Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Wells, pumps, water quality, cisterns and septic systems — the questions we answer on the phone every week.
Wells and pumps
Everything after the hole is drilled
Do you drill wells?
No — drilling is the one thing we do not do. We handle everything after the hole is in the ground: pump selection and installation, drop pipe and wire, the pitless adapter, pressure tank, controls, wiring and water testing. If you need a new well drilled we will tell you who drills in this area, then take it from there once the driller is finished.
My water just stopped. What should I check before calling?
Check the breaker for the well pump first, then look at the pressure gauge. No pressure at all usually points to the pump, the pressure switch or the control box. If the gauge shows pressure but nothing comes out of the tap, the problem is more likely between the tank and the house. Either way, call us — we would rather talk it through on the phone than have you pull something apart.
How long should a well pump last?
Roughly 8 to 15 years, depending on how hard it runs, how much sand it moves and how clean the power is. A pump that short-cycles because the pressure tank is waterlogged will fail a lot sooner. Budget for a replacement rather than being surprised by one.
Is it the pump or the pressure tank?
Pressure that swings wildly, a pump that kicks on every time you run a tap, or a tank that feels heavy and sounds solid when you knock on it usually mean a waterlogged tank, not a dead pump. We test both on site before recommending anything, because replacing a good pump does not fix a bad tank.
Can you work on a system somebody else installed?
Yes. Most of what we service was put in by someone else, often years ago and sometimes with no paperwork at all. We will work out what you have and tell you what it needs.
Do you handle the well permit?
We handle the permitting for the work we do, including pump installation records filed with the Division of Water Resources. A permit for a brand new well is filed before drilling, and we will point you through that process.
Water quality and treatment
Test first, then specify
Why does my water leave stains or feel hard?
Hardness, iron and manganese are the usual causes in this area. Rust-colored staining points to iron, black specks to manganese, and scale on fixtures and in kettles to hardness. Each one needs a different piece of equipment, which is why we test before we quote rather than selling a softener to everybody.
Do I need a softener, a filter, UV or reverse osmosis?
It depends entirely on the test. A softener handles hardness. Sediment and iron need filtration. UV handles bacteria. Reverse osmosis is for drinking water where dissolved solids or nitrates are the issue. Most houses need one or two of these, not all four.
How often should I test my water?
Once a year for bacteria and nitrates as a baseline, and any time the taste, smell or clarity changes, after work has been done on the well, or after flooding in the area. If you have just bought the property and have no records, test before you assume anything.
Is my water safe to drink after flooding?
Assume it is not until it has been tested. Surface water getting into a wellhead is the most common way a well becomes contaminated. We can test it, disinfect the well and re-test to confirm it cleared.
Cisterns and hauled water
For low-yield wells and properties with none
We have no well. Can we still have running water?
Yes. A cistern with a pressure system gives you the same water pressure as a well, filled either by hauled water or by a low-yield well that trickles in over time. We size the tank, set it, plumb the fill and overflow, and install the pump and controls.
How big a cistern do we need?
For a full-time household, 1,500 to 2,500 gallons is typical, balanced against how often you want a delivery and how much access a truck has in winter. Bigger tanks mean fewer deliveries but a larger up-front cost and a bigger hole.
Do you deliver water?
Yes, we haul bulk water to cisterns and storage tanks for homes, job sites and livestock across our service area. Call to get on the delivery schedule, and let us know before you are down to the last few inches.
Septic systems
Keeping one working, and replacing one that is not
How often should the septic tank be pumped?
Every three to five years for a typical household. A smaller tank, a bigger family or a garbage disposal all shorten that interval. It is far cheaper than a failed leach field, which is what eventually happens when solids carry over.
How do I know the septic system is failing?
Slow drains throughout the house rather than at one fixture, gurgling, wet ground or unusually green grass over the leach field, or a smell outside. Those are warnings, not emergencies — call while it is still a service call.
What is involved in a new septic system?
A soil evaluation, a design sized to the bedroom count and the soil, a county permit, then installation of the tank, lines and leach field with an inspection before backfill. We handle the permitting and meet the inspector as part of the job.
Can I drive or build over the leach field?
No. Keep vehicles, sheds, decks and heavy equipment off it, and keep trees back so roots do not find the lines. Grass is the right thing to have over a leach field, and nothing else.
What should never go down the drain?
Wipes of any kind, including the ones labelled flushable, grease, coffee grounds, paint, solvents and harsh chemicals that kill off the bacteria doing the work. Spreading laundry across the week rather than doing eight loads on Saturday also helps.
Working with us
Quotes, warranty, service area and payment
Do you charge for estimates?
No. Estimates and project quotes are free, and we quote the whole job — equipment, labor, permits and cleanup — so the number you approve is the number you pay.
What warranty comes with the work?
All labor and materials are guaranteed for one year, and the equipment we install carries a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Where do you work?
Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, including Trinidad, Walsenburg, Weston, Aguilar, Stonewall, Segundo, Rye, Colorado City and Beulah, and everything in between. If you are not sure whether you are in our area, call and ask.
Do you offer emergency service?
Yes. Normal hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 5:00pm, and we take emergency calls outside those hours. No water in the middle of winter is an emergency, and we treat it as one.
How can I pay?
Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, plus cash, check and Zelle.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — Colorado licenses #1447 and #1596, bonded and insured, BBB accredited with an A+ rating for the last 22+ years.
Question we have not answered here?
Call and ask. We would rather spend ten minutes on the phone than have you guess at what the system is doing.