Mayer's Well Drilling Frequently asked questions

In preparation for your well drilling, you will also need to determine the best pump size, depending on your water home needs. Pumps are rated in GPM (gallons per minute). A typical 3- to 4-bedroom home requires 8-12 GPM. When determining your home water needs, add one GPM for every water fixture in your home. Such fixtures include clothes washers, dishwashers, faucets, refrigerators, showers, and outdoor water spigots.

Consider other nearby properties that have had recent well drilling. Keep the well away from septic drainage fields. Keep the well away from animal pens. Look for an absence of large rocks.

When planning a well drilling for your home or business, the depth of the well depends on the geology and underground water levels of the area. Wells for household use usually range from about 100 feet to 500 feet deep. There are some places, however, where wells can be drilled more than 1,000 feet deep. Often a pump is placed in the well at some depth to push the water up to the surface, according to the United States Geological Survey.

A standard well drilling with a 6-inch diameter can store 1.5 gallons of water per foot. If you know the depth of the well, the water, and the pump depth level, you can figure out the water storage capacity.

Work in a clockwise manner from the main water supply throughout the house. Open each hot and cold water faucet a half turn to let air and water escape. Repeat this process for toilets, showers, tubs, the washing machine, and the dishwasher. By turning on these fixtures and appliances, it pulls the air out of the lines. If you need any assistance, contact your local well drilling service.

Make sure your well is located and constructed properly. Work with a licensed well drilling contractor to do this. Inspect your well regularly and repair any damage. Things to look for are: 

Damage: Any cracks or holes in the well casing, corrosion, loose wires, or soil settling? 

Well cap: Is it securely attached to the well casing? Is it broken or missing? 

Connections: Are the electrical conduit and other connections watertight? 

Mark your well with flags or posts to avoid hitting it with vehicles. Keep the well area clear of debris. Maintain minimum isolation distances from contamination sources, such as fertilizers, pesticides, septic systems, and feedlots. Do not tie animals to your well. Have a licensed well contractor seal wells that you no longer use. A well that you no longer use can be a pathway for contaminants to get into groundwater and is a safety hazard.

Too Much Demand on Water: In some homes, having multiple plumbing fixtures on at once can place too high of a demand on the water supply for proper water pressure to be maintained in every fixture. With a little coordination, you can usually avoid this issue. 

Faulty Fixtures: Fixtures themselves, such as showerheads or faucets, can become faulty or clogged over time. In some cases, simply cleaning out the screen or aerator is enough to fix the issue, but at other times, an entire fixture may need to be replaced. 

Broken Pressure Regulator: Water pressure regulators are designed to help stabilize water pressure in your home, keeping it within a certain range. When these regulators go bad, your water pressure can either become too high or too low. 

Closed Valves: Your home's water supply can be shut off by two different valves. You can check both of these valves on your own. If either of these valves is not fully open, then it can affect the water pressure throughout your home. 

Clogged Pipes: If pipes become clogged, these blockages can disrupt water flow through your pipes. With the flow disrupted, water pressure will also go down. Pipes need to be cleaned out or replaced to address the issue. 

Plumbing: Clogs can be fixed by cleaning out or replacing small sections of piping. Over time, though, your entire system of piping can become corroded, which can have a negative effect on your water pressure.

For more information, call us for well drilling and maintenance guidance.

Before your well drilling, there are several considerations you should mull when choosing the right type of well for your property. Among them is soil type, which makes some wells better than others. Proximity to roads and livestock should also be a consideration. Experts suggest that the deeper drilled well is superior to the dug well.  A dug well can get you by, but you never know when it will dry up. They're only generally between 15 and 20 feet deep so that doesn't leave a lot of reserve water. Dug wells only reach the top of the water table, which makes them dependent on the water's height; they can become unreliable or even dry up if the water table's level fluctuates too much.

Yes, as a private well owner, you are responsible for testing your well to ensure the water is safe to drink. EPA is responsible for making sure that the public water supply within the United States is safe. However, EPA does not monitor or treat private well drinking water. This is generally discussed prior to your well drilling.

Call your well drilling service. They can assist you and likely tell you how to resolve the issue you're facing.