Testing the Water – Well Water, that is 

This is part of our series on the Old Home Inspection Checklist

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If you’re looking at an older home to buy, especially if it is in a rural area, there is a chance that the water supply is coming from a well located on the property. While the well system may have been updated (hopefully) since the house was built, it’s wise to have a water system professional check to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced.  It would also be advisable to have the water tested by an accredited lab which will show if there are any problems such as unhealthy bacteria, an abundance of natural chemicals and minerals or pesticides and other contaminants that could have seeped into the ground from nearby farms or plants.

What to Look for

Use our Home Inspection Checklist for Historic Houses when you do your first serious walk-through.  While you’re checking out the kitchen and bathrooms, run the water and flush the toilets. Note:

• Does the water smell like rotten eggs?
• Does it have a fishy or metallic taste?
• Is the water cloudy?
• Turn on the faucets and flush the toilet – is the water pressure weak or slow?
• Do the faucets sputters when turned on?
• Do the pipes groan?
• Are the toilets, tubs or sinks stained red, brown, blue, green or yellow?

Hopefully the seller has been on top of maintaining their well system but don’t be shy – ask for their last inspection report.

Get a Professional Inspection

A professional water well system contractor can determine how old the system is and if it should be cleaned. If old or too dirty, they might recommend replacing it instead. Go to Wellowner.org to find a certified contractor near you. 

Have the Water Tested by a Water Quality Lab

Chances are, the professional contractor will test the water as part of the inspection. If not, you can find a list of certified laboratories in your area on the EPA website or contact your county’s health department for more information. 

A Well System Requires Maintenance 

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to keep the water system clean and safe – it operates off the grid.  Wells should be tested annually at a professional lab. It’s not costly and well-worth the peace of mind.  To make sure the water is as pure as possible, have a whole house or well purification system installed. They run between $400 – $900. and are available to filter the water based on the results from the test.  A good system will filter out all the bad contaminants keeping the water safe to use at all times.

Before you sign on the dotted line, have a professional  well system contractor evaluate the well and test the water.

Some resources provided by wellowner.org

This is a guide for the prospective homeowner to help determine the condition of the house.  Some of the checkpoints on this list might be deal breakers or they might be just part of the journey you’ll need to address when fixing up or restoring an older house. This is not an official document, but a guide to assess the kind of work involved in fixing up the house and perhaps to use as bargaining points when discussing terms with the seller.

Please have a certified Home Inspector go through and submit a report on the house before you purchase it.