Regular maintenance is essential for long-term water well health. Scheduling maintenance as the seasons change is a great way to stay on top of well upkeep and catch any issues before they escalate.
Winter Preparation for Water Wells
Insulate Your Pipes
While you don’t typically need to worry about pipes below ground, insulating plumbing that brings water into your home is critical. Freezing temperatures can impede water flow and damage pipes, leading to costly repairs and interruptions to your water supply.
Many different types of insulation are available, but foam sleeves are a good place to start. If your pipes are subject to long stretches of freezing weather, you can also wrap them in heat tape (essentially a heating pad for plumbing) before applying insulation.
Assess Your Well Seal
The well seal covers and seals the top of the well casing. It keeps out vermin, insects, soil, and other above-ground contaminants. If it’s not sealed correctly, your water can become tainted.
If your area receives heavy snowfall, checking the seal before snow accumulates is essential. Deep snow can make the seal and well casing inaccessible. Once covered, you may not be able to fix a compromised seal until it’s too late.
Keep Water Flowing
If you’ve ever lived in a cold climate, you probably know the trick of keeping water running to prevent frozen pipes. Ideally, if your pipes are adequately insulated, you won’t have to run water constantly.
However, you should run water regularly through all your plumbing to prevent freezing and subsequent damage. Setting up a routine to ensure you use all pipes consistently might even be helpful.
Spring and Summer Well Maintenance
As the seasons change, so do the needs of your residential well. While Spring can bring a welcome change in weather, it brings new challenges for well owners.
As temperatures rise, melting snow and frequent rainfall can saturate the ground and allow excess water to pool around your wellhead. Long-term, grading the ground so it slopes away from the wellhead is the best way to prevent this.
If you can’t avoid pooled water immediately, you should test your water more frequently while it’s present. Melting snow and rain can carry pesticides, fertilizer, and other substances that can contaminate your water.
In the summer, you may need to monitor your water supply more closely than usual, especially if you live in a drought-affected area. Drawing from a well without an adequate supply can damage the pump.
Schedule Seasonal Professional Maintenance
One of the best ways to ensure a healthy well and water supply is to schedule seasonal professional maintenance. While regularly inspecting your own well is important, your well contractor can spot issues and potential trouble spots you may not notice.
Additionally, professional water testing services are the gold standard for monitoring water quality. While DIY tests may be better than nothing, professional testing can detect contaminants with far greater accuracy.
If you need help with seasonal water well maintenance in Valatie or the surrounding area, call Goold Wells & Pumps today. We’ve been helping residents keep their wells in good condition for over 90 years. We are committed to providing the best possible workmanship and products and offer outstanding customer service to every client. Goold Wells & Pumps—Trusted Name Since 1928.