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A Plumber Explains Signs Indicating A Problem With Your Private Well | Conway, SC
Private wells are an important part of the water supply for many U.S. households. In fact, they make up approximately 25 percent of all freshwater. At least 102 million people in the United States consume water from public water sources that depend on groundwater for cooking, drinking, cleaning, and bathing.
Unlike other water sources, most private wells don’t have frequent water problems; hence, most people prefer them for residential use. In fact, most wells can run for years without maintenance; thus, most homeowners forget about them until they develop issues that need to be handled by a plumber.
Fortunately, when your private well starts to act up, there will be some signs to alert you of impending danger. In this blog, you’ll learn about common signs that indicate your residential well has a problem.
High Electric Bill
Abnormally high electric bills lately could be because of a faulty pump, especially if you have a private well. Increasing electric bills is one of the first signs homeowners in Conway, SC should expect to get when their pump fails.
Sometimes your pump may become worn out or blocked with sand, iron bacteria, or silt, forcing it to work twice as hard as normal. This extra work can result in increased electricity bills.
Also, your electric bills may be high if the check valve in your well is spoiled, resulting in short cycling that lets the pressure tank flow to your water well.
Your Faucets Are Sputtering
Another sign of good trouble is trouble with the faucet itself. In most cases, you’ll experience a blast of air followed by short bursts of water spitting out before the water starts to flow normally when you turn on your kitchen sink faucet.
In worst cases, the problem may be that the water table has decreased to a level beneath the good pump. This may cause your pump to draw in the air during a pump cycle. Also, it may be because your well pump drop pipe is faulty.
The drop pipe may become corroded, form a crack, and sometimes break apart, letting air be sucked in. If you have noticed your faucet sputtering, you should contact a plumber to look into it and repair it.
Something Looks, Smells, or Tastes Strange
Sometimes you may see a difference in taste, odor, or appearance in your well water. Change in your well water taste and smell could indicate the presence of different things. For instance, detecting a metallic taste in your home water could signify high amounts of either manganese or iron.
But if your water smells like rotten eggs, this may be due to hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide may come from rotting organic matter in the groundwater. In addition, murky water indicates that your pump may have dirt or could be due to low water levels in the well.
Strange Noises
Have you heard any groaning sounds coming from your pipes lately? Is loud humming, growling, or grinding noises coming from your well pump? If yes, you should contact an experienced plumber to avoid a major plumbing problem.
Low Water Pressure
If no water comes out of the well, it may be due to low water pressure. Several factors can alter the water pressure, including a stuck check valve, leaking or failing pressure tank, failing well pump, and partially enclosed or faulty bad gate or ball valve. When you notice any changes in your well operations, you need to have it checked out by a professional plumber.
Also, sometimes the iron bacteria may clog the pipe nipple leading to your pressure switch. This clogging of the pipe nipple causes the switch to detect pressure inaccurately. Plumbers can fix this by cleaning your well with a special solution to eliminate slime, scale, and bacteria.
Poorly Installed or Damaged Caps
A plumber has to install the caps correctly. If the caps are poorly installed, contaminants can easily enter your home water supply. A well casing with a damaged cover allows insects to easily crawl inside your well, decompose, and increase bacteria levels in the water, causing contamination.
When consumed, this contaminated water may cause digestive problems for you and your family. The cap should be six inches off the ground. Also, homeowners in Conway, SC should avoid building boxes around the casing or growing plants,
The Private Well Is Pumping Sand
If you have recently noticed the presence of water particles in your well water, your borehole could be silting. Normally, plumbers install a well pump that is 10 to 20 feet above your well. When your pump turns on, the water in the well reduces to a lower level. So if your pump has been installed near the base of the well, sediments and sand particles can easily be sucked in.
Also, another reason homeowners may notice sand particles in their water could be that their well screen could have degraded. A decayed well screen allows sand particles from the gravel pack. Sand can quickly wear out your pump valves and even fill the bottom of your well. Contact a plumber to inspect and troubleshoot the well if you notice any sand particles in your water.
Schedule an Appointment with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach for Reliable Well Repair Services
If you have noticed any of the above signs with your well, contact us at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach. Our plumbing company is staffed with professional plumbers who offer well-repair services to residential property owners in Conway, SC, and surrounding areas.
We also offer drain cleaning, whole house repipes, remodeling, water heater installation, water filtration systems, garbage disposal replacement, and everyday plumbing repairs. Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach today!