FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WATER TREATMENT

Q. EMERGENCY! My water treatment system is leaking—what should I do?
A. Many water treatment systems have a bypass valve. If you can bypass the system, you can still have water, although it will not be treated. If you cannot locate the bypass valve, then turn off the water at the pressure tank and call us at 800-732-7468.

Q. How often should I change my cartridge filter?
A. A cartridge should be changed when the water pressure or water quality drops off, or every 6 months, whichever comes first.

Q. How often should I have my water treatment system serviced?
A. That depends on what you have for equipment. Some equipment needs annual service. Call us at 800-732-7468 and we can let you know.

Q. What health related well water testing should I consider?
A. There are many possible well water contaminants to test for. The most common are bacteria in water, radon in water, and uranium in water.

Q. Do I need water treatment if I have city water?
A. Most city water supplies are chlorinated. Chlorine eliminates potential bacteria in the water supply, but should be removed at the home to improve taste and odor. A simple carbon tank eliminates chlorine.

WELL WATER AND WELL PUMPS

Q. EMERGENCY! I have no water in house—what should I do?
A. Check your circuit breaker, check for a clogged cartridge filter, and look for any running hoses or toilets. If everything looks good, shut off the main water valve to the house for 30 minutes, and turn it back on. If you have water, then chances are your well was low; if not, call us at 800-732-7468.

Q. EMERGENCY! My well pressure tank is leaking—what should I do?
A. If the leak is at the well pressure tankor tank fittings, then turn off the power to the well pump and call us at 800-732-7468. The tank will continue to leak until it empties out. If you want to remove the water in the tank so it does not leak, then turn on all the faucets in the house and the spigots outside until the well pressure tankis empty.

Q. My well pump is rapid cycling, what is wrong?
A. This is normally a problem with the well pressure tank. It may need air, or it may need to be replaced. Call us. A rapid cycling well pump will eventually burn itself out.

Q. I cannot see my well, how can I locate it?
A. If the well is buried, our well location service can find it with a well locating device. It is important to know where your well is, before you have any well problems.

Q. How can I find out how deep my well is, and how much water it produces?
A. Homes built after 1971 should have a “well completion report” filed at the town hall. This document gives you all the data on your well, plus the location if it is buried.

Q. My well has bacteria in the water—what should I do?
A. The first step is usually well sanitizing. This is a relatively inexpensive process. A surefire long-term solution is a UV sanitizer.

Q. What is the average life for a well pump and well pressure tank?
A. The average life for a well pump is 10-12 years and for a well pressure tank, 12-15 years.

RADON SYSTEMS

Q. What is radon?
A. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is known to cause cancer.

Q. How dangerous is radon?
A. Radon accounts for over 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually. The risk is much higher if you are a smoker.

Q. If I have radon in air, will I have radon in water?
A. Not necessarily; however, it would be prudent to test.

Q. Is there radon in city water?
A. Normally, no.

Q. How often should the carbon in my carbon tank be replaced?
A. It is a good idea to have it replaced annually.

Q. What is the best time to do radon testing for radon in air?
A. The preferred time of year is in the winter; however, radon testing can be done throughout the year.

Q. What are the radon mitigation guidelines for the State of Connecticut?
A. The threshold for radon in air is 4.0pci/l and for radon in water is 5000pci/l.

Q. How do I know if I should install a carbon tank or bubbler for radon in water?
A. The unofficial threshold from carbon tank to a bubbler is 10,000pci/l; however, at 10,000pci/l you could install two carbon tanks.

Q. I have a radon system—do I still need to do radon testing?
A. Yes, you should do radon testing every 2-3 years if you have a radon system, to insure it is working properly.