Well Pump Service in Spokane County: What a Service Visit Can Include

A well pump service visit is a look at the whole system, not only the pump. NGWA lists a flow test, a check of the pump's load, power and grounding, and an inspection of the tank and switch, plus a water test and a written report.

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What a service visit is

Service is the planned or routine side of pump work. It is different from repair, which responds to a failure, and from replacement, which swaps the pump. A visit can be requested because something seems off, because a home is changing hands, or because it has been a long time since anyone looked.

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA), on its wellowner.org annual inspection page, recommends an annual checkup of a well by a qualified well professional. It lists a flow test, a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, and an inspection of the pressure tank and the pressure switch contacts, along with a coliform and nitrate water test and a written report. It also says to inspect a well whenever it is opened, or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes.

That list is a useful yardstick. If a company offers a service visit, ask which of those items it covers, whether it gives a written report and whether the water test is included or separate. Some of the items involve electricity and stored pressure, so they belong with a qualified professional.

When people look into this

It has been a long time since anyone looked at the well system.
A home on a well is changing hands.
The pump is old and the owner is planning ahead.
Taste, odor, pressure or cycling has changed.
The well was opened for any reason.
A previous repair left questions.

What the work usually looks like

Ask what is covered. Compare the visit with NGWA's checkup list.
Describe the history. Pump age, earlier repairs and any changes.
Visit and check. Flow, power, load, grounding, tank and switch are checked.
Test the water. A coliform and nitrate test is arranged.
Get the report. Findings and recommendations are written down.
Decide next steps. Any repair is priced separately and agreed in writing.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Gather paperwork on the well, pump, tank and switch.
Note the symptoms, even small ones.
Ask what the visit covers and whether a written report is included.
Ask whether the water test is in the price or separate.
Make sure the well and tank can be reached.
Do not open electrical controls or tanks yourself.
Ask what happens if the visit finds a problem.
Get the price in writing.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For a service visit, the cost depends on what is checked and whether tests are included.

What the visit covers. A short look costs less than a full checkup.
Written report. Some visits include one, some do not.
Water testing. A lab test is usually a separate item.
Pump type and depth. Some checks are easier on some systems.
Access. How easily the well and tank can be reached.
Travel. Distance to the property.
Follow-up work. Repairs are priced on their own.

Ask for the report

A written report is the most useful thing a service visit can leave behind. It records what was checked, what was found and what the professional recommends. NGWA's list includes a written report for that reason.

Keep the report with the well paperwork. It helps the next professional, it helps when a home is sold and it gives you a baseline to compare against next year. A visit that leaves nothing in writing is hard to compare with any other.

Local rules and sources

What NGWA lists. The National Ground Water Association (NGWA), on its wellowner.org annual inspection page, recommends an annual checkup of a well by a qualified well professional. It lists a flow test, a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, and an inspection of the pressure tank and the pressure switch contacts, along with a coliform and nitrate water test and a written report. It also says to inspect a well whenever it is opened, or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes.

Wellhead. NGWA's inspection page also advises keeping a 50-foot clean zone between a well and livestock and removing roots within 10 feet of the well. It says casing should extend at least 12 inches above ground, while Washington's own rule, WAC 173-160-291, sets the minimum at 6 inches above ground, so use the Washington rule when you ask what applies to your well.

Testing. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also when you notice a change in taste, color or smell, after flooding, and after you replace any part of your well system. Your county health department can tell you how and where to have it tested.

Trades. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What is included in a well pump service visit?

There is no single list. NGWA recommends an annual checkup by a qualified well professional that includes a flow test, a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, an inspection of the pressure tank and switch contacts, a coliform and nitrate test and a written report. Ask which items a company covers.

How often should a well be serviced?

NGWA recommends an annual checkup and says to inspect a well whenever it is opened or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes. The Washington Department of Health separately recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate. Ask a professional what suits your system.

Is service the same as repair?

No. Service is a look at the system, while repair fixes a failure. A service visit may find a problem that then needs a separate scope and price. Ask what the visit includes, whether a written report is part of it and whether follow-up work is priced separately.

Should I test my water at a service visit?

NGWA's checkup includes a coliform and nitrate test, and the Washington Department of Health recommends yearly testing for the same two things. Ask whether the visit includes a lab test or only a field check, and ask your county health department how and where to have water tested.

How much does a well service visit cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. A visit's cost depends on what it covers, whether a written report and water test are included, the pump's type and depth and the distance to the property. Get a written scope, so prices from different companies cover the same work.

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