Water Well Testing

Getting Your Water Tested

Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

21 August 2018

If you have a water well, you have the water quality tested
periodically. This will insure that your water is clean and safe.

Watch the Video

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Water Well Testing

If you have a water well, have the water quality tested periodically. This will insure that your water is clean and safe.

But before you test your well water, make sure the water well system is clean. If your well system is dirty, a test may indicate a false positive, that is, the appearance of contamination even when the groundwater is clean.

You may see evidence of a dirty well directly. Your water may be cloudy. It may taste bad or have odor problems. Even low water flow can indicate an unsanitary well.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

Use a Qualified Water Well Testing Contractor

But there may also be problems you can’t see, smell or taste directly. Only a qualified water well systems contractor can determine if your water well system needs cleaning by conducting an anaerobic bacteria test, a positive coliform test, or other tests showing an accumulation of debris in the well.

One thing is certain, never attempt to clean a well by pouring bleach into your well. More often than not, doing so will only contaminate your water without actually addressing the problem.

Proper well cleaning removes debris from the well bottom and cleans every component of the well. Only then is your well ready to be fully disinfected. This is a job that can only be done by a qualified water well systems contractor.

Test your water regularly if an infant is living in the home.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

When to Test Your Water

The National Ground Water Association recommends that well owners test the water annually for bacteria, nitrates/nitrites, and any contaminants of local concern. You should also test your water after any repairs to the well, the well cap or any new contamination source.

Have your water tested any time there is a change in the taste or smell of your water or if family members or house-guests have recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness.

Finally, test your water regularly if an infant is living in the home.

Once your well is clean and disinfected, have your water tested. This will give you a true picture of your water quality. And when you know your well is clean and your water is safe, you can sleep a little easier at night.

The licensed technicians at Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning are available to deliver quick and friendly service. Call Us Today!

Avoid AC Failure - Upgrade Your AC System

Water Well Testing

Forgotten Heroes of Air Conditioning Service Coils and Fans – They’re Important, too

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

The Secret About Air Conditioner Maintenance

Water Well Professionals

Water Well Problems

Water Well Service

Water Well Maintenance Basics

Contact Us

Address:
11822 Pika Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602

Phone:
(240) 530-0458

Business Hours:
24/7

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance

Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

2 October 2018

There are typically 3 to 4 times as many articles on how to fix a problem as compared to the number of articles on how to prevent a problem in the first place. The National Ground Water Association found that 80 percent of homeowners had never had a well maintenance inspection.

Preventive Maintenance

That’s unfortunate. Because, without proper preventive maintenance, a small, easily correctable problem can very quickly become a large, inconvenient, much more expensive problem.

Most people would agree that preventive water well maintenance is a good idea. However, those same people often fail to heed their own intuition and actually follow through on for their water well system.

Just remember – you have to drink the water that comes out of your well. So it’s not just the cost of preventive maintenance. It’s also a matter of health and safety.

Watch the Video

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

Water Well - Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Simple, Ongoing Steps To Maintain Your Well

In order to keep your well in top shape so that your family has clean, safe water to drink, you’ll need to maintain your well appropriately. A qualified, licensed or certified water well professional can make sure your well is serviced correctly.

Any source of drinking water should be checked whenever there is a change in the taste, odor or appearance of your water, or anytime the water supply system is serviced. Usually, an annual well maintenance check, including a bacterial test, is recommended.

Beyond professional maintenance, there are number things you should be aware of to maintain your well water quality and safety.

Any damage to the casing could affect your well’s sanitation, leaving you with potentially unclean and unsafe drinking water.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

Periodically check the well cap and the top of the casing to be sure everything is in good condition. Make sure to keep the top of your well at least one foot above the ground and slope the ground away from your well for proper drainage.

Be careful when working or mowing around your well. Any damage to the casing could affect your well’s sanitation, leaving you with potentially unclean and unsafe drinking water.

Never pile snow, leaves or other materials around your well and always keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil away from your well. Make sure that any chemical storage or waste systems are a safe distance from your well.

Of course, at some point, your well will come to the end of its serviceable life – typically after more than 20 years. When that day arrives, have a qualified water well contractor properly seal your well after constructing your new system.

The licensed technicians at Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning are available to deliver quick and friendly service. Call Us Today!

Water Well Testing

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Water Well Professionals

Water Well Problems

Water Well Service

Water Well Maintenance Basics

Contact Us

Address:
11822 Pika Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602

Phone:
(240) 530-0458

Business Hours:
24/7

Water Well Professionals

Use Qualified Professionals

Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

25 September 2018

Your water well needs to be serviced, repaired or replaced. You’ve already decided to heed our advice and not attempt to do it yourself. It’s time to pick a qualified professional water well systems contractor to provide service on your well.

Only Use Qualified Water Well Professionals

To start your search, look for a contractor’s certifications and licenses. Many states require water well system contractors be licensed. If you live in a state that does, be sure to select a licensed contractor to service your well.

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) certifies water well drillers and pump installers. If possible, find a contractor who is certified by and is a member of the NGWA.

Next, make sure the contractor has adequate equipment that’s in good condition to complete the job in a timely fashion. Old or worn equipment may be inadequate and extend the time needed to complete the job, adding unnecessary and costly expense.

Make sure the contractor knows all the relevant health and safety codes and has adequate and applicable liability and worker’s compensation insurance to protect you in case of a mishap.

Watch the Video

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

The Contractor’s Contract

Review the contractor’s written contract specifying the terms, conditions and cost of the job. Using this information allows you to compare offers and decide which contractor to hire.

The contract should state the job’s start date and the scope of the work, including the specifics of the well, diameter and thickness of the casing, yield evaluation procedures, the type of screen, well cap, and seal to be installed, and the disinfection and clean-up procedures.

In addition, the contract should also clearly spell-out the contractor’s liability insurance coverage and a statement that all work will comply with applicable regulations and codes. Finally, it should contain a guarantee of materials and workmanship.

Check out contractor’s reputation with previous customers. Ask for references.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

A well log, created when a new well is finished, contains information about the well and the surrounding ground. Select a contractor who can supply a well log.

Finally, check out contractor’s reputation with previous customers. Ask for references.

A properly constructed water well should provide trouble-free operation for many years. Make sure you employ a qualified water well contractor to drill and maintain your well and you’ll sleep comfortably knowing you and your family can enjoy clean water for the foreseeable future.

The licensed technicians at Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning are available to deliver quick and friendly service. Call Us Today!

Water Well Testing

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Water Well Professionals

Water Well Problems

Water Well Service

Water Well Maintenance Basics

Contact Us

Address:
11822 Pika Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602

Phone:
(240) 530-0458

Business Hours:
24/7

Water Well Service

Don’t Service Your Own Well

Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

17 September 2018

Though water wells are pretty straightforward in their design and operation, proper service requires specialized equipment, materials, and techniques. In most cases, only a qualified professional can provide what’s necessary to keep well systems operational and water supplies safe.

Watch the Video

Water Well Service – Not a DIY Project

Well-meaning homeowners (no pun intended), while attempting to repair or service their water well, often make things worse instead of better. They may break parts that are otherwise functional. And because they lack the know-how or the proper tools, they often cannot finish the repair once getting started.

There’s a very real risk that a homeowner might drop a tool or a replacement part into the well, which can damage the well pump. And if the pump is still connected to power, the homeowner also risks electrocution.

And remember, every time the well cap is removed, the homeowner risks debris falling into the well or bacterial contamination of their water.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

Pre-Service Checklist

Here are four parts to a water well service checklist.

First, have a flow test conducted to see how much water your well produces. Check the pump performance, the line voltage and the amp load when the pump starts. Also, make sure the pump is properly grounded.

Test the pump motor pressure tank and pressure switch contact to be sure there’s enough water pressure and no leaks.

Well-meaning homeowners (no pun intended), while attempting to repair or service their water well, often make things worse instead of better.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

Next, be sure the well equipment is clean and germ-free. In addition, check that the water quality meets local code requirements and is free from odor, cloudiness, and sediment.

Third, test the water for coliform bacteria, nitrates, and anything else of local concern. More than likely, you’ll have to add some sort of purification system like a reverse osmosis system or other filtration.

Lastly, get a report including all laboratory and other test results, from a reputable water testing company that explains those results and makes appropriate recommendations. Read the report carefully and follow the recommendations.

The licensed technicians at Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning are available to deliver quick and friendly service. Call Us Today!

Water Well Testing

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Water Well Professionals

Water Well Problems

Water Well Service

Water Well Maintenance Basics

Contact Us

Address:
11822 Pika Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602

Phone:
(240) 530-0458

Business Hours:
24/7

Water Well Problems

Understand the Problem

Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

9 September 2018

Your water well was working fine for years. Now you’re not getting the same amount of water you used to and the water you do get smells bad. Now what?

Understand Your Water Well Problems

Before you begin to panic and start worrying about how to fix you water well, it’s best to find out just what’s wrong. Have a qualified contractor come out to your home, examine your well and explain the problem so that you thoroughly understand it. Only then explore options for getting your well back into proper working order.

Don’t be shy about asking questions until you’re satisfied. Many times, homeowners find themselves in the dark because they don’t understand their water well system or what’s wrong with it when there’s a problem. And if the contractor doesn’t completely explain the problem and how they intend to fix it, the poor homeowner won’t know how to proceed.

Watch the Video

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

The fact is, there’s never only one solution for every water well problem. There are different reasons for every water well system problem and each one has its own unique solution.

Work with your contractor. Have an open and frank discussion about the problem. Continue to ask questions until you understand the problem and the proposed fix. That will increase your confidence and comfort level as the repair process continues.

Find Old Wells

One problem that’s often overlooked is the existence of other, abandoned water wells on your property. If possible, check to see if your property has any old, unused wells. Abandoned wells should be properly sealed by a qualified water well systems contractor for several reasons.

First, abandoned wells can contaminate the aquifer your well uses for drinking water. Abandoned wells often have a broken cap – or no cap at all – that can allow bacteria, bugs, rodents or other objects into the well.

Even if they are capped, old unused wells will have deteriorated well casings that allows dirty surface water to infiltrate the well contaminate the aquifer.

Abandoned hand-dug wells also present a physical danger to people who can fall into them.

At Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we want to provide you, our valued customer, with all the information and insights you want and need to maintain a safe and secure home for you and your family plumbersinwaldorfmd

- even if that means we don't provide the service we're explaining in this post.

Jerry's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning doesn't provide this service, but it's very important. So please contact local service provider to make sure this service is up-to-date in your home.

Abandoned hand-dug wells also present a physical danger to people who can fall into them.

Begin your search for old wells by consulting old maps, plans or property documents, and water utility history. You may also gain some insight by talking with neighbors who have lived in the area longer than you.

Old wells often leave clues to their existence. You may spot pipes sticking out of the ground, depressions in the ground, and even old concrete vaults or pits. An old windmill usually indicates the presence of an old well.

When you have located one or more old wells on your property, it’s time to call in a qualified water well system contractor to properly seal it. Do not attempt to seal an abandoned well yourself! Sealing an old well requires special equipment, techniques, and materials to remove anything from the well and fill it with a special grout from the bottom up.

In many cases, your contractor must follow approved well sealing procedures dictated by state law. Laws vary from state to state which is a big reason this isn’t a DIY project. In addition, homeowners are required to notify their local Department of Environmental Protection or Water Quality Division to document the “decommissioning” of the well.

By using a qualified water well system contractor, you can be confident that the procedures required in your area are followed.

The licensed technicians at Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning are available to deliver quick and friendly service. Call Us Today!

Water Well Testing

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Water Well Professionals

Water Well Problems

Water Well Service

Water Well Maintenance Basics

Contact Us

Address:
11822 Pika Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602

Phone:
(240) 530-0458

Business Hours:
24/7

Water Well Testing

Getting Your Water Tested

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Water Well Testing

Use a Qualified Water Well Testing Contractor

When to Test Your Water

Contact Us

Water Well Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance

Simple, Ongoing Steps To Maintain Your Well

Contact Us

Water Well Professionals

Use Qualified Professionals

Only Use Qualified Water Well Professionals

The Contractor’s Contract

Contact Us

Water Well Service

Don’t Service Your Own Well

Water Well Service – Not a DIY Project

Pre-Service Checklist

Contact Us

Water Well Problems

Understand the Problem

Understand Your Water Well Problems

Find Old Wells

Contact Us

RATINGS & REVIEWS