N.W. Poole Well & pump Co.

License and insurance

Be sure that the well driller you have drilling your well is properly licensed and properly insured. If a drilling contractor does not have a proper license or proper insurance, then they probably aren’t going to drill you a proper well.

Choosing your well driller

Adapted from www.welldrilling.com, there are several things to consider when looking for a well driller. Normally, an individual—a typical homeowner– might only be responsible for drilling one well in his or her lifetime, but the decision you make about choosing your driller is one that is long lasting. All counties in North Carolina require that you have a permit to drill a well, whether for residential or irrigation purposes. This makes your county health department a good place to start, since they will issue the permit and limit where you can drill, based on predetermined guidelines. Here are some other points to consider when hiring your well driller:

Reputation

What kind of reputation has the company built? Ask questions of your friends, neighbors, other people who have had wells drilled. Most people don’t mind telling you their experience—good or bad. And the more people you ask, the more informed you will be and the better you will feel about your decision.

 

 

options

Talk to the well drilling contractor that you are considering hiring. They should be willing to discuss options with you, including the type of well you are going to get, type of casing used, etc. You will want to ask if there are any alternatives that may be a bit more expensive now that will save you money in the future. If your well drilling contractor does not have time to discuss options or your situation specifically, then you may want to continue your search.

Estimates

It is always just common sense to get various estimates on work you need done and this is very important when drilling a well. But one big mistake is hiring a driller based solely on the fact that they gave you the cheapest estimate. Drillers who don’t value their work are less likely to value the quality of their work. There is a big difference between being ‘competitive’ and being ‘cheap’. And in well drilling as in everything else, you get what you pay for!

expectations

Make sure you ask your driller what is expected from you. Will you need to clear trees, level a drilling site, pay when the job is completed and what forms of payment are acceptable?

Can the driller meet your expectations? While the county environmental health department dictates what area your well needs to be located in, when you meet with the driller prior to drilling will you be able to drill where you want and when you want? Asking questions now prevents problems later. A good well driller doesn’t want surprises and will not want to surprise you with regards to location or costs.

Long-term

When making your final decision, think long-term. Ideally, your well will last longer than your cabinets, carpeting and windows. You’ll never regret putting more money towards upgrading your source of water instead of putting it towards superficial items in your house.

Thinking long-term means looking into the future—would you one day want to irrigate your lawn or plant a garden? Are you planning to build on to your home or expand your family? These things will require more water in the future than they will today. Think of your well as an investment into the value of your home—for now and for the future.

Providing and perfecting your water since 1947