FAQs

At Rosendall Well Drilling, we advise scheduling a well inspection once every five years. Regular inspections ensure your well continues to operate efficiently and helps prevent the need for critical well pump repairs.

A well pressure tank is an essential component of your well system. It functions as a container that delivers pressurized water from the well pump to your home. When the pump fills the tank with water, the air inside compresses and increases pressure. As water is used, the pressure decreases until it reaches a preset cut-on point, triggering the pump to refill the tank. Once the tank reaches its cut-off pressure point, the pump deactivates until pressure drops again. This system extends your well pump's lifespan and reduces emergency service needs by limiting how frequently the pump cycles on and off. Our experience shows that properly sized tanks with larger capacities require less frequent pump activation.

A well pump is a device that extracts water from a well and transfers it into a storage tank. Well drillers can install these pumps in various locations including inside the home, in outbuildings, or within the well itself. Submersible pumps utilize impellers to draw water in and propel it up through a pipe. Based on our experience, different pump types perform better under specific conditions and have varying initial costs and maintenance requirements. According to Bankrate, well pumps typically require replacement approximately every ten years.

Several issues with a well pressure tank can cause your well pump to short cycle or run continuously. The pressure tank is designed to reduce the pump's workload by maintaining pressure in the system. When tank pressure drops, the pressure switch activates the pump until reaching a preset level, at which point it shuts off. This cycle maximizes efficiency while minimizing pump operation. However, when the pressure tank malfunctions, water pressure becomes unstable, causing the pressure switch to either activate the pump excessively or fail to activate it at all. Constant activation leads to pump overheating and motor wear, potentially resulting in premature pump failure. When the pump fails, water cannot reach the pressure tank or your home, necessitating professional well services for pump repair.

Certain problems with your well pressure tank may cause your well pump to operate continuously, significantly increasing electricity consumption compared to normal operation. To identify if your well water system is consuming excessive electricity, we recommend monitoring your monthly electrical bills to detect any unusual increases. Based on our experience, investing in regular well maintenance and inspections can help maintain consistent electrical usage and prevent unexpected cost increases.

From our experience as well drillers, black sediment in well water typically indicates the presence of minerals such as manganese. Another possible cause is a hole in your drop pipe, which can disturb the well environment and dislodge sediment from your well casing.

Well tanks and pumps operate on high and low pressure settings. As residential well drillers, we typically configure our tanks to function on a 40/60 psi cycle. Reduced pressure may result from a malfunctioning pressure switch or gauge. Additionally, mineral accumulation at the bottom of your well or in the screen can cause pressure reduction. In such cases, a specialized treatment is required to dissolve the mineral buildup and restore normal pressure.

As the owner of a private well, you bear responsibility for regular water testing. In Michigan, newly drilled wells undergo testing for coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrates, and other potential contaminants. Water testing for E. coli and coliform bacteria is also conducted prior to home purchases. For additional information regarding well services and maintenance, please contact our team directly.

Abandoned or unplugged water wells present a direct hazard to Michigan's freshwater aquifers, as they can serve as conduits allowing surface contaminants to enter deeper drinking water sources. To protect these vital freshwater resources for future use, all abandoned well casings and open annuli must be properly sealed. This requirement applies to various abandoned well types including drinking water wells, mineral wells, monitoring wells, geotechnical wells, and oil and gas wells. We encourage both contractors and well owners to properly seal any abandoned wells they encounter. Contractors should consult with appropriate regulatory agencies to ensure correct plugging methods and materials. For proper plugging procedures, please refer to the recommendations outlined in Michigan's Abandoned Water Well Plugging Material Manual provided by EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy).