questions to ask when discussing a new well.

[uncletater]

I was hoping that you guys could help me out.

I am beginning the process of getting quotes on a well. I have never been down this road before and was wondering what I should be asking.

I have always been on city water so this is all new to me. I have spoken to the people around me and they all said thier wells range from 120 feet to 200 feet.

I assume that the company will quote digging x feet. Electrical hook up and pad for well. If they go deeper I guess I pay by the foot.

Any advice would be helpful. I really have no idea on what to expect. Cost wise I ham hoping to come in around 6 to 8 thousand.

thanks

 

[WhiffySpark]

We paid 10 the last two times. 150 deep I think

 

[uncletater]

But where are you located? I am in NC and I would hope that this is a rater slow time for them. I really don't see many of the trucks running up and down the road. Most are parked at the shops when I go by them.

 

[dfiler2]

Do you pay for dry holes?

 

[uncletater]

Do you pay for dry holes?

does this mean if they drill and don't hit water?

Does a company normally charge for this or is there a way for them to test or guess where the best place is.

I really don't know much about this process.

Thanks

 

[galute]

I guess it depends on your location but those prices sound really high to me. I had a new well drilled about 3 years ago. 140' deep, upgrade pump from 1/2 to 3/4 hp. Tanks, pump, wiring, hole all in 3100 bucks. That even included about 60' of solid rock.

 

[uncletater]

I would love to come in at 3100. But I am doubting that it will be that low. We are trying to find local companies (within 10 miles) Hopefully this will help with cost and support the local guy.

 

[Crown Imperial]

May one ask why you are converting from city water to well?
I would have thought most people have wells drilled where there is no city water available. Not the other way around.
The house I live in was on well water. First thing I did was eliminate it and hook up to city water. I got tired of the whole salt bags thing really quickly.

 

[larry_g]

But where are you located? I am in NC and I would hope that this is a rater slow time for them. I really don't see many of the trucks running up and down the road. Most are parked at the shops when I go by them.

I've never quite understood this thinking. Fast or slow it still costs $*** to put that rig in the field and operate it. Casing, insurance, depreciation, fuel, wages, and OH costs are not cheaper just because it is the slow time of the year. It might be the slow time of the year because the wet soil conditions prevent the trucks from getting to the well location without building a road that would not be required is drier conditions.

In this country you will pay for a dry hole, and the filler to close it back up.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[uncletater]

I've never quite understood this thinking. Fast or slow it still costs $*** to put that rig in the field and operate it. Casing, insurance, depreciation, fuel, wages, and OH costs are not cheaper just because it is the slow time of the year.

In this country you will pay for a dry hole, and the filler to close it back up.

lg
no neat sig line

Thanks.

This is good to know. I know that some trades around here do discount when things are slow just to keep busy. Example would be roofers work cheaper this time of year. But I don't thing I would want a roof dome in the winter.

 

[kd3pc]

you might want to ask them about the various casings?

I would also ask whether they put the "yard" back like it was prior to drilling. We had a lot of water runoff that really ticked off the neighbors....didn't rut anything. but he went off about all the water and the silt/mud.

In the states I have lived, the well had to be *** feet from the house and the septic and ....such. YOu might want to talk with the health department about those kinds of requirements. Or which ever agency writes the permits for a well..

I would also make sure the driller tests, or has the water tested, just for my peace of mind. In VA it was several hundred to get a real quality test. That then can tell you whether or which treatment you will need, or when the dozens of culligan people call you to sell you a system, you may not need.

 

[uncletater]

you might want to ask them about the various casings?

I would also ask whether they put the "yard" back like it was prior to drilling. We had a lot of water runoff that really ticked off the neighbors....didn't rut anything. but he went off about all the water and the silt/mud.

In the states I have lived, the well had to be *** feet from the house and the septic and ....such. YOu might want to talk with the health department about those kinds of requirements. Or which ever agency writes the permits for a well..

I would also make sure the driller tests, or has the water tested, just for my peace of mind. In VA it was several hundred to get a real quality test. That then can tell you whether or which treatment you will need, or when the dozens of culligan people call you to sell you a system, you may not need.

Good point on the septic. Our future plan would the septic and leech field would be about 100 yards from where we would like to place the well.

I guess the well company will also make location suggestions and give us options. (hopefully)

 

[Davefr]

I was hoping that you guys could help me out.

I am beginning the process of getting quotes on a well. I have never been down this road before and was wondering what I should be asking.

I have always been on city water so this is all new to me. I have spoken to the people around me and they all said thier wells range from 120 feet to 200 feet.

I assume that the company will quote digging x feet. Electrical hook up and pad for well. If they go deeper I guess I pay by the foot.

Any advice would be helpful. I really have no idea on what to expect. Cost wise I ham hoping to come in around 6 to 8 thousand.

thanks

Make sure you get it witched and ask the driller for the best witcher in your area.

 

[uncletater]

Does witching really work?

Seems to me like a snake oil thing to get more money from the home owner. I will ask what they think. I bet I will get some strange looks. I do live in the bible belt.

 

[southalabama]

I'd leave the witches for halloween

I've contemplated a well for use on the land. I do have "city" water.

The only thing that concerns me, is there is no guarantee at what level they hit water, if at all. I'm really not worried about not finding it. I can hit water by digging a post hole. What concerns me is the checkbook being open if they punch through a level of water, go deeper just to run the bill up. I guess the water well drillers I talked to talked to fast and weren't reassuring enough for me to pull the trigger.

 

[uncletater]

Agreed. It scares the hell out of me to set a rig up and just start drilling. Each section of pipe means more $$$$$

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Get clear on the cost per foot to drill PLUS the cost for casing through mud, etc. Don't be hit by surprise about the casing.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Just hitting water may not be enough. You want to have enough water (flow rate) also you don't want to have your well run dry (pretty common for some people, especially in the summer). You also will need to think about water quality and treatment.

 

[uncletater]

Casing and water quality are both good points

 

[Thumper68]

I have a friend who is a driller and up here you sign a contract for so many feet and then so much per foot after that, it includes casing and all the normal stuff, permit, pump, piping to the building and we have to have it tested by a qualified lab.

If your neighbors wells are at the 150 to 200 foot level and your land is similar to thiers then do your contract for 200, if the water comes in at 150 you lose, but if it is at 250 you win. The extra $$ per foot is what can kill you.

 

[finn]

I guess it depends on your location but those prices sound really high to me. I had a new well drilled about 3 years ago. 140' deep, upgrade pump from 1/2 to 3/4 hp. Tanks, pump, wiring, hole all in 3100 bucks. That even included about 60' of solid rock.

I paid $7500 15 years ago for a well 140 feet deep in sand in rural Upper Michigan. That was the lowest of 3 bids.

Prices are regional. What a well costs in Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Texas or anywhere but my county is irrelevant.

 

[uncletater]

I have a friend who is a driller and up here you sign a contract for so many feet and then so much per foot after that, it includes casing and all the normal stuff, permit, pump, piping to the building and we have to have it tested by a qualified lab.

If your neighbors wells are at the 150 to 200 foot level and your land is similar to thiers then do your contract for 200, if the water comes in at 150 you lose, but if it is at 250 you win. The extra $$ per foot is what can kill you.

I am confused. If My contract states 200 feet and they go 250 wouldn't I have to pay for the extra 50 feet outside of the contract?

 

[kbs2244]

Check with the county building department.
They, or the health department, may have records of well depths in your area.
That will give you a starting point.

 

[rburke65]

Oh ya....the last 50' will be free........NOT! I can't believe that them folks are drilling for free. Daddy ever tell ya there is no such thing as a free lunch. I know over half the populous think there is but not in the private sector.

 

[gt3 racer]

Find out if there are or have been increases in people having to re-drill deeper. In the western burbs of Chicago there are 3 aquifers(sp) health dept will not let you drill in the first, the second has a chance of going dry. Had personal experience with this. The third is at 600' plus, we are at 695' cost 22k 9 years ago.