Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to have well water or city water in Texas?

One of the primary benefits of well water is that you will never have to pay a water bill again. While drilling a water well comes with an upfront cost, in the long run, it is much cheaper to drill a well than to use city water. This is especially true if you have a sprinkler system, swimming pool, or a barn on your property, which will require a lot of water each month and rack up a giant water bill if you get water from the local city.

Do you have to pay for well water?

No. Owning a water well on your land means you never have a water bill again.

How many years does a water well last in texas?

Water wells usually last a lifetime! In most cases, your well will not only outlast you but will continue to provide clean drinking water for your children and their children if you pass your property to them. While Calicutt Drilling cannot guarantee the quantity or quality of your water, we can tell you based on our decades of experience that for most of our customers, your well will bring you refreshing and healthy water for a lifetime.

What are the Pros and Cons of Well Water vs. City Water?

When it comes to drilling a water well, the pros far outweigh the cons:

Pros:

• A well is more cost effective than city water. Paying to drill your well will be the last water bill you ever have to pay.
• Well water is safer. No more water boil notices, asbestos scares, or fluoride concerns.
• A well will increase your land's value.
• In some cases, the upfront cost of a well may be cheaper than the upfront cost of city water. If you move into a rural Texas area where no water line is currently on your property, it may actually cost more to run water lines with the city (which you will have to pay for) than to drill a H2O well onsite.
• You control your water. You can ignore the next drought notice you receive. In Texas, if you drill a water well on your property, it’s yours. You can do with it what you want.

Cons:

• The only real risk that comes with owning a water well is the same risk that comes with owning versus renting a home. That is, if it needs repairs, it’s your responsibility tp fix it and will come out of your wallet. We can give you repair and cost scenarios if you need that. Just ask!

Is well water bad for your hair, skin, teeth, or home?

Well water is not bad for your health or your home. Though rare, the most common complaints about well water in the East Texas area are iron concentration, rotten egg smell, and tannins. Thankfully none of these are harmful and can all be treated relatively easily.

High iron concentration in your water can stain your clothing, toilets, sinks, concrete, and rock around your home leaving behind a faint orange tint. Iron can be treated out with filtration and in most cases while drilling your well we can design it so your risk of iron contamination drops considerably. It requires drilling to a deeper water formation and sealing off the water formations above that contain higher iron concentraitions.

The rotten egg smell is not harmful and can be treated atmospherically or chemically. Tannins will make your water dark, about the color of a glass of tea, and can stain your white clothes. Tannins can be treated with filtration. If you would like to have your water tested, give us a call. It's an easy test and an easy fix.

Does a water well increase property value?

Yes! While the age, depth, and other similar factors can affect how much your property value will increase, when a homebuyer purchases a home with a well on the property, he or she is buying a home with free water for life. The value your well adds to your home will absolutely be a factor in how much your property is worth.

How do you maintain a well?

There are many things you can do to keep your well highly functional and in excellent condition for years or even decades with little or no problems. These include:

• Cover your surface equipment.
• Cover any exposed electrical parts.
• Build a well house to keep the sunlight from damaging any parts and the Winter from freezing your pipes.
• Insulate any exposed pipes.
• Keep ant poison away from your well so that it doesn’t mix into your water.

How deep should a well be for water?

Water wells in East Texas can range anywhere from 100 to 1,200 feet deep, depending on how deep the water formation beneath the ground is, how much water you or your business requires, and other similar factors. Most wells are drilled between 200 to 600 feet down.

How often should a well pump be serviced?

As the adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” A well pump should be serviced if it breaks—period. We don’t believe it’s honest to try to sell you an annual maintenance plan or preventative service. As long as there are no problems with your system, you can rest assured that your well is fine.

Do I need a permit to drill a water well in Texas?

It depends on where you live. If you live in a Texas county that is in a groundwater conservation district, you will most likely be required to obtain a permit before drilling and operating a well. Some cities also have it in their bylaws that you cannot drill within city limits. Other areas have no permit requirements. Whatever the case may be, we will research your county before drilling begins to make sure all codes and regulations are being followed. We mostly drill near Tyler, TX but have worked all over this great state and can gather the needed information for you.

Should I drill my water well before or after my sprinkler system is installed?

If your water well will be utilized for irrigation, such as a sprinkler system, please call us first. Running a sprinkler system effectively requires a certain number of gallons to be pumped per minute. It is important that the irrigation contractor installing your sprinkler system works with us to design the sprinkler system with an appropriate number of stages based off of the gallons per minute your water well will produce.

Am I required to report my water well to the State of Texas?

Yes, all water wells in Texas have to be reported to the state through the Texas Water Development Board’s Submitted Drillers Report (SDR) Database. We can help you with this process.

Is Calicutt Drilling a licensed company?

Yes! We have obtained our license through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation based on our experience, passing the Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers state exam, and continuing our education every year and reporting it to the state of Texas. Our license number is 59711 WPK.