It’s easy to take clean drinking and bathing water for granted. You use water for everything from your morning coffee to your relaxing, end-of-the-day shower. So, when your dream home or log cabin comes with a well and septic, what do you do? You’re not used to caring for a well, and you’re not sure of the water’s quality. That’s when you call Magnolia Home Inspection Services. We’ll inspect your well and give you these five facts before buying the home.
1. Age of the Well
Before you purchase a home with well water, you’ll need to know how old the well is. This will help determine whether or not the property is a good investment. Most drill wells have a lifespan of about 30-50 years, depending on their use and which underground aquifer feeds the well. Additionally, knowing its age will help you plan for the future, should you need to drill a new one. Finally, the well’s age also tells us how old the plumbing and pipes are that lead into the home. The older the plumbing, the more likely you will experience blockages and leaks.
2. Water Quality
Groundwater is shared, which means the water supplying your well might not be the best in quality. It’s vital that you have the water tested for any harmful chemicals or runoff that could be contaminating the well. Additionally, the well water could contain high levels of lead, iron, and other contaminants. Lastly, you should call the EPA to find out if there have been any recent reports of poor water quality in your area.
3. Maintenance Schedule
Through an inspection, we can judge how the water well has been taken care of over the years. This fact will be evident during our pump tests, where we make sure that the water pump isn’t running constantly, runs correctly, and holds the right amount of pressure. Like anything in a home, these mechanisms can fail, and improper maintenance or care can lead to premature issues.
4. Distance between Systems
If your dream home comes with a well, it likely also has a septic system. To prevent leakage and cross-contamination underground, the septic tank and field must be at least 100 feet from each other. The well should also sit higher than the septic system to ensure that any waste contaminates flow down and away from the main water source. These systems aren’t necessarily in the right spots in some older homes, but this will come up in our report.
5. Flow Rate & Capacity
Knowing how much water the well’s holding tank can hold might not seem like a must-know right away, but it’ll be crucial. To treat your well and well water properly with disinfectant, you’ll need to know how much water you’re treating. Additionally, you should also be aware of the flow rate, especially if you have a large household or plan to install a water filtration system. Some systems require a high flow rate, so you’ll need to have this information in hand.
Know Your Systems inside & Out
Before you buy a home with a well and septic system, it’s important you have all the facts and know the condition of these systems. Here at Magnolia Home Inspection Services, we proudly offer our inspection services to residents throughout Houston, Tomball, and Cypress, TX, and want you to feel confident in your home-buying process. That’s why we also offer a wide range of other services including thermal imaging, pool inspections, and 4-point inspections. So, give us a call at (832) 303-8048, and request a quote today.
