Ever turn on your kitchen faucet out by Hickory Creek only to watch sputtering water spit out and die? That kind of issue will disrupt your morning very fast. Out here in Denton County, our clay-heavy soils and brutal summer heat put a unique strain on private water systems. If you want to avoid a total system failure when it is 105 degrees outside, you cannot just cross your fingers and ignore your water well.
Warning Signs Your Well is Asking for Help
Your pump usually tries to tell you when it is struggling before it completely quits. You just have to know what to listen for.
- Water pressure that drops off randomly during laundry or showers
- Faucets spitting air or tiny dirt particles
- Your pressure switch clicking on and off too fast
- A sudden spike in your electric bill because the pump motor is running non-stop
If you notice the water taking on a muddy tint after a heavy north Texas downpour, do not panic immediately, but keep a close eye on it. Surface water can sometimes sneak down the casing if things are not sealed right.
What Routine Well Maintenance Actually Looks Like
You do not need to pull your pump every weekend, but you do need a solid plan. Aim High Well Drilling tells homeowners to check their pressure tank monthly. Tap the side of it, and it should sound hollow near the top and heavy near the bottom where the bladder holds water. If it sounds completely solid all the way up, your bladder is likely shot and water is logged where air should be.
Testing your water quality once a year is also very important around here. Agricultural runoff and shifting limestone strata can mess with your chemistry without changing how the water tastes. At Aim High Well Drilling, we see plenty of systems that could have been saved from premature motor burn-out simply by keeping the pressure tank properly tuned and catching electrical draw issues early.
Extending the Life of Your Well Repair
When you finally have to replace a component, you want that new part to last. Protecting your electrical setup from lightning strikes is very important during our spring thunderstorm season. A good surge protector on your well control box can save you a thousand dollars in repairs overnight. Keep the area around your wellhead clear of tall weeds and shrubs so pests do not build nests inside your sanitary cap. Also, never pile mulch or soil up against the casing. You want that steel or PVC sticking at least a foot or two above ground level to keep surface runoff away.
When to Stop Tinkering and Call a Professional
Aim High Well Drilling supports basic maintenance like fixing a leaky garden hose, but messing with a 240-volt pump wired deep underground is a great way to shock yourself or drop a few hundred feet of drop pipe down the hole. If your pump refuses to kick on, check your breaker first. If the breaker is not tripped and the system is still dead, step away from the tools and give us a call at Aim High Well Drilling. We provide Well Drilling Contractor services and well repairs for homes in Denton, TX.