Let’s Talk About the Well Drilling Process
Preparing to Drill a Well and What to Expect the Day of the Drilling
Why dig a well?
You need and want good, clean safe water for you and your family. If you are new to this process, it can be overwhelming.
If you have never had to worry about your water before, you may be assuming that you will have to find someone to drill the well, someone to install the pump, someone to call for service, and someone to call if your water is not at the quality you desire for your family or business.
You can take the headache out of this process by calling N.W. Poole.
People drill new wells for two reasons
One, you have new construction.
Two, your current well is low yielding and is beyond repair or cannot be drilled deeper.
Before the well is drilled, you will want to consider your plans for the future.
- how many people are living in the home
- is there or will there be a swimming pool
- is there or will there be irrigation needs
A well is an investment in your property and a valuable asset.
How to Choose Your Well Driller
Let’s cover some basics first.
- All counties in North Carolina require that you have a permit to drill a well, whether for residential or irrigation purposes.
- Your county health department will issue a well permit and limit where you can drill.
LICENSE AND INSURANCE
Be sure that the well driller is properly licensed and insured. If not, you are putting yourself at risk.
REPUTATION
How long has the company been in business? What kind of reputation has the company built? What are their Google reviews? Do they have any customer testimonial videos?
Ask questions of your friends, neighbors, or other people who have had wells drilled. Most people don’t mind telling you about their experience—good or bad.
The more people you ask, the more informed you will be, and the better you will feel about your decision.
ESTIMATES
Ask for a free estimate. In fact, we encourage you to get more than one.
Buyer beware! A common mistake the uninformed make is hiring a driller based solely on the cheapest estimate.
There is a big difference between being ‘competitive’ and being ‘cheap’. Drillers who don’t value their work are less likely to value the quality of their work. And in well drilling as in everything else, you get what you pay for!
OPTIONS
Talk to the well-drilling contractor to discuss your options: the type of well you are going to get, the type of casing to be used, or things that could save you money in the future.
If your well-drilling contractor does not have time to discuss your specific situation, then you may want to continue your search.
EXPECTATIONS
Make sure you ask your driller what is expected from you.
Will you need to clear trees, level a drilling site, do you pay before or when the job is completed? What forms of payment are acceptable? Can it be financed?
Knowing what is expected of you will reduce your stress in this entire process.
LONG-TERM
When making your final decision, think long-term.
Your well will typically 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 do today. Think of your well as an investment into the value of your home—for now, and for the future.
