FAQ's

  Many people ask how deep their well should be. After all if there is water at 30 feet, shouldn’t we stop drilling? Let's find out.   How deep should a water well be? According to the Water Systems Council’s Wellcare program, the average consumer water well ranges between 100 and 800 feet, but some do reach over 1,000 feet deep. The purpose of drilling a water well is to find water, but there several things to consider when drilling. 1.       Contaminants There may be water very shallow under the surface. The issue with this is there may be any number of contaminants from the surface accessing that water. Road salt, car exhaust, or anything else may seep into that water. Also, in times of drought, a shallow well is more likely to run dry. 2.       What Is In The Ground When drilling, a contractor can go through several different layers of soil before hitting bedrock. There may be water available at a relatively shallow layer of soil, but this soil could be made up of c

  So you had your well water tested and need a water filtration or treatment system. What do you need to know about choosing a water treatment system?   What water treatment system you need depends on what is in your water. Systems are created to filter out specific material or chemicals such as minerals or heavy metals. Even if you clearly have sediment in your water, you should have it tested so you know exactly what and how much material is in your water. With that being said let’s look at some common water treatment systems. Ion exchange System Ion exchange systems use resin to replace either cations or anions with sodium ions and chloride ions. They typically use sodium chloride to provide these ions. This neutralizes the water. Salt brine is then used to recharge the water. Ion exchange systems can be used to soften water and remove certain chemicals depending on the resin used. Water Filtration Systems Water filtration systems are used to remove particulates and mate

Is it Time To Get Your Well Water Tested? In last week’s blog post about what to know about your well, we learned that well water should be tested at least once a year. In today’s post we are looking at signs that you should get your water tested sooner rather than later.   The number one way you know it’s time to get your water tested is if it has been a year or more since it was last tested. Well water should be tested at least once every year. This should align with having your water system reviewed and serviced each year. Now let’s look at some other reasons. Visual or taste difference in water If there is a sudden difference in how your water looks or tastes, then you should have your system looked at and water tested. Problems in well water usually take a long period of time to become noticeable. If there us a sudden change, that might indicate a a significant breakdown in your water system. Heavy rainfall or extreme weather If there has been flooding from heavy rai

  What's that boy? There’s a well in the backyard! Here’s everything you need to know about water wells, before you close on your house.   In 2015 it was estimated that 42 Million people in the United States used wells for their home’s   water supply. A great majority of these homes are located in the north east, so it should be no surprise to you if you move to a house and find it uses well water. Well, no pun intended, this is your guide to what to look out for when you are interested in buying a home that has a well. How Does It Work? If you remember in high school learning about the water cycle, then you know that a good portion of water from runoff, lakes, rivers, rain, and snow all soak into the ground. This excess water that is not absorbed by plants will pool together deep in the ground. You can access this water by drilling deep enough. The hole has a metal tube placed in it called a casing that stops the ground from collapsing in on itself. Now, unless you plan on

  You reach to turn on your shower faucet, waiting for the soothing hot water to prepare you for the day ahead. You wait. And wait. And wait. Nothing. You turn to the sink and find the same thing. No water! Is your well dried up, or has your pumped failed? Let’s find out! First lets look at some warning signs that you may have a dry well. Dry Well Warning Signs • Your faucet is sputtering more often than normal • Your water appears murky or muddy • Lower water pressure than normal • Pump runs longer than usual • Water well recovery takes ridiculously long to recover after heavy usage • Your neighbors are having similar struggles If you begin having these issues with your water then you may have a dry well. But before you call us, here are some things you can do to troubleshoot your water well and pump. 1. Is it plugged in? Seriously though, check that your pump is receiving power. Especially after being serviced, the pump may be unplugged, or an electrical overload may

Geothermal energy harnesses subterranean temperatures through a well for heating and cooling purposes.  Here's Why You Should Consider a Geothermal Well 1. Clean Energy The Earth naturally generates the energy your geothermal system needs, so this means no fossil fuels are burned during the process. Also, these systems aren’t dependent on the electrical grid, so they won't create carbon monoxide or toxic byproducts that contribute to climate change. Instead, well drilling professionals will install underground pipes that circulate water between your home and the soil. Depending on the season, the water will collect heat from your home or the soil, which helps regulate indoor temperatures. Best part of all this, is you will never run out energy, as the Earth is always producing it. 2. Increased Savings These eco-friendly systems have low operating costs, meaning they'll eventually pay for themselves with all the money you will be saving. You won't have to pay any munici

A private water well is ideally the best solution for homeowners who do not have access to municipal water systems. Modern wells are constructed to provide the most cost-effective and safe supply of water to your home for drinking, cooking, bathing, etc. However, many people are hesitant to install water wells because of common misconceptions about wells these days. Below are these common misconceptions debunked:  1. Municipal Water Is Higher Quality Since well water comes from the ground, many people fear possible contamination of their water source. However, as long as proper testing and filtration are provided, private wells can offer a safer alternative to municipal water. City water often contains chemicals that disinfect and purify the water, which is why well water tastes fresher and cleaner.  2. Private Wells Frequently Dry Up Well contractors drill deep down until they reach the aquifer beneath a property. This in turn supplies homeowners with a steady stream of groundwater fr

If your home relies on a well to give you clean water year-round, occasional problems might affect its efficiency. Well repairs are often necessary to resolve any unwanted issues. Below are some signs to look for when it's time to contact a well service technician:  1. Weak Pressure  If you have low water pressure in just one faucet, chances are it is usually the plumbing system that needs to be fixed. However, if this problem persists throughout your whole house, it could be due to a water well issue. For example, you could have a leak in your pressure tank, or mechanical seal in your submersible pump has detached itself. A technician might also check your pressure switch, which regulates your pressure and prevents it from going too high or too low.  2. Unusual Noises If your water is making weird noises, it might be time to call a service tech. For example, if an object gets stuck in a well part, it can cause a grinding sound. You might also hear a clicking sound if the bladder i

With a large portion of our area now under Moderate to Severe Drought conditions, it is important to conserve water. If you are experiencing water interruptions, low flow or unusually dirty or poor water quality, your water supply could be going dry. We're here to help! Call the Amber Water Pros today!

Here is a picture of the current drought conditions for NYS (taken from http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/.../StateDroughtMonitor... ) As you can see, most of NY is in moderate drought conditions right now. Here's what you should know about the negative effects droughts can have on our every day life and water use: 1. The need for water increases, so hay and grain amounts are lower than normal. 2. The production of honey declines. 3. Wildfires increase. 4. Our trees, landscapes and fish become stressed. 5. Reservoirs and lake water levels are lower than normal. Drought giving you water problems? Call the pros today!

Ithaca, NY has recently asked their residents to limit their water use due to the latest Central, NY drought conditions. Click here to learn more.  Also, you can view our blog for earlier posts, on ways to help conserve your water! 

According to the Skaneateles Lake Association there have been, "Multiple possible "Small Localized" Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) observed around 1 PM at Zones 3525, 3524, and north of Shotwell Point on NE side of Skaneateles Lake (map above) on Monday, September 21, 2020. City of Syracuse collected a sample at Clift Park and confirmed the presence of microcystis colonies. If conditions warrant a public health advisory, one will be issued by the Onondaga County Health Department." Click here to educate yourself and be regularly updated! Be mindful and stay safe everyone!

According to a localsyr.com article, this has been the driest September on record for Central, NY. Click here to read the full article!

 4 Ways to Conserve Well Water Conserving water is so important nowadays...from seasonal droughts to limited natural resources, you must always be prepared, especially if you own a private water well. Below are some steps you can take to prevent well water waste:  1. Reuse Water- If you wash your dishes by hand, save the leftover water in the sink using jars or plastic containers. You can utilize this water by watering your household plants. If you are someone who likes to wait for the shower to be warm before you step in, place a bucket underneath the steam, then you can use that water for hand washing your clothes. You can also collect rainwater for other household chores that require water.  2. Install Aerators- Aerators are small devices that attach to your faucet heads. They have mesh screens which allow air to enter into the water stream which in turn, reduces the volume of water flow from your faucet. Meanwhile, they are still able to maintain your water pressure. They also redu