As a private well owner, you always want to be aware of what’s in your well water.
After all, the health and safety of your family are dependent on having clean, contaminant-free drinking water. That’s why annual well water testing is recommended by the EPA and the vast majority of professional well contractors. And that’s also why at-home, DIY water testing kits have become widely available in stores. They’re cheaper and faster than hiring a well inspection service, so they end up being a popular product.
But how well do they actually work?
That’s what we’ll take a look at in today’s blog post. Keep reading!
Are DIY Water Test Kits Worth It?
Before we dig into this question, let’s first examine how a professional water testing service works.
Basically, a well water contractor will arrive at your property and collect a water sample from your well. They will also do a visual inspection of the well to find out if there are flaws, cracks, or holes in the well structure that could leave your water vulnerable to contamination. Then, they’ll send the water sample to a state-certified lab for analysis. Once they have the report from the lab, they’ll give you recommendations for water treatment and/or filtration systems to improve the quality of your water.
So, how does a store-bought water test compare?
Unfortunately, those DIY test kits from the store won’t give you the same level of accuracy as a state-certified lab. Not even close. Plus, they’re easy to do incorrectly if you’re not familiar with the process. They also lack the additional benefit of professional expertise, which would help you examine the physical structure of your well, understand the results of your test, and make necessary improvements for the future.
In other words, DIY well water tests can quickly turn into a guessing game—but when it comes to your family’s drinking water, you want 100% certainty.
The bottom line? You’re much better off hiring a licensed well contractor to do a thorough, accurate test for you.
If you have any questions about well water testing, call Goold Wells & Pumps today!