In the nearly 40 years Skillings & Sons has been in the well drilling business, weve found that people often dont think about the work and technology that goes into having a reliable source of clean, great-tasting drinking water. Although many homeowners in New Hampshire and Massachusetts draw their water from a private well, chances are they didnt have to hire a well contractor themselves and were not there when the well was drilled. Watching a well-drilling rig in action can be pretty impressive; heres how it works.
How does a well drilling rig work?
A well drilling rig is a large piece of equipment that must be brought to a site by truck and put into place on the site where the well is to be dug. Drilling rigs are either rotary drillers, which bore down into the earth using a circular motion or a pounder, which raises and lower a heavy weight in a technique known as "cable drilling" to punch holes. A rotary drill rig uses an assortment of bits. The most common types are long cable bits or interlocking steel bits both which rotate in a clockwise direction to bore into the earth and loosen the soil. Rock is carried to the surface as the bit turns. The turning bit often gets hot, so water or mud is used to keep the drilling bits cool.
The goal of well drilling is to reach an aquifer or water source deep below the ground, but thats not where the drilling stops. To ensure the well will have ample supply and a long life, the well drilling company will continue to drill below the water table. Bedrock wells are usually between 100 and 500 feet but in some cases can be more than 500-feet-deep.
Installing well casings
Casings are long pipes made of steel or plastic which line the new well to prevent collapse during drilling and contamination of the water below. Between the well wall and the casing is a two-inch gap called the annulus. This is filled with gravel and capped with cement for the last twenty feet to the surface to prevent contaminants from the surface getting into the well and ruining the water source supplying it. Casings also help protect the well from freezing in extreme cold during the winter months.
While some well drilling companies install the casing as it drills, others might also install the piping separately after the drilling is complete.
Keeping the water source clean
To prevent debris and other surface contaminants from getting into the water supply at the bottom of the well, filters must be installed. These filters also prevent larger particles from being drawn into the water pump. Once drilling is complete, a screen is placed at the bottom of the well casing. Gravel, a natural filtration medium, is also used at the bottom of the well.
Experience and technology
Hundreds of years ago, well drilling meant digging deep into the ground with shovels and buckets until you hit ground water. Today there are a number of techniques and methods well drilling contractors can employ to ensure homeowners have a reliable source of water for many years.
If you have questions about drilling new wells, or would like information about how to improve the flow of water from an existing well, call Skillings & Sons today.
If youre wondering how water well drilling works, you are really not alone. From excavating to construction, learn more here!
Across America, many people gain access to water using a private well. Fifteen million United States households rely on private well water every day.
As with municipal water, private well water comes from the sky. Plants and other foliage will then absorb that water. However, they cant absorb it all.
Excess water continues to move downward through spaces in the Earths rock. It will continue until it reaches a layer thats too dense to pass. Here, it will remain and become a source of groundwater.
This saturated area of soil under the Earth is called an aquifer. Its also a source for your private water supply.
Installing a water well isnt a do-it-yourself project. Still, you need to know how water well drilling works and how to find a great Michigan service provider to install it.
To learn exactly how water well drilling works, read on.
A residential water well starts with a deep hole that contractors drill into the ground. This opening is called a borehole. They then reinforce the borehole so that it maintains its shape.
Usually, a well drilling professional will bring a drilling machine to your home to construct the borehole. Theyll use various techniques to drill the borehole to the desired depth.
The contractor will also remove excess material that may block the hole. Theyll use a combination of drilling and water circulation to get the job done.
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The reinforcement for the borehole is called a casing. It prevents the walls of the well from collapsing. It also prevents contaminants from leaching into your private water supply.
The casing also houses the pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism moves water from the well to your home.
Its important to hire a contractor that will use quality materials to build your well. For example, the substandard casing cannot withstand the force required to drive it into the ground.
It can collapse under pressure, allowing surface water to enter your well. Avoiding this circumstance is important as not every water type is suitable for consumption. You only want to drink water that comes from an aquifer.
Often, people dont think about the source of their water and what goes into making it refreshing and clean, until theres a problem. Even if you already own a home with a private well, contractors most likely installed it before you moved in. If youre having a well installed for the first time or replacing an old one, watching a well installation is quite exciting.
The contractor will start the process by bringing in a large drill to make the borehole. Theyll maneuver the equipment over the site of your future groundwater well. This equipment is called a drilling rig.
A drilling rig may use a rotary motor to bore into the Earth. Alternatively, the contractor may use a pounder, which punches a hole into the ground.
Your contractor may use various bits to bore the hole. Bits rotate counterclockwise into the Earth. As the bit loosens the soil, it carries rocks to the surface.
As the contractor drills the borehole, the bit gets extremely hot. The contractor will use water and mud to keep it cool.
The purpose of drilling to hole is to reach the aquifer. However, theres more to creating a well than reaching the water source.
The contractor will continue to drill past the water source. This part of the job will ensure that your well doesnt dry out over time. Usually, the contractor will continue past the aquifer between 100 and 500 feet deep.
Before drilling begins, the contractor must find a suitable location for your well. They must also obtain any needed permits for the project. Now, they can bring the drilling equipment to your property.
The contractor will then make the borehole. Next, theyll install the casing of the well. Theyll use a well casing made of steel or plastic.
In some instances, the well may need a higher flow rate. This circumstance typically occurs if the subsurface of your land contains sand or gravel. In this case, the contractor will install a screen in the well to keep the sand and gravel out of your water.
The contractor must also install grout between the casing and the borehole. This vital protective layer helps keep your water safe to consume. Finally, the contractor will install the well pump that will siphon the water to your home.
Congratulations! Youre now the proud owner of a private water supply. Now, the only thing left to do is to enjoy water and care for your well as needed.
Before you can enjoy the splendor of a private well, youll need to find the right Michigan contractor near you for the job.
The contractor will provide all the materials and labor to dig your well. Its important to find a contractor that uses quality materials. However, whats equally important is finding a contractor with the experience and skill to do the job right the first time.
By hiring a skilled contractor, you can rest easy knowing that theyll do quality work. The wrong contractor, however, can make your dreams of pure, self-sufficient well water an unpleasant experience.
You can begin your research to find a great contractor by checking the Better Business Bureau website. The BBB maintains a record of complaints about local contractors.
This information will help you eliminate unsatisfactory candidates for the job. You may also find positive reviews about companies left by clients.
You should also conduct online research. Check review sites to see what people have to say about a potential contractor.
You can enter the companys name in a search engine along with terms such as complaint, rip off or scam. You can eliminate some contractors from your search by finding results using this method.
Once youve narrowed down your results, start talking to contractors. Ask them for references from previous jobs.
The references will give you a good idea of what its like to work with a given contractor. Now, its up to you to choose a great Michigan contractor to dig your well.
Keller Well Drilling is proud of the water well drilling projects weve completed for Michigan homeowners. We are a family-owned and operated business. If you want to know more about installing a water well on your property, one of our experienced family members is just a call away.
At Keller Well Drilling, we care about the community. We actively support activities for kids, seniors, and schools in Livingston, Washtenaw, and Oakland counties. Well treat your well installation as if we were installing it in our own home.
Keller Well Drilling offers fair pricing and our quotes match the final invoice. Contact a friendly Keller Well Drilling expert today at (810) 227- for a free estimate.
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