Buying a Home? Here’s Why You Need a Well Inspection
If you’ve been looking for a new home, you might have run into a few residences that aren’t connected to a municipal water supply—instead, they rely on wells to provide enough water for the home’s appliance, bathing, cooking and drinking needs. About 15 percent of Americans rely on a private water system—but if you’re new to owning a well, you might not know that well water needs to be tested regularly to ensure its safety.
Even if your well water looks, smells and tastes normal, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything—the pathogens that cause serious waterborne illnesses won’t noticeably alter your water. Don’t wait until your family gets sick—you need to insist on well water testing in Pisgah Forest, NC before the deal goes through.
What kind of water testing do I need?
In addition to a general well inspection, you should order a comprehensive water test from a reputable and certified company. While some municipalities may offer a free kit, they’ll be less thorough than what you would get with paid and in-depth water testing.
Your water analysis will look for the presence of coliforms, a type of bacteria that can indicate the presence of sewage, along with other potentially dangerous substances like heavy metals, radon and nitrates. You should check your state and local laws to see if any particular type of water testing is required during a home sale, and choose accordingly.
Once you get the results back, you’ll be able to discuss which mitigating measures can be taken to fix any issues, and negotiate with the seller as to who is responsible.
What else should I look for?
Of course, a full well inspection doesn’t end with water quality—you also need to consider the physical appearance of the well and its components. For example, is the well clear of debris? Is the surrounding area sloped away from the well surface? Is the well covered and watertight?
You should also inspect the mechanical parts of your well, such as the pump and holding tank. The parts need to be operable and clean, demonstrating good water pressure and a clean, unobstructed filtration system. If your well runs on electricity, you’ll want a backup generator so that you don’t have to go without clean, fresh water until the power comes back on.
Well inspections can be performed by home inspectors, plumbers and well technicians. The most important thing to remember is that taking your well and its water safety seriously now will save you a lot of trouble down the line.
Well water testing in Pisgah Forest, NC
Royal Water Works, Inc. has been providing quarterly well water testing in Pisgah Forest, NC for over 20 years. Since 1998, our family owned and operated company has helped a wide variety of clients test their well water to ensure its safety. Protect yourself, your loved ones and your customers when you get quarterly well water testing with us—reach out to us today to get started.
Categorised in: Water Testing