EmilyC1918
New Member
Hello All, I did a deep dive through the forums last night to get ideas and answers/advice. I will include all the information I have available as I am purchasing this home and closing this week.
A 4th gen well contractor from the area came out after an inspection and yield test revealed the switch to be old and inoperable, gauge broken, and well dropped from 5gpm over an hours time to 3gpm and then emptied out- the water hose bib was wide open. Total gallons around 275.
Amperage stayed the same throughout the test.
Well contractor replaced the switch, pressure gauge, new well cap, cap extended above ground, and they did a yield test purposely at 2-3gpm and not wide open and it ran it for 3 hours and then it emptied out at over 320 gallons.
In both cases after 15 or so minutes you could pump more water out as the well began to recover and take on more water.
This is in southeast Tennessee. The home is a 1976 and there is no state record of the well.
The well contractor gave me the following information:
Stated well is likely 200-300 ft deep and is getting water from limestone bedrock.
1hp
30/50 switch
He thinks it was likely installed in the 50's
He stated the casing is small (I'm assuming the standard for 1950's?)
Drilled with a rotary cable rig
Casing is likely 60-80ft
Water level was at 25-35ft below cap
Pump was replaced in 1992 (written on the wall by his uncle)
Tank size unknown to me, I'm guessing 30-40. Not tiny, not overly large. Standard around 2.5-3ft height
He stated that the well capacity would not hold an irrigation system but would support sprinklers and I cannot wash cars and run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time but otherwise I needn't worry about having adequate water, just have to let the well recoup.
I retested the well (so a third test) and it remained the same. 5 gpm and dropping over time and around 350 gallons emptied out.
The well contractor who replaced the parts and another well contractor local that I spoke with both say that I should not be worried about not having water in a drought. The second contractor stated we are currently in a drought and getting the 275 gallons is actually good for the current water table.
I would like to know any more advice or input any of you may have. Not that I don't trust the locals, they have been doing this for a very long time. It's just that there are not any records and the well depth is only an educated guess based on his experience (in addition to it being a family run business since 1945 and the fact that pretty much every well in this area and surrounding were dug and serviced by them); I guess it would just make me feel more comfortable since there are unknowns there.
I would appreciate some reassurance or any input including "bewares" you guys might have for me. Third opinions are never a bad thing.
A 4th gen well contractor from the area came out after an inspection and yield test revealed the switch to be old and inoperable, gauge broken, and well dropped from 5gpm over an hours time to 3gpm and then emptied out- the water hose bib was wide open. Total gallons around 275.
Amperage stayed the same throughout the test.
Well contractor replaced the switch, pressure gauge, new well cap, cap extended above ground, and they did a yield test purposely at 2-3gpm and not wide open and it ran it for 3 hours and then it emptied out at over 320 gallons.
In both cases after 15 or so minutes you could pump more water out as the well began to recover and take on more water.
This is in southeast Tennessee. The home is a 1976 and there is no state record of the well.
The well contractor gave me the following information:
Stated well is likely 200-300 ft deep and is getting water from limestone bedrock.
1hp
30/50 switch
He thinks it was likely installed in the 50's
He stated the casing is small (I'm assuming the standard for 1950's?)
Drilled with a rotary cable rig
Casing is likely 60-80ft
Water level was at 25-35ft below cap
Pump was replaced in 1992 (written on the wall by his uncle)
Tank size unknown to me, I'm guessing 30-40. Not tiny, not overly large. Standard around 2.5-3ft height
He stated that the well capacity would not hold an irrigation system but would support sprinklers and I cannot wash cars and run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time but otherwise I needn't worry about having adequate water, just have to let the well recoup.
I retested the well (so a third test) and it remained the same. 5 gpm and dropping over time and around 350 gallons emptied out.
The well contractor who replaced the parts and another well contractor local that I spoke with both say that I should not be worried about not having water in a drought. The second contractor stated we are currently in a drought and getting the 275 gallons is actually good for the current water table.
I would like to know any more advice or input any of you may have. Not that I don't trust the locals, they have been doing this for a very long time. It's just that there are not any records and the well depth is only an educated guess based on his experience (in addition to it being a family run business since 1945 and the fact that pretty much every well in this area and surrounding were dug and serviced by them); I guess it would just make me feel more comfortable since there are unknowns there.
I would appreciate some reassurance or any input including "bewares" you guys might have for me. Third opinions are never a bad thing.
