How do you care for a well?

Question

This is my first time experienceing a home with a well. How do care for it? I've seen comercials for ridex, is it any good? Also, after a good hard rain the water is a little brown. Is this water safe?

Answer 1

First, Ridex is for septic systems. Its basically micro organisms designed to help break down organic waste.

As far a well maintenance, the first thing i would do is take a sample of water to a water testing lab (find one in the yellow pages and follow their instructions on taking the sample). Based on the results you will either have good clean water, in which case enjoy, or it will be contaminated and need some sort of filter after the pump. the testing lab should have the proper recommendations for you. You do not add anything to the ground water, only filter after you,ve pumped it up.

Answer 2

Ridex sounds like a product that you add to a septic tank. You normally never add anything to a drinking water well. There are two types of wells and well pumps. Submersible pump wells are generally 100 feet or more deep, while jet pump type wells are less than 100 feet deep. Neither well type should have surface rain water run off seeping into it, so as suggested above, have your well checked for proper operation and water purity. The previous owner may not have been using the well for drinking water, and your local health inspections department should have tested the well for bacterial content before the house could be sold.

Answer 3

Some of the answers are off the wall.The advice about not using rid-ex is good[don't use it].You can get wall treatment at a hardware store,or a well drilling company.Hard rain then a little brown is not good it means surface water is getting into the well. It could be getting in from the top,if that is the case then turn the water away.If the water is not running into the top its getting in through the casing in the well walls have a drilling company check it out,but the water should never get muddy after a rain.I've had a well with good water for 25,26 years.

Answer 4

There is no maintenance for a well that I know of. But the only thing to watch out for is making sure that your tank is properly precharged. If you tank looses its charge then you will fry your well pump. I would get your water tested. You can always buy a test kit from your local hardware store those work pretty nice. Also no matter your well I do not recommend drinking it without some type of filtration system. Reverse osmosis systems work very nicely but I have a bottled water company drop off water. I hope this helps and welcome to a life of brown stained toilets!

Answer 5

How do you care for a well? "very deeply". (sorry, I had to go there) I remember my grandparents had a well on their property and we would lower the bucket and drink 'till our hearts content. But that was so many years ago. If I were you, I'd call someone experienced with well water, drilling, purification, etc just to make sure that you have a good supply and there is no iron or other metals that might be there to harm you. Who knows what lurks deep inside those things today. It should be tested just to make sure that you have no other unknown chemicals that may cause you or your family harm. If all is well - good luck to you. (oh, if you have children, make sure you cover your well so nothing will happen)

Answer 6

DO NOT PUT RID-EX IN YOUR WELL IT WILL KILL YOU!!!!! IF YOUR WATER INS TURNING BROWN AFTER RAIN YOU HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.HOW HIGH ABOVE THE GROUND IS YOUR WELL CAP??? MOST STATES REQUIRE AT LEAST 12 INCHES.IF IT IS AT GROUND LEVEL YOU NEED TO GET YOUR CASING EXTEND.CALL A WELL DRILLER. IF IT IS ABOVE GRADE YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE A HOLE IN YOUR CASING CLOSE TO THE SURFACE ALLOWING CRAP TO GET IN YOUR WELL.EITHER WAY YOU NEED A DRILLERS HELP. THEY CAN FIX MOST PROBLEMS IN A FEW HOURS.THEY CAN ALSO TAKE A WATER SAMPLE GET IT CHECKED AND MAKE SURE YOUR WELL IS UP TO CODE.I WOULD NOT NOT DRINK IT UNTIL YOU HAVE A BACTERIA TEST DONE ON IT.

Answer 7

"Well", I don't know...how? (Did ya get it? "Well", huh? Did ya?)