There’s no such thing as a maintenance-free private well - in Wonder Lake or anywhere else

A maintenance free well? The water just doesn't flow that way. There is no such
thing as a 'maintenance free well.'

We all know that we have to maintain our cars if we want them to keep running while keeping their value. At least, we should know that. But, there are more people who think that their private well in Wonder Lake is maintenance free.

Why would they think otherwise? Time after time, they turn on a faucet and water comes out on demand. If it works again and again why would it one day stop?

Actually, there is a very real potential that your private well in Wonder Lake would stop working leaving you and your home or office dry. And there is another concern; just because the water comes out when you turn on the faucet doesn’t mean that the water is safe.

Why would the water stop running?

The water comes out of the faucet on demand because your private well is connected to the house by pipes and mechanisms that move the water from the well, through your plumbing pipes and out of the spigot. Those mechanisms include a pump, a pump motor, a pressure tank, wiring and electronics. If any of these breaks you’re out of water.

Why would they break? Your well pump could break because it includes moving parts that pump the water up through the pipes. Moving parts create friction against other parts and that causes wear. Eventually, the wear is too much for the parts and breakage occurs. This isn’t a question of maybe – it’s a question of when.

Fortunately, well pumps are well made. They can generally operate efficiently for years. But, if the well pump doesn’t break, the well pump motor can break. It’s a motor and motors break over time.

The pressure tank can breakdown because it’s more than just a container that holds water; it’s actually a container that holds water and air. Other than the oxygen that’s in the water, the air in the pressure tank is separated from the water by a rubber bladder. If setup properly, the bladder helps the air to keep an appropriate amount of pressure on the water. But, if the bladder doesn’t have the correct pressure the tank won’t work properly.

If the pressure tank has the wrong pressure it can cause wear and tear on other parts, such as the pump and motor. Without the right pressure, the pump may cycle, kicking on and off repeatedly. As we said, the normal operation of a pump causes wear. If it operates repeatedly, not only is there the normal wear but there is also the risk that the mechanism will heat and wear excessively.

Of course, the bladder in the pressure tank can also rip. This is a more frequent problem when the air pressure is set wrong. At that point, the bladder is more susceptible to tearing.

As for the electronics, corrosion is an ever-present risk.

All of these risks are mitigated by proper maintenance – making sure the well has a pump, motor, tank and electronics that are operating correctly.

As for the quality of the water, an annual chlorination is a must to help keep away bacteria and other foreign contaminants and pests that would make the water less than healthy to drink.

This is a substantial list of potential problems with a private well and we didn’t even mention the troubles you could have if the well cap doesn’t seal properly (bugs can make a home in the bottom of the well cap and the well). The lesson is that, if you take care of your private well it will take care of you.

The reality is, whether you live in Wonder Lake or not, there is no such thing as a maintenance free well.

There’s no such thing as a maintenance-free private well

If you don't maintain your private well, you can't take a clean,
fresh water supply for granted. There's no such thing as a
maintenance-free private well.

We all know that we have to maintain our cars if we want them to keep running while keeping their value. At least, we should know that. But, there are more people who think that their private well is maintenance free.

Why would they think otherwise? Time after time, they turn on a faucet and water comes out on demand. If it works again and again why would it one day stop?

Actually, there is a very real potential that your private well would stop working leaving you and your home or office dry. And there is another concern; just because the water comes out when you turn on the faucet doesn’t mean that the water is safe.

Why would the water stop running?

The water comes out of the faucet on demand because your private well is connected to the house by pipes and mechanisms that move the water from the well, through your plumbing pipes and out of the spigot. Those mechanisms include a pump, a pump motor, a pressure tank, wiring and electronics. If any of these breaks you’re out of water.

Why would they break? Your well pump could break because it includes moving parts that pump the water up through the pipes. Moving parts create friction against other parts and that causes wear. Eventually, the wear is too much for the parts and breakage occurs. This isn’t a question of maybe – it’s a question of when.

Fortunately, well pumps are well made. They can generally operate efficiently for years. But, if the well pump doesn’t break, the well pump motor can break. It’s a motor and motors break over time.

The pressure tank can breakdown because it’s more than just a container that holds water; it’s actually a container that holds water and air. Other than the oxygen that’s in the water, the air in the pressure tank is separated from the water by a rubber bladder. If setup properly, the bladder helps the air to keep an appropriate amount of pressure on the water. But, if the bladder doesn’t have the correct pressure the tank won’t work properly.

If the pressure tank has the wrong pressure it can cause wear and tear on other parts, such as the pump and motor. Without the right pressure, the pump may cycle, kicking on and off repeatedly. As we said, the normal operation of a pump causes wear. If it operates repeatedly, not only is there the normal wear but there is also the risk that the mechanism will heat and wear excessively.

Of course, the bladder in the pressure tank can also rip. This is a more frequent problem when the air pressure is set wrong. At that point, the bladder is more susceptible to tearing.

As for the electronics, corrosion is an ever-present risk.

All of these risks are mitigated by proper maintenance – making sure the well has a pump, motor, tank and electronics that are operating correctly.

As for the quality of the water, an annual chlorination is a must to help keep away bacteria and other foreign contaminants and pests that would make the water less than healthy to drink.

This is a substantial list of potential problems with a private well and we didn’t even mention the troubles you could have if the well cap doesn’t seal properly (bugs can make a home in the bottom of the well cap and the well). The lesson is that, if you take care of your private well it will take care of you.

There is something wrong with your private Spring Grove well

Without proper care and maintenance, your private Spring
Grove well could stop providing the flow of water you
take for granted.

We have come to take it for granted. You go in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or even to the water spigot outside. You turn the faucet on and water comes flowing on demand. But, what if you turn the water on and nothing happens? What is wrong with your private Spring Grove well?

The operative word there is ‘private.’ It means that it’s your well. It’s not Spring Grove’s well. The Spring Grove Public Words Department isn’t going to rush over and get the water flowing again. You can call them but they’ll politely explain that it’s a private well and it’s your responsibility.

Now that we’ve established whose responsibility it is, what are you going to do when you discover there is something wrong with your private Spring Grove well?

Few people are sufficiently knowledgeable about maintenance and repairs to their private wells. That’s certainly the case in Spring Grove, too. Therefore, the next thing we’ve established is that you’ll probably need to bring someone in with the expertise to fix the problem.

You’ll want to choose someone who is qualified and reputable. One of the best ways to find such a well technician is to ask around. Chances are, if you have a private well, the other homeowners and businesses in your Spring Grove neighborhood, also have private wells. Certainly, some of them can steer you towards a viable candidate. You can also check for comments about a well company online.

When the well technician arrives, the first thing they’re going to want to do is to determine what is wrong with your private Spring Grove well. You can help with this process by fully and accurately describing the problem.

If the water simply doesn’t flow anymore, that’s easy to describe. However, the problem could be a little more complex. For instance, you may have noticed that the water pressure isn’t as strong as it was before. You may have noticed the water has a funny odor or discoloration. You may notice that it doesn’t taste the same anymore.

Whatever the problem is, your well technician will quickly track down the problem and will tell you what is wrong with your private Spring Grove well. In the process, they’ll probably put your mind at ease, too. For instance, they may tell you, “No, your well hasn’t gone dry. You just need a new well pump motor.” Or, “We just need to chlorinate the well.” Or, “We can send the water out for testing to make sure it’s safe.”

Drink plenty of water but drink safe water

It's great to stay hydrated, especially when exercising. But,
make sure the water you drink is good, clean, safe water.

Are you drinking enough water? Experts say that you should drink half your weight in ounces of water each day. In other words, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink 70 ounces of water each day.

If you’re already doing that, it’s a good thing. If you’re about to turn over a new leaf and make a commitment to drinking more water, that’s also a good thing. But, either way, there is one question you’ll want to ask – is the water you drink safe?

Some people buy their water in plastic bottles. That’s not such a good idea, and it’s expensive when compared to drinking water from the tap.

Water that comes in plastic bottles likely has chemicals from the plastic and processing that have leached into the water you drink. One such chemical is Bisphenol A, which is known by its acronym of BPA. The level of BPAs in water bottles is particularly high when the bottles were exposed to heat, such as when left in your car or, even, while stored in a warehouse before you ever bought them at the store.

It doesn’t help that those bottles often escape the recycle bins and are found on the sides of streets or in landfills.

Another alternative is to contract with a company to bring you water in five-gallon bottles. Once again, it’s expensive.

The best alternative is the water from the tap, assuming it’s healthy to drink. If you drink city water at your home or office, you may want do a little investigating to ensure that the city is doing a good job of purifying the water you drink. You can also send a sample of the water for testing. You may also want to do this if you have a private well.

Testing of your water will ensure that it doesn’t have dangerous levels of bacteria. They’ll also check the levels of nitrates in the water.

If you do have a private well, it’s up to you to keep the water safe. Since you’re probably not an expert on maintaining safe water, you may want to call someone in for help. A qualified well repair and maintenance expert can help you do this. Think of the well company as your personal works department (as opposed to a public works department).

Your well expert will ensure that your well is properly chlorinated, and that means annually. They’ll also make sure that the well pump, motor, tank, fittings, and electronics are in good repair so that, not only is the water safe, but it’s also available whenever you turn on the faucet.

Lightning strikes Ringwood well – causes additional damage in the home

The inset photo shows what a well

pump should look like. The other 

photo shows the well pump from 

Ringwood that was recently struck

by lightning.

John Matthesius, of McHenry Water Well and Pump, said that, in his 46 years servicing and repairing wells, he’s seen hundreds of wells that were struck by lightning but the well he was called to in Ringwood last Thursday, April 7, was the worst.

“It blew the well cap off. It blew the motor off the pump and the motor fell into the bottom of the well,” he said. “It burnt the pressure switch and fried the components in the control box. There is a little black relay in there and it blew that apart.”

He said that it also appeared to blow apart a welded connection holding the motor shell to the pump.

“It just blew that motor shell right off,” he said.

While the lightning strike devastated the well equipment, it did more damage than that. It also destroyed the motherboard in the home’s furnace, knocked out the television, the internet, a computer and a refrigerator.

Matthesius said that the homeowner was fortunate; he had insurance that will cover the damage.

“When the lightning struck, it knocked all the scale off the inside of the well casing,” said Matthesius. “I had to pump the well over the top to get rid of all the sediment. It took almost a day to pump the well clear before I could turn the water back on in the house.”

The lightning apparently hit about 3 a.m. Thursday. Matthesius said he received the call from the homeowner at about 10 a.m. and was on the job by 11 a.m.

“The well is a perfect lightning rod,” said Matthesius. “But this strike really hit hard.”

For safer water, maintain your well and leave the bottled water alone

Beverly asked her guests if they wanted something to drink. Two glasses of wine, one soda and one water: with their requests memorized, she soon returned with a tray full of drinks, including a plastic, store-bought bottle of water.

“Oh, tap water is fine,” said Judy.

“I’m sorry,” said Beverly, “We have really bad water.” In fact, Beverly and her family had been drinking bottled water for the last couple of years.

At first, they noticed an odor to the water. In time, they also noticed a cloudiness and, eventually, that the water had an unseemly color. After all, water is supposed to be clear.

Some might say it’s just as well that they drank bottled water. Presumptions that bottled water is better or safer, however, are erroneous. Actually, water that comes in a plastic bottle also comes with a serious risk of high levels of BPA or bisphenol A. BPA leaks into the water from the plastic when the bottle is stored in hot temperatures.

Of course, who leaves their bottles of water out in the sun? The problem is that you don’t know how long the bottled water was stored in a warehouse before it was sold, or what the temperature was in the warehouse.

If Beverly lived in the city, with city water, she could simply complain to the city about the condition of her water. She would probably have a lot of company as everyone’s water would have the same odor and the same obnoxious color. But Beverly and her family have a private well.

With a private well, ensuring the safety of the water is their own responsibility. And if the family really knew what was in their water, they might not even take showers in the water coming out of their well.

What they’ve got in their well is bacteria. The bacteria grew because Beverly and her husband never did anything to maintain their well. They had moved out from the city, where everyone had city water, and didn’t realize that their private well is not maintenance free.

The good news is that the solution to their water problem is fairly simple and relatively inexpensive. They need to chlorinate their well. And they need to chlorinate the well every year.

They could do the well chlorination themselves. It seems simple enough, according to what they might read on a bottle of chlorine at the home supply store; you just dump the chlorine into the well. What could be easier?

Actually, though they can do that, they really don’t want to. A better bet is to call a professional. The professional will add the chlorine while carefully avoiding the piping connections and electrical components in the well . Chlorine doesn’t play well with the pipes or electrical connections. It creates corrosion.

The corrosion isn’t a problem today. Rather, the next time their pump goes bad and requires replacement, they’ll discover that the connections are corroded together and very difficult to separate.

A professional will also recommend that they have the water tested to ensure that It’s safe to drink, or to shower in.

Santa or a well guy: Christmas Eve is no time to lose your water in Johnsburg

There was a note of panic in Virginia’s voice when Dick checked his voicemails – “We don’t have any water!!” There was more, but Dick got the point.

From Dallas, more than 900 miles away from Johnsburg, IL, there wasn’t much Dick could do. He tried calling home but Virginia didn’t answer and he received a message stating that her mailbox was full. So, Dick made one more call and hurried to the plane – the 777 he would pilot to Chicago’s O’Hare Field.

Virginia didn’t receive Dick’s call because, at that moment, she was down in the basement pounding on parts of the well equipment hoping that would somehow make the water flow again. It didn’t and she had no idea that Dick had called in the meantime.

As the sun fell below the horizon this Christmas Eve, Virginia reassured the kids – Billy, 3; and Missy, 4 – that everything would be OK. Mostly, Virginia was just trying to reassure herself, though.

Then she sent the kids up to the playroom to play and watch television while she went downstairs to poke, prod and pound some more. If she had stayed upstairs, she might have heard the knock on the door. She didn’t.

After a while, resigned to the futility of pounding on the well equipment, Virginia came back upstairs and turned on the television in the living room. Time passed – maybe even an hour. Suddenly, she heard the children coming down the stairs like a pack of wild animals. As they ran, she heard them yelling, “He’s out back! He’s out back!”

Virginia met them at the bottom of the stairs and finally quieted them enough to ask, “Who’s out back?”

“Santa,” said Missy as Billy nodded in agreement. “Santa’s out back.”

Virginia gave the children a skeptical frown. Seeing the doubt in her mother’s face, Missy took her by the hand and pulled her towards the kitchen. Reluctantly, Virginia followed.

Standing in the darkened kitchen, Virginia was alarmed to see that, indeed, someone was out in the backyard. The kids were yelling, “See, it’s Santa.”

She quieted the kids again and told them to go up to their rooms. Turning to sneak up by the window, she didn’t even notice that the kids stood rooted in their spots totally ignoring the order. Virginia didn’t notice the kids because she was focused on the shadowy figure moving around out back.

The person had a thick winter coat with its hood up over the back of the person’s head. With the heavy boots at his feet, Virginia could see how the kids might think this was Santa.

She noticed that the figure kept bending over as though they were doing something out there. As Virginia thought to take out her phone and call the police, the shadow stood upright in the backyard and turned towards the house. Virginia stepped back deeper into the shadows.

When she looked again, she couldn’t see him. Then, there was a knock on the backdoor. Virginia jumped a little and then went to the door.  When she opened the door, she looked into a familiar smiling face, though she couldn’t place where she knew him from.

“Hi, I’m John,” he said. “Dick called and told me you didn’t have any water. I knocked before, but I guess you didn’t hear me. I wasn’t sure if you had left.

“Anyhow, I thought I’d take a look. Good thing I did, too. One of the wires to the pump motor broke loose.”

As if she hadn’t quite grasped what he was saying, Virginia suddenly said, “Oh, you’re the well guy.”

John smiled again, “Yes, I’m the well guy. When Dick called, I figured you didn’t want to go Christmas Eve without water so I came over. Do you want to check the faucet?”

Just then, the kids stepped forward and, in unison, asked, “Is it Santa, Mommy?”

Virginia was lifting the faucet handle when she heard the question. She also heard a cough from the pipes and then … the water began to flow. Turning the water off, Virginia turned to the kids and said, “Yes, in a way, this is definitely Santa.”

John smiled again, tipped his hat and as he turned to leave, he said, “You folks have a Merry Christmas.”