Do I need a new well?
#1
05-17-11, 11:38 AM
Do I need a new well?
I have a variety of water related problems going on, so to start...our home was built in 1974, I don't know what kind of well we have or if it was ever replaced. When we first moved in (four years ago), the water would come out gray and sputtering but would quickly come out clear and smoothly. The inspector told us that it was normal because no one had lived in the house for almost a year. Since then we have occasional bouts of this sputtering gray water and is smells foul and metallic. We also have thick orange sludge in our pipes (probably iron we know, because we have severely bad water) and we are concerned that we are basically sucking the bottom of our well. We don't know anything about our well and we were told we would have to pay around $200 just to have someone come and troubleshoot. Secondly, we recently developed a standing water problem under our deck (we have a walk out basement), we have had a leaky downspout/gutter for years but the water problem is new. Is this something we can troubleshoot before calling a pro or do we need a new well?
#2
05-17-11, 11:59 AM
Group Moderator
First I would start a new thread in the appropriate section for your standing water problem.
Second, I would not jump to thinking you need a new well. If you're getting water you probably have a problem that can be solved without drilling a new well (that's good news). You may have several issues going on with your water and it's hard to say from your description. It could be well related or the pipes in your house. They could be steel/iron and rusting. It is also possible that you simply have a very high amount of iron in your water. Depending on where you are located muddy red water could indicate that surface water is getting into your well. Around here in NC it is common for older galvanized steel well casings to rust out letting water & mud enter the well.
Do you have a spigot right at the well head? If so, open the spigot and look at the water after it has run a few seconds. This will allow you to look at the water before it has gone through your other plumbing and help determine if it's the well or your pipes causing the problem.
Second, I would not jump to thinking you need a new well. If you're getting water you probably have a problem that can be solved without drilling a new well (that's good news). You may have several issues going on with your water and it's hard to say from your description. It could be well related or the pipes in your house. They could be steel/iron and rusting. It is also possible that you simply have a very high amount of iron in your water. Depending on where you are located muddy red water could indicate that surface water is getting into your well. Around here in NC it is common for older galvanized steel well casings to rust out letting water & mud enter the well.
Do you have a spigot right at the well head? If so, open the spigot and look at the water after it has run a few seconds. This will allow you to look at the water before it has gone through your other plumbing and help determine if it's the well or your pipes causing the problem.
