which eventually enter the groundwater that is feeding your well.
Of particular concern are nitrates, which occur naturally in soil, and usually aren’t a concern at normal levels, which are under 10 parts per million for healthy adults.
However, concentrations can be excessive when they enter the groundwater supply from fertilizer and animal waste. Nitrates pose a specific health risk to pregnant women and young children. Babies should not consume water containing nitrates until they are older than 6 months.
Nitrates have no color, taste, or odor in water, so if there are contamination concerns, it’s best to have your home’s water tested for nitrates to make sure it is safe for your family.
It’s important to choose the right location for a domestic well to avoid potential contamination from agricultural sources. For example, you wouldn’t want your well downhill from a nearby livestock facility. The same goes for wells near septic systems and landfills. Wells should be located on higher ground whenever possible.
Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing Kit
7. Signs of Salt Contamination
In areas of the country where winter weather is a factor, road salts can become another potential well water contaminant. It washes off roadways and infiltrates the groundwater.
The salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) is not a health concern to most people, unless you are on a sodium-restricted diet. However, it can impact the quality of your water, effecting the taste and leaving a white residue behind.
In one case, some residents in Connecticut had to switch to bottled water after the sodium and chloride levels in their well water made it unusable. An investigation suggested it could have come from runoff at a nearby prison’s parking lot.
Well Casing Prices
If you live along a major roadway that gets salt spread on it regularly or downhill from a parking lot, you may want to keep an eye on your water quality after the snow melts.
Other Common Well Water Contaminants
Symptoms Of A Cracked Well Casing
Certain contaminants in groundwater are natural elements that get picked up as water dissolves rock and soil in your region.
For example, elements like uranium, radon, and arsenic occur naturally, but may be found at elevated levels in certain parts of the country depending on the geological makeup of the land.
Levels of coliform bacteria are another sign of possible health risks in your water. While many coliform bacteria are harmless, elevated total levels may indicate the likelihood of pathogens, such as viruses that can make people sick.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that about 20 percent of homes with private wells contain at least one contaminant at a level of concern.
Most private wells produce hard water. That’s because they are accessing groundwater, which has moved through rock and soil dissolving minerals like calcium and magnesium along the way.
Nearly every home with a private well deals with hardness, which could cause plenty of problems, from unsightly iron stains and soap scum to dry skin and spotty dishes. Hard can also cause appliances like your water heater to wear out quickly. Homes with private wells should have a water softener to help avoid these issues. Find out more about how a water softener works here on our blog.
What Can You Do?
The National Groundwater Association (NGWA) provides online resources for homeowners with private wells at WellOwner.org. There, you can learn more about well maintenance, water quality, and water treatment options. The NGWA even offers a hotline (855-420-9355) to help homeowners with questions and a mobile app that provides information and reminders.
Most importantly, residential wells should be tested by a licensed professional on a yearly basis to make sure it is safe for your family to use. Samples of your water should be sent to a certified laboratory.
Well water isn’t perfect. So, if you want to improve the water quality in your home, Water-Right® and our family of brands can help. Whether you want to disinfect your water with UV light, get better drinking water through reverse osmosis, reduce levels of iron with a filtration system, or eliminate the problems hard water can cause using a water softener, our family of professionals will find a solution.
Our Sanitizer Plus Series® models are a good choice for homes with well water because it can address hardness, iron and manganese, correct pH levels and address other common groundwater issues.