Water Well Advice

[NorthwoodsLife]

OP here. Thank you to everyone for your advice. Having never had a well system before, I appreciate everyone's knowledge.
Last year when we bought the home, water was crystal clear. Put it in a glass, crystal clear. There is no water filter system.
Winterized the house over winter.
Returned in April, re-energized the water system. No problems. No air in the lines, no sputtering, clear water.
Last month, it starts sputtering air on occasion. Water is now cloudy in a glass of water but it slowly clears. I didn't pay attention if the water in a glass cleared from top down or vice versa.
Will be back home there in a day. Will see what's up because I'll have a professional come out and inspect/ repair.
The date on the water heater is 1987. It's going to be replaced. Due to the general visual condition of the well cap, I'm guessing that it's a 1987 pump in the well.
This home used to be only a hunters retreat. Used only a few months of the year. Now it's our full time home. Moving in permanently now.

Kind of a money pit, but water isn't something I will cut corners on.

Thanks again

Edit: I looked online for my well information, found my neighbors well information but nothing about my well. I would think that a well professional can find the history of my well.

 

[Biker1mike]

Well, pun intended, you have a whole list of questions for your well professionals.
Well water condition and quality does changeover time.

After spending thousands on my well I found the best water treatment is water mixed with your favorite spirit.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

My water well cap. Pic from home inspection report.

And my pressure tank.

 

[RCW]

Well that's interesting (no pun intended)....

I've seen 100's (1,000's?). Not many like that set-up.

Not going to win any contest for a neat job....

What's the diameter of that casing/cap? Is it steel?

Is that the water line coming out the top with a 90? Hard to tell w/ insulation....

Is that the electric line stapled to the wall?

Is there really a cap on it?

PS - - Northwoods - I deleted my other message after seeing your pics...

 

[Tughill Tom]

We need way better pic's of this. Remove all the insulation from the tank and get something better on what you're calling the well cap. and wiring as well.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Well that's interesting (no pun intended)....

I've seen 100's (1,000's?). Not many like that set-up.

Not going to win any contest for a neat job....

What's the diameter of that casing/cap? Is it steel?

Is that the water line coming out the top with a 90? Hard to tell w/ insulation....

Is that the electric line stapled to the wall?

Is there really a cap on it?

PS - - Northwoods - I deleted my other message after seeing your pics...

We need way better pic's of this. Remove all the insulation from the tank and get something better on what you're calling the well cap. and wiring as well.

I'm not home. Will be there tomorrow and over the next few days I'll pull off the insulation and take a better look at the "cap".

As I said, it's a former part time use cabin / lodge / house. I have my work cut out for me.

IDK if there's an actual cap, it looks like duct tape to me in the picture. I'm not there now. IDK is that is the actual casing, or if it's plastic or metal. Lots of unknowns at this point.

The electric romex on the wall is for the pump. The other electric by the 'cap' is for the pipe heater.

I'll follow up in the next few days once I get there.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

@RCW :

You haven't seen any like that, and you've seen 100's... That's disconcerting for me.

Cap and casing material is unknown right now.

The workmanship of the whole discombobulation is "sh#+.

Yes, that's a hard and full 90 degrees ell at casing top.

I seriously appreciate your input!

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Well, pun intended, you have a whole list of questions for your well professionals.
Well water condition and quality does changeover time.

After spending thousands on my well I found the best water treatment is water mixed with your favorite spirit.

4oz of water and 2oz Scotch. Everything looks cloudy.

 

[RBsingl]

That setup is "interesting"... I assume the well predates the structure. I can only imagine what my well driller friends would say about a structure being built over the well! It looks like either permitting/inspection of water systems is very relaxed in your area or the previous owner cut some corners with the process.

They are pretty loose on permitting a lot of stuff in this area but wells aren't one of them. After my new well was put in, the county came out to take a sample before passing the new well but they wouldn't take the sample and pass it until a different hose bib was installed. The county requires a water bib right after the shut-off valve for the purpose of taking a sample and the one installed was a standard threaded one that would take a hose. The newly revised department regulations required a smooth nose bib instead of threaded.

Rodger

 

[Biker1mike]

It's best to open the conversation with the well driller and saying that you got a lot of advice of guys on the internet. At that point you should expect at least a 25% increase in repair cost.
I suggest you leave it alone. Talk to the well folks , show them the system and stand back as they figure it out. Grab your check book and act like you knew it would be that expensive. Or look amazed as they tell you it is a simple fix.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

That setup is "interesting"... I assume the well predates the structure. I can only imagine what my well driller friends would say about a structure being built over the well! It looks like either permitting/inspection of water systems is very relaxed in your area or the previous owner cut some corners with the process.

They are pretty loose on permitting a lot of stuff in this area but wells aren't one of them. After my new well was put in, the county came out to take a sample before passing the new well but they wouldn't take the sample and pass it until a different hose bib was installed. The county requires a water bib right after the shut-off valve for the purpose of taking a sample and the one installed was a standard threaded one that would take a hose. The newly revised department regulations required a smooth nose bib instead of threaded.

Rodger

It passed inspection due to being "grand fathered".
The house grew in size over the last 35 years, the well remained and became indoors.
The inspection mentioned a sample valve was indeed, missing. The powers that be signed off on it without it. I'll have one installed.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

It's best to open the conversation with the well driller and saying that you got a lot of advice of guys on the internet. At that point you should expect at least a 25% increase in repair cost.
I suggest you leave it alone. Talk to the well folks , show them the system and stand back as they figure it out. Grab your check book and act like you knew it would be that expensive. Or look amazed as they tell you it is a simple fix.

Exactly!!! I read your sarcasm.
Seriously, tho. Mentioning the Internet is a deal killer.
Good advice.

 

[lynnmor]

Is there a hatch or window above the well to allow the pipe and pump to be pulled? Why would anyone run pipes and wiring over the well to interfere with pump service. You are spot on with your statement: "The workmanship of the whole discombobulation is "sh#+."

Now that this mess is indoors, will it ever be exposed to freezing temperatures?

 

[RBsingl]

Is there a hatch or window above the well to allow the pipe and pump to be pulled? Why would anyone run pipes and wiring over the well to interfere with pump service. You are spot on with your statement: "The workmanship of the whole discombobulation is "sh#+."

When I saw that I was trying to imagine how they pull the pump out of the well for replacement or worse trying to pull and set a new screen. Work probably requires a plumber and a carpenter...

Reminds me of Gibbs building a ship in his basement on NCIS

Rodger

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Is there a hatch or window above the well to allow the pipe and pump to be pulled? Why would anyone run pipes and wiring over the well to interfere with pump service. You are spot on with your statement: "The workmanship of the whole discombobulation is "sh#+."

Now that this mess is indoors, will it ever be exposed to freezing temperatures?

When I saw that I was trying to imagine how they pull the pump out of the well for replacement or worse trying to pull and set a new screen. Work probably requires a plumber and a carpenter...

Reminds me of Gibbs building a ship in his basement on NCIS

Rodger

You are both correct. The only good part is that it's all under a single story addition to the house. Previous owner built a screen room and roofed over the well.

The good part for the repair:

I spent 20 years in construction and I am able to remove the roof and/or walls, and reconstruct, if necessary.

I just don't know much about water wells.

Thank you

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Is there a hatch or window above the well to allow the pipe and pump to be pulled? Why would anyone run pipes and wiring over the well to interfere with pump service. You are spot on with your statement: "The workmanship of the whole discombobulation is "sh#+."

Now that this mess is indoors, will it ever be exposed to freezing temperatures?

It was exposed to freeze, but I'm changing that. There are no furnace flues over the well cap. Only the pipe heater under the insulation.
I'll be replacing that too.

 

[RBsingl]

You won't need to know much with a good well company but you will learn a lot which is good knowledge to have about the system.

Once a well system is in good shape, they tend to be pretty trouble free. But especially with the difficulty of accessing the pump, I would add a good surge suppressor at the breaker for the pump to give it a little more protection against lightning damage.

Rodger

 

[WFM]

A friend of mine recently had well issues. No water.. He thought that his pump had burned out. His well is 250' drilled well. Maybe 15 yrs old. The guy who drilled it had retired and his son had taken over. He call and asked the guy about comming out to check the pump. The guy said we no longer check the pumps. And sometimes the well just goes bad and we need to drill a new well.
" I'm out three weeks for drilling if you want to book a new well to be drilled"
$9500. plus the casings. My friend was mad. I told him to call the local plumber. The plumber told him becouse of the iron in our Maine water check the presser switch and the nipple it connects to. It was completely plugged with crap. He installed a new switch and nipple. And the pump worked fine.
No new well needed.

 

[D2Cat]

A friend of mine recently had well issues. No water.. He thought that his pump had burned out. His well is 250' drilled well. Maybe 15 yrs old. The guy who drilled it had retired and his son had taken over. He call and asked the guy about comming out to check the pump. The guy said we no longer check the pumps. And sometimes the well just goes bad and we need to drill a new well.
" I'm out three weeks for drilling if you want to book a new well to be drilled"
$9500. plus the casings. My friend was mad. I told him to call the local plumber. The plumber told him becouse of the iron in our Maine water check the presser switch and the nipple it connects to. It was completely plugged with crap. He installed a new switch and nipple. And the pump worked fine.
No new well needed.

WFM, did he pay you your commission? Solving folk's problems is a valuable service.

 

[DustyRusty]

Wells......... a very deep subject! Mine is 460' down, and the pump is located 400' down. I haven't had any problems with it in more than 20 years, and it keeps pumping water. 2HP 220 volt Dayton Stainless Steel pump, hanging off of 400' of stainless steel plastic coated wire. I installed it myself in 1983, and about 5 years later it got hit by lightning, so I had to pull it out and replace the pump. Now I have a surge protector on the entire electrical system, and I hope and pray that I never have to ever pull it out again. Did replace the control a few years ago since it was clogged up with iron bacteria (fancy term for rust).