Approximately 13 million households
in the
United States have private wells. Because of their popularity, you may find
yourself looking at a home that has a water well when you house shop. You might
even see a well as a perk when shopping for a home since you like having your
own private water supply.
If you want
to buy a home with a well, you need to take a few steps, particularly if you do
not have any experience with wells. These are some steps you should take before
buying a home with a water well.
1. Find Out If the Well Is Private or Shared
First, you
will need to know if the home has a private well or if others share the well.
With a private well, your household will be the sole household that uses the
well for a water supply. With a shared well, you may share a well with one or
more other families who live close by.
Having a
private well has some benefits over a shared well. You do not have to worry as
much about restricting water use or running out of water, for example. You also
do not have to worry about disputes with others about how and when the well
should be maintained and repaired.
Of course, a
shared well does have benefits, too, such as not having to pay for all of the
maintenance and repairs yourself.
Either way,
you will need to know which type of well the home will come with.
2. Have Professionals Inspect the Well
Do not just
buy a home with a well without having professionals check it out first. Even if
the well is relatively new and well-maintained, a problem with the well pump or
even the well itself could arise.
Some well
repairs can be expensive, so you will want to know about any problems before
you make an offer on the home. Plus, an inspection will help you make sure that
your family has a reliable source of water once you move into your new home.
A company
that specializes in well repairs and maintenance can send someone to check out
the well. You should do this even if you have a regular home inspection since
the traditional home inspector might miss problems with the well.
3. Do Your Research About Well Ownership
Owning a
well has many benefits. However, homeowners who own homes with water wells do
have additional responsibilities. You have to know how to take care of your
well yourself, and you have to understand the importance of regular inspections
and maintenance. Things like water testing are also important and something
that you should not skip.
Do
your research to find out more about well ownership before buying a home with a
well. Then you will know what to expect, and you will be better prepared to
take good care of your water well. A professional from a well repair
and maintenance company can provide
you with guidance.
4. Set Aside a Budget for Well Maintenance
Since your
family will be without a water source if something goes wrong with your water
well, you will need to have the cash to handle any repairs that might pop up.
Keeping a separate budget for well maintenance and repairs will help prevent
your family from being without a water supply and can also prevent your water
well from putting too much of a damper on your household budget.
When buying
a home with a water well, take the steps listed above. For help inspecting a
well, contact us at Action Well and Pump.
