Water Service FAQs

There are a lot of things homeowners should know if they’re new to well water, including that the water’s safety and quality is their responsibility. Additional things to note include that it:

• Has a pressure tank, which is usually set to regulate pressure between 40 and 60 PSI. It is not unusual to notice pressure changes if you use well water.
• Is typically hard—meaning it’s likely full of calcium and magnesium—and will need to be treated with a water softener.
• Can be smelly and cause staining because it has a high iron content. While iron is not a safety concern, it can be annoying because it changes the taste of your water and leaves stains on your fixtures.
• Has a main shutoff valve near the pump equipment if you ever need to shut off water to the house.

Because well water comes from the ground, there is a higher chance of uranium or arsenic contamination. That’s why we encourage homeowners to schedule regular water tests to avoid potential health problems.

This all depends on the type of well pump, but the basic function is that a pump automatically draws water out of the ground and moves it into your home. The typical well pump averages 10 gallons of water per minute. If your home has a deeper well (beyond 25 feet), it probably uses a submersible pump. It’s placed in a long tube and connected to a power source, which pushes the water up.

You may need to replace your well pump sooner rather than later if:

• No water is coming from your fixtures—this indicates your pump or control switch might be broken.
• You have poor water pressure—your pressure tank may have a problem or your water pipes are clogged. This could be within the well piping itself or the water piping in your home.
• Your pump is running constantly—you may have a problem with your pressure tank or your pump isn’t drawing water efficiently so it’s running nonstop to provide your home with water.

Instead of troubleshooting your system, it’s best to trust a professional plumber like those at Cliff Bergin & Associates—otherwise you may compromise your family’s water supply.

Common signs you have hard water and need a water softener include:

• Scale buildup on your appliances such as tea kettles, coffee pots, and dishes
• Dry skin and hair
• Clothes are fading with each wash
• Stains on sinks, toilets, and bathtubs
• Brittle and easily damaged glassware

There are a number of signs that will indicate your water quality is off—including:

• Unusual taste
• Sulfur smell
• Low water pressure
• Dirt/sediment in water
• Water leaves spots, stains, or scales

The moment you notice any of these signs, call for a professional water test right away. Your family’s health could be at risk of serious illness.

With a single water test, we can test for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, chloride, fluoride, sulphate, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, pH levels, hardness, and other contaminants. Each of these can cause different issues so if we uncover dangerous levels, we’ll let you know right away and recommend a fix which may include reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses pressure to push water through a partially permeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and other larger particles from drinking water. We install these systems in homes where the water tests positive for concerning contaminants. Reverse osmosis ensures your family has clean water, and we’ll guarantee it with annual tests and filter replacements.

There are a few causes of high water bills, but the most common is leaks. Pay attention to running toilets and leaky faucets and fixtures. Even small leaks can add up to a lot of wasted water. If you haven’t had any new equipment installed recently, it’s worth evaluating your family’s water habits. Make sure your kids are turning the water off while they’re brushing their teeth and that you’re running full loads of laundry rather than frequent smaller loads.

Weak water pressure is often caused by a clogged pipe. This is common as galvanized pipes age. Call a pro and they will let you know if the problem is caused by a water valve issue or something else. No problem goes unsolved when you trust the seasoned pros at Cliff Bergin.