A private well is infrastructure — a drilled or dug hole with a casing, a pump, and a pressure system that delivers water to your home. Like any infrastructure, it ages, components wear, and conditions change. Understanding the condition of your well, how old the pump is, and what warning signs to watch for is how you avoid waking up to no water pressure on a January morning.

“The pump question I get most often is: how old is this pump? Because submersible pumps last 10 to 15 years on average, and most rural homeowners have no idea when their pump was installed. If you don’t know, we can usually find out from the well driller’s log or from the pump itself. Replacing a pump on your schedule is much more convenient and less expensive than replacing it on an emergency basis at 2 AM.”

— Marguerite Fournier, licensed septic system installer and well contractor with 18 years of experience in rural water and wastewater systems in the local area

Questions About Well Structure and Casing

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What is the condition of the well casing?

The well casing is the steel or thermoplastic pipe that lines the drilled hole and extends above grade. It protects the well from surface water contamination. Ask a well contractor to assess:

Casing height above grade: The well casing should extend at least 30 cm (12 inches) above the ground surface. A casing that’s at or below grade allows surface water, insects, and animals to enter the well.

Casing condition: Steel casings can corrode over time. Look for rust, holes, or cracking. Thermoplastic casings are more resistant to corrosion.

Well cap condition: The cap seals the top of the casing against insects and vermin. A cracked, missing, or poorly fitting cap is an entry point for contamination. It should be vented (to allow pressure equalization) but screened.

Grouting: The annular space between the casing and the drilled hole should be grouted (sealed with cement or bentonite) from the casing bottom to a point near the surface. This prevents surface water from running down the outside of the casing into the aquifer. Ask whether the grouting is intact and visible at the surface.

Is the well setback from contamination sources adequate?

Under your region’s Wells Regulation, wells must maintain minimum distances from potential contamination sources:

  • Private sewage disposal systems (septic): Minimum 15 meters (50 feet); 30 meters for a drilled well near a high-capacity system
  • Barns and stables: Minimum 15 meters
  • Fuel storage: Minimum 15 meters
  • Property lines: Minimum 3 meters

Ask whether the existing well meets current setback requirements. An existing well that doesn’t comply may need to be relocated if a new septic system or other feature is installed.

Questions About Submersible Pumps

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How old is the submersible pump, and when was it last serviced?

Submersible well pumps are installed inside the well casing, submerged in the water, and connected to the surface by a drop pipe and electrical cable. They typically last 10–15 years, though some last longer with favorable water chemistry and conditions.

Ask when the pump was installed (if records are available) and when it was last inspected. If the pump is more than 10 years old, ask whether proactive replacement makes sense before an emergency failure.

What are the warning signs that the pump is failing?

Ask the contractor to explain the warning signs of pump failure that you should watch for:

  • Low water pressure or intermittent loss of pressure: Pump may be losing capacity or the pressure tank may be failing
  • Pump running continuously without shutting off: Pressure switch failure or pump unable to build adequate pressure
  • Air spurting from faucets: Can indicate a waterlogged pressure tank or a pump drawing air (dropping water level)
  • Sand or grit in the water: Pump may be drawing from the bottom of the well or the pump screen may be damaged
  • Discolored water: Rust-colored water may indicate pump corrosion; sudden turbid water after years of clear water may indicate a structural change in the well

What is the pump capacity, and is it adequate for the household’s demand?

Ask whether the pump’s rated flow rate is adequate for current household demand. Key metrics:

Pump capacity: Litres per minute or gallons per minute the pump can deliver.

Well yield: The rate at which water flows into the well from the aquifer. The pump should not exceed the well’s yield, or it will draw the well down and potentially run dry.

Household demand: A household of 4 typically needs 15–20 gallons per minute peak demand, though this is often managed by the pressure tank’s storage rather than continuous pump output.

Questions About the Pressure System

What is the condition of the pressure tank?

The pressure tank stores pressurized water and cycles the pump on and off. A waterlogged pressure tank (one that’s lost its air charge) causes the pump to cycle very frequently — reducing pump life dramatically.

Signs of a waterlogged tank:
– Pump turns on immediately when water is used (no stored pressure)
– Pump cycles on and off rapidly during use

Ask the contractor to check the tank’s pre-charge pressure (should match the pump-on pressure minus 2 PSI) and the tank’s overall condition.

What pressure settings are appropriate for my system?

Standard residential pressure settings:
– Pump-on pressure: Typically 30–40 PSI
– Pump-off pressure: Typically 50–60 PSI

Different settings may be appropriate depending on household demand and plumbing elevation. Ask what the current settings are and whether they’re appropriate for your system.

Questions About Well Rehabilitation

Can a low-yield well be rehabilitated?

Some wells with declining yield can be rehabilitated through:

  • Well development: Using high-pressure water or a surge block to open blocked fractures and increase flow from the aquifer
  • Hydrofracking: High-pressure water injection to fracture the surrounding rock and increase yield
  • Deepening: Drilling deeper into the aquifer

Ask whether any of these approaches are appropriate for your well’s specific situation before considering a new well.

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