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What is causing low water pressure or flow in my home?

Sure, it can be related to low water levels, but there are a few other areas that may be causing the issue including, but not limited to:

• A clogged filter or water line
• Faulty electrical controls
• Frozen well or pipe
• Leak in system piping
• Malfunctioning or worn well pump
• Waterlogged pressure tank

Contact your licensed well contractor for inspection and repair. For a list of licensed well contractors try using our interactive map on our website.

We have gathered the best winter tips over the last several years and put them all in one place. These tips are not only for your home but also while you are traveling. Let’s dig in!

There’s ‘snow’ place like home:

• Ceiling fans are not just for summer. Flip the switch on the fan to reverse the direction clockwise. This will create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room.
• Use energy from the sun. During the day, open drapes and blinds to allow sunlight to help warm the house, and then close them at night to contain the heat.
• Protect your well from getting damaged by snow blowers and plows. Don’t pile anything around your well, including snow, and consider adding a fiberglass driveway marker to help with locating the well.
• Got ice? Alfalfa meal is an eco-friendly salt alternative. It’s 100% organic so it’s less of a threat to local water systems when used in moderation. Plus, not everyone can constantly shovel during a snowstorm! Just remember to use it sparingly.
• Winterize your pipes. Preventing leaks and your pipes from bursting is a great way to conserve water in winter. You should make sure outdoor pipes, like the ones running to your backyard spigot, are wrapped to prevent freezing. You can wrap them with a pipe sleeve or electrical heat tape. If you need assistance, contact your local plumber.
• Insulate hot water pipes. Ever notice that it takes your shower longer to get hot when it’s freezing out? That’s because your pipes are colder. Just like your outdoor pipes, you should wrap your hot water pipes. Not only does this help the hot water stay hot, but it helps protect these pipes from the cold, which can cause leaks. Again, if you need assistance, contact your local plumber.
• Catch the water. Since it takes longer for your shower to heat up in winter, catch that cold water and use it to water plants. You can use this tip year-round.
• Save your skin. Skip the long, hot showers, which can dry out the skin. Try taking a lukewarm shower, for a shorter duration and save water.
• Check for leaks. Temperature changes from night to day cause pipes to expand and contract. This constant change adds more stress to your pipes and can lead to a leak over the winter. Contact your local plumber to check your pipes for leaks.
• When in doubt drip your faucets. Leave faucets dripping slightly overnight in extremely cold weather (below 32°). This slight trickle allows constant movement of the water which will prevent freezing. Remember more water is wasted from a leaky pipe than from using this tip! You can still save the water you are dripping; just place a bucket or large pot under the faucet. You can use that water to flush the toilet in a power outage or water plants.
• Know where the shut-off valve is. Despite your efforts, sometimes a pipe will still burst in the winter. The faster you can turn off the water, less will go to waste. Most likely you will find the shut-off valve near your pressure tank if it is located inside your home. It looks like a regular spigot and it turns off all the water in your house. It will help save hundreds of gallons while you are waiting for your plumber to arrive.

If you are ever in doubt about your well or household plumbing contact your well contractor or plumber for assistance.

The weather outside is frightful – travel tips:

• Pack an extra pair of socks in your car’s glove compartment. Then if you need to get out and shovel, or if you step into a puddle, you’ll have dry socks to change into. And put those mismatched socks to use and use them as wiper blade covers!
• Dress in layers while watching TV or working from home, you may be able to keep the heat at a minimum during certain times of the day.
• Keep a bag of clay kitty litter in your car’s trunk. If your car gets stuck in deep snow or slick ice, sprinkling kitty litter (non-clumping) at the base of your tires can be just the thing to add some traction and get things moving again. The extra weight in your trunk will also create added pressure on your tires, ensuring greater contact between your tread and the ground.
• Fill a clean spray bottle with 1 part water and 2 parts rubbing alcohol and store it in your car during the cold weather months for an easy deicer. Spray it on your frosted windshield and windows on those chilly mornings to make scraping easier.
• During cold weather months, it’s a good practice to keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times. Not only does it prevent you from being stranded, but it prevents any water in the tank from freezing, which can damage the fuel pump.
• Place plastic bags over your car mirrors at night and they’ll be frost-free in the morning. Reuse them over and over.
• Your car’s floor mats can help you get unstuck from snowy or muddy conditions. Place your front floor mats under the spinning tire to give you some traction.
• Frozen locks? Squirt a little hand sanitizer on them. The isopropyl alcohol that kills germs also lowers the freezing point of water and can melt the ice inside the lock within seconds.
• A plastic card, such as an old gift card from your wallet, can work as an ice scraper in a pinch.
• Keep a roll of duct tape in the car. Not only does it fix everything, but you can use it as a fire starter — duct tape is very flammable and is a great tool to get a fire going in an emergency.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more sweater weather tips!

January is National Radon Action Month! Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no color, odor, or taste. It comes from the breakdown of radioactive elements like uranium and radium in the ground. The soil under your home releases radon which can make its way through cracks or openings in your home and sometimes through well water. High levels of radon are commonly found in certain kinds of bedrock such as granite and dark shale. Radon can be inhaled when it is released from water while showering, washing dishes, or cooking. It can also be ingested directly through drinking water. Research shows that inhaled radon is the greatest concern as it increases the risk of lung cancer. Drinking water contaminated by radon may raise the risk of stomach cancer.

Here’s the good news…radon exposure is completely preventable! Learn more about radon. Find a certified lab in your area for both air and water radon testing.

Here’s a fun homemade after school sweet treat for the kiddos. Wink, wink, parents like it too! Who knew water and salt could make such a yummy recipe?

1 c. half-and-half

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3 c. ice

1/3 c. kosher salt

Toppings of your choice

DIRECTIONS

In a small resealable plastic bag, combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla. Push out excess air and seal.

Into a large resealable plastic bag, combine ice and salt. Place the small bag inside the bigger bag and shake vigorously, for 7 to 10 minutes, until the ice cream has hardened.

Remove from the bag and enjoy with your favorite ice cream toppings.

For complete details and a video go to Delish.com.

My well is not that old, what is with all the rust?  

We have covered this topic before, but many around the nation are struggling with sudden iron concerns. It can be related to low water levels which can increase the concentration of the contaminant, geography, different types of casing material, or a mix of all mentioned. See our info sheet for more on Iron & Well Water.

Contact your licensed well contractor to discuss the location of well, materials used, and any options to improve your water quality. You should also have your water tested before purchasing any water treatment. Contact the wellcare® Hotline with any questions.

If you are in an area that tends to reach or has ever had freezing temperatures, you should make every effort to prevent your pipes, well, and well components from freezing. When pipes freeze, the flow of water is completely blocked. Since water expands as it turns into ice, the pipes are very likely to burst. It could also ruin your well pump and other exposed well components. This can be an expensive problem to fix and a disastrous occurrence in frigid winter months. If your well or pipes freeze, contact your licensed well contractor or plumber as soon as possible.

Your Well System

Help keep your well from freezing with a pitless adapter. A pitless adapter attaches to your well casing to provide a sanitary and frost-proof seal between the casing and the water line running to your home. This device protects the water from freezing and permits convenient access to the well and well components without having to dig around the well. The adapter is connected to the well casing below the frost line, which is the depth at which the ground does not freeze. Water from the well is diverted horizontally at the adapter to prevent it from freezing. Contact your licensed well contractor to discuss installing a pitless adapter. You should also protect your wellhead from getting damaged by snow and heavy equipment like snow blowers and plows. There are existing older wells that are in a driveway, close to the driveway, or close to a road. Consider adding a fiberglass driveway marker to help with locating the well. If your well gets covered by snow, you will easily find it and can carefully remove the snow around it.

Freezing temps on the way and no time to make adjustments?

If your wellhead is exposed to outside elements and freezing temperatures are on the way, wrap it with insulation, blankets, towels, or anything else you can find that will not cause damage to the wellhead but can help protect it from the cold.

To learn more about protecting your pipes, pump, tank, and our tips if your pipes or well system are already frozen, download our wellcare® information sheet on Protecting Your Pipes and Well System From Freezing.

Most vacation homes and cabins are considered seasonal homes. Some seasonal homes have private water wells that service the home. These types of homes are not designed to be used during the winter because of plumbing systems and structures that are not adequately insulated to withstand extreme cold. When preparing to close your vacation home for the season, leaving the home vacant and unheated, you must winterize the plumbing to protect it from bursting in freezing temperatures. This process includes going through the steps to winterize your water well.

WSC recommends that you contact a licensed plumber to winterize your home. If you must winterize on your own, follow these steps and instructions.

Pests such as weeds, insects, molds, and fungi can damage your lawn and garden. Pesticides can help treat certain types of pests but are not always the best or only solution. If pesticides are used, proper use and disposal are necessary to prevent harm to people, pets, and plants, and to protect the air, soil, and water from pollution.

Likewise, fertilizers can be beneficial to your lawn and garden. However, many fertilizers contain nitrogen, which can convert to harmful nitrate. Careful use of fertilizers can help reduce the chance that nitrate will leach into your groundwater.

Preventing Contamination in Your Well

Pesticides and fertilizers can reach aquifers through the soil by way of rain or snow recharge. Additionally, if pesticides or fertilizers are spilled or misused near a well, they can reach your well water. Some sources say spills within 25-50 feet of wells have a greater risk for contamination; others say pesticides and fertilizers should not be handled or stored within 100 feet of a well.

You can take steps to prevent the potential for pesticide contamination of your well. First, consider whether a pesticide is the best method for treating your pest problem. Alternatives such as baits and traps are safer than pesticides.

Non-chemical pest control methods include hand picking pests from leaves. Prevention techniques include keeping your grass height no shorter than 2.5 inches to discourage pests and shade weeds, and rotating plant position periodically to minimize the spread of disease. Keep in mind that some insects, such as praying mantises and ladybugs, are beneficial to plants, by helping to kill more harmful insects and organisms.

Continue reading our information sheet for additional measures you can take in and around your home.

Additionally, your state may also have laws related to the use and disposal of pesticides and fertilizers. Check with your state’s fertilizer and pesticide regulatory agencies or call the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378.

Directory of Agencies/Directorio de Agencias:
pr.gov/Directorios

Emergencies/Emergencias:
pr.gov/InfoAgencia

Heatlh Department/Departamento de Salud:
salud.gov.pr

Water Testing/Prueba de Aqua:
salud.gov.pr/Laboratorios

How do I locate the water well on my property?

Many states have water well records or maps online that you can search. If you are unable to find records, look for a wellhead above ground (see our sample well diagram) or follow the main water line from your home straight to the outside. There may also be a concrete slab or depression in the yard where the well is located. If you have a septic system, the well would be located on the opposite side of the septic. For instance, if your septic is in the back of the house, your well is usually in the front.

If you need assistance locating your well, contact a licensed well contractor or the wellcare® Hotline.