What Devices Consume the Most Energy in Your Home

The heating and air conditioning systems are responsible for over half the electricity and energy consumption in a house. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that with higher overall energy consumption, the cost of the monthly energy bill tends to increase. So, it is important that we talk about energy consuming home appliances.

Here, we will also tell you about the vampire appliances that continue to suck in electricity even when turned off. In addition, we will try to figure out how to save your electricity costs.

1. Heaters

Your home heating system is the answer if you want to know about the biggest users of electricity in your home. In various reports of the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, it is said that the highest percentage of energy consumption in the US households results from space heating. The percentage of energy consumption in residential buildings can further go up if there are unfixed insulation issues.

RELATED ARTICLE:  Basement Insulation and Air Sealing

2. Water Heating Appliances

A distant second, water heating appliances are responsible for huge energy consumption in your house. According to Energy Saver, around 20% of any residential home’s energy consumption is done by water heaters. Many homeowners use water heaters for showering, dishwashing, laundry, and other purposes. However, to reduce the energy consumption of water heaters, you can opt for tankless and/or heat pump variations. Tankless water heaters make water heated only when there is a requirement instead of heating water all through the day. Heat pump water heaters can capture heat from the surrounding environment and use this to warm the water and thus consume less energy.

3. Appliances for Cooling

Cooling appliances secure the third spot if you want to know what home devices use the most electricity. In the Annual Energy Outlook 2022 report of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the use of electricity by cooling appliances in homes was around 16% of the whole residential electrical energy consumption in the US during 2021. However, depending on the climate of your locality and the temperature of your outdoor air, the use of energy consumption by cooling appliances can vary.

4. Lighting

EIA says that 5 to 7% of energy consumption in a household happens due to lighting setups. However, you can easily cut down the energy consumption by lighting amenities by consulting an electrical contractor near you. They can help you by replacing the existing setup with LED and smart bulbs.

5. Refrigerators

As per the EIA, energy consumption by refrigerators constitutes 3-5% of energy consumption in average US households. Experts say that despite the relatively energy consumption of refrigerators per hour, these are one of the most energy consuming home appliances because they run for constantly.

6. Washer and Dryer

As a homeowner, you can probably guess that washers and dryers do around 3.2% of the monthly electricity consumption of your house. However, the amount of consumption can differ from one house to another depending on how often these laundry appliances are used. In addition, if you are using hot water for washers and dryers, the amount of energy consumption need to be factored in.

7. Electric Oven

Electric ovens will surely be on the list if you want to know what appliances use the most electricity in your home. These appliances consume around 3% of the total energy used by an average US household every month.

Other appliances consuming the most amount of energy in a household are home entertainment equipment, various kitchen appliances, computers, boiler circulation pumps, furnace fans, etc.

Knowing About Vampire Appliances

If you want to know about energy consuming home appliances, you need to have an understanding vampire appliances. Vampire appliances continue to consume electricity even when they are not performing their functions or switched off. Some of the most commonly used vampire appliances in residential buildings are microwaves, televisions, computers, printers, set-top boxes, central heating furnaces, DVD/VCR, furnaces for central heating, gaming consoles, routers & modem, and phones.

However, with a little awareness, you can reduce energy consumption by these vampire appliances. You can pull the plug from the socket when the appliances are not being used. Also, you can connect some of these devices to a power strip which can be turned off when you are not using it. Further, you can purchase Energy Star appliances that use very less power in standby mode. Moreover, you can get an energy audit done in your home to learn about old and inefficient appliances.

How to Save Your Electricity Costs

• Go for Smart Appliances

Using smart appliances will help you to get rid of excessive energy consumption because these appliances come with the provision for monitoring the use of electricity. Further, they get turned off when you are not using them. Installing smart outlets and appliances will also help you eliminate the hassle of constantly switching on and switching off the plugs. So, if you have old and inefficient home appliances, replace them with smart appliances.

• Purchase Energy Star Appliances

The Energy Star Program was started by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the year 1992. This program has been helping homeowners reduce the amount of energy used by each appliance. So, even if these appliances are a little costlier upfront, its important to keep in mind that appliances with an Energy Star rating are energy efficient and use less energy than other appliances.

• Make Use of the Timers and Inbuilt Energy Saving Capacity of Appliances

Many appliances like heaters, air conditioners, and televisions come with integrated energy-saving features. For example, you can set the timer in your air conditioning system or use the standby mode on your computer to lessen the use of electricity.

• Get a Home Energy Audit

If the insulation of your house is perfect, the energy consumption of your house will go down. But how does a homeowner know whether your house’s insulation is working properly? You can easily find the efficiency of your home insulation system by getting an energy audit conducted. Many states in the US offer free energy audits in homes.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, now you have fair ideas about what home devices use the most electricity. We have also discussed vampire appliances and how you can reduce energy consumption with some smart practices. So, it’s time to keep a check on the duration for which you use the most energy-intensive appliances and get the inefficient or more energy-consuming appliances with smart and energy-efficient appliances.

Radon, a radioactive gas, is formed from uranium’s breakdown. This colorless gas with no smell or taste is the second largest cause of lung cancer. The EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has raised a major concern about the impact of excessive radon in the air, estimating more than 20000 lung cancer deaths facilitated by radon. Further, the American Lung Association’s State of Lung Cancer Report published on 14^th January 2022 indicates that Connecticut residents may also find themselves in the presence elevated concentrations of radon in the air. The report says that 25.8% of Connecticut’s radon test results are equal to or more than the Action level of 4 pCi/L as per EPA guidelines. These facts make it necessary to know how to get rid of radon in the air.

The Department of Public Health in Connecticut has responded to this with a Radon Program, recommending that residents get radon testing done at their homes. The testing is usually done with short-term and long-term devices. The Connecticut Department of Health has its list of Nationally Certified (by AARST-NRPP or NRSB) Measurement Professionals who conduct this testing. These professionals are further registered at the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The state also helps find qualified professionals to help mitigate or reduce radon levels in your home.

But as a homeowner, you also need to be aware of radon mitigation and how it is done. So, here we are to discuss radon mitigation and radon mitigation systems.

What is Radon Mitigation?

The process of reducing the levels of radon gas concentration in a home’s or occupied building’s breathing zone is called radon mitigation. Radon mitigation starts if the level of radon in the air is found to be equal to or more than the EPA Action level of 4.0 pCi/L. You need to contact a qualified and certified professional for mitigating radon from air and water.

The contractor will decide the best radon reduction method for your home. Further, s/he will install a system for radon mitigation in your home. S/he will also guide you on the proper maintenance of the system.

RELATED ARTICLE: Radon In Water

What is a Radon Mitigation System?

A radon mitigation system is used to decrease the level of radon in the air. A radon mitigation system is usually constituted of a radon fan, U-tube manometer, radon system tag, active notification monitor, suction pit, and radon pipe.

The radon fan is placed in a garage, attic, unconditioned space, or outside the house to stop radon from leaking back into the home. Further, the fan will never be placed in a livable place or anywhere near the livable space. The fan will be connected to a PVC radon pipe, and the pipe will pull the radon found in the foundation or basement of a house when inserted through a suction pit and expel radon outside into the air.

The U-tube manometer in the mitigating system will help track whether the fan is working properly. The active notification monitor functions as an alarm in case the fan fails to function properly. Finally, the radon system tag has the name, phone number, and license number of the installer, along with the installation date. The professional installer of a system will put the tag on it once the installation work is complete.

What is the Most Common Method of Radon Mitigation?

An Active Subslab Suction, also known as Subslab Depressurization, is the most reliable and common method of radon mitigation. In this method, the professional will insert one or multiple suction pipes through the floor slab (indoor) or a concrete slab (outdoor). The suction pipes will reach the soil or crushed rock under the slab to suck out radon. Further, the suction pipes will be connected to a vent fan that will release the sucked radon gas to the outdoors. The fan will also create a negative pressure or vacuum under the floor or concrete slab for radon mitigation.

Other common methods of radon mitigation are:

• Passive Subslab Suction
• Drain-Tile Suction
• Block-Wall Suction
• Sump-Hole Suction
• Crawlspace Ventilation
• Sealing
• Heat Recovery Ventilation
• Natural Ventilation
• Home or Room Pressurization

How to Install Radon Mitigation System?

The installation procedure of a radon mitigation system is divided into three steps, before mitigation, during mitigation, and after mitigation. Before mitigation, a professional radon test is conducted to know the level of radon in the air. Then, the hired professional contractor assesses your home to understand how the mitigation system can be built.

RELATED ARTICLE: What Is Radon Testing?

During mitigation, the contractor will decide the right fan size for your home and ensure the installation has been done properly. S/he will also get the cracks and openings in the basement sealed so that no radon leakage happens. Finally, s/he installs the mitigating system following a step-by-step process mentioned below.

• Drilling a hole into the basement slab suitable for inserting a 3-inch PVC pipe
• Digging the suction pit from where the pipe will collect radon
• Running a pipe from cellar to the exterior, ensuring the pipe is at least 10 ft above the ground level, placed away from windows, doors, openings of that specific building and adjacent buildings by at least 10 ft if the pipe does not expel the sucked radon gas at least 2ft above these building openings and roof edge
• Placing and sealing the pipe
• Running the pipe to the vent fan
• Manometer installation
• Testing the mitigation system

At the after-mitigation stage, the professional will explain the operations of the mitigation system to the homeowners. S\he will conduct a radon test to ensure the radon level has decreased post the mitigation process.

Does Radon Mitigation Improve Air Quality?

Yes, radon mitigation improves air quality in a space. Especially those mitigation systems with fan vents can ensure powerful moisture suction from the area in the basement or under the foundation slab. Thus, the humidity in your home air will be reduced, and you will enjoy fresher and cleaner air with less chances of musty odors.

Further, an EPA report suggests that mold exposure and excessive dampness are the reason for 21% of asthma cases in the United States. So, by reducing mold growth, a radon mitigation system will also combat the spread of disease in your house.

The reduced humidity in the air prevents the rapid infestations of viruses, bacteria, mold, dust, and other elements that spread asthma, allergy, and many respiratory problems.

What is the Cost of a Radon Mitigation System?

The cost of a radon mitigation system depends on many factors like the type of foundation (basement, crawl space, on-grade slabs) your house has, the design and size of your house, system type used, climate and location, labor and permit charges in your locality, type of equipment used, etc. Further, whether you are using a DIY kit or seeking professional assistance for radon testing will determine the cost of a radon mitigation system. DIY kits are cheaper but do not always produce comprehensive results. You should always seek professional help for radon testing and system installation.

Nevertheless, installing a radon mitigation system in your home will cost between $1500 and $4000. However, the cost can increase if you have a large property with multiple foundations.

Final Words

Hopefully, now you have a clear idea about how radon reduction systems work and why they are essential to eliminate cancer-causing radon in the air of your indoor space. Besides installing a mitigation system, you can also make some changes in the overall ventilation system in your house (along with natural ventilation) so that an increased airflow reduces the radon level in the air.

Believe it or not, spiders can be quite beneficial to our homes and gardens, considering that they snack on the other insects —like roaches, flies, mosquitoes, and millipedes— that could otherwise go unchecked. This understanding doesn’t, however, make our encounters with spiders any more pleasant… especially when they’re found within our own homes. Fortunately, there are many simple methods that you can use to clear up an infestation of spiders and keep them out for good.

What attracts spiders to your home?

Weather: Spiders are attracted to dark and comfortable locations and require specific environments to survive in. If the temperatures outside are cold, spiders will be eager to make their way indoors where they can be warm and cozy. Similarly, spiders will navigate to the indoors in effort to cool off when the temperatures outside are too hot.

Habitat: Most species of spiders prefer to live in dark and secluded locations such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and attics. These areas can offer shelter from the elements and an ideal habitat for building webs and finding prey.

Food Sources: Spiders often make their way inside because they’re following other pests such as moths, flies, or ants. Like other pests, spiders also eat what whatever food sources we’ve left out for them. Crumbs, food scraps, juice residue are all potential sources for spiders to persist.

Mating: The mating season for spiders begins in the late summer and early fall. This is when many spiders will leave their webs and search for a mate. One spider may attract others when it is time to mate so it is important that you act quickly following an indoor spider sighting.

Gaps and Openings: Spiders commonly enter through tiny cracks, crevices, holes, and gaps in areas near doors, windows, and vents. Sometimes spiders enter through openings created by other pests such as mice. At other times, they may hitch a ride on the things we bring into our homes such as furniture, food, plants, and pets.

Where in the home are spiders typically found?

Spiders prefer to live in various areas in the home depending on the type of climate a particular species finds suitable. Generally, spiders are attracted to quiet rooms and nesting in undisturbed clutter with easy access to insects. Spiders that prefer moisture will be found in bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces and other damp parts of building ideal for hiding, reproducing, and pouncing on their next meal. Others that are more keen to dry climates may live in attics, air vents, and high corners of rooms where they can catch other insects that pass by. Egg sacs left from female spiders are commonly found in low traffic areas in the basement. In two weeks time, these eggs hatch into young spiders. When left unchecked, this cycle can manifest into an infestation.

How to prevent spiders from entering your home?

Reduce Exterior Lighting: Outside light turned on throughout the night can attract a plethora of insects such as moths, mosquitoes, and beetles. This activity can also draw in spiders. Keep outdoor lighting near doors and windows to a minimum or consider switching your bulbs to sodium vapor, halogen, or dichromium yellow bulbs which insects find less attractive than bright white and bluish lights.

Eliminate Exterior Shelter: Because spiders are often seeking out to shelter and warmth, things like stacks of firewood and piles of leaves can attract them to your home. Make sure your yard is clear of areas where spiders can find shelter or, at the very least, store these items a minimum of 10 feet away from your home. Break up any webs that you can see near your house to encourage the spiders to go somewhere else.

Seal Entry Points: Seal any cracks or small gaps in your foundation, siding, and weather stripping around doors and windows. You should also pay attention to areas where exterior pipes and conduits enter the building and make sure these locations are properly sealed. Any windows or door screens that have become loose or torn should be repaired and new screens should be installed where missing.

Use Homemade Repellents. Spiders are repelled by a number of natural scents that we often find pleasing. These include vanilla, lemon, citronella, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, chestnut, marigold, cedar, cinnamon, and tea tree. You can apply a few drops of essential oil in strategic locations at the exterior of your home, your garage, and even your car.

Use Store-Bought Insecticide. These insecticides can provide a chemical barrier that repels or kills spiders. Insecticides can be an effective means of addressing a serious spider infestation. A downside to this approach is that many insecticides contain toxins or chemicals that are hazardous to children and pets. It is important that you carefully read the labels and directions.

How to get rid of spiders in your home?

Remove Webs: In addition to being unsightly, these webs harbour spiders while allowing them to feed and reproduce. You can either dust walls and ceilings where the webs have been built or use a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove spider webs from your home. It’s best that you do this upon spotting any webs in your home.

Keep a Tidy Home: Regularly clean your home and remove as much clutter as you can. Leftover food and crumbs may attract spiders and other insects so stay on top of maintaining a clean kitchen. Don’t forget about low traffic areas such as corners and closets and clear out any piles of cloths. Also consider transferring stored belongings from cardboard boxes over to airtight containers. Doing so will make it more difficult for spiders to find areas that they perceive as well sheltered and comfortable.

Get a Spider Catcher: If you’re interested in a way to remove spiders from your home without necessarily harming them, look into getting a spider catcher. It is a hand-operated wand that works by surrounding the spider with bristles that close around the spider so that you can gently pick it up and release it outside.

Use Essential Oils and Vinegar: Essential oils can be an effective deterrent both inside and outside of the home. If your aim is to get rid of spiders without killing them and without insecticides, vinegar is also an effective natural spider repellent. You can fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 white vinegar and water solution and spray the mixture into the corners of your home, around window frames, and gaps near the entrance doors to repel spiders. It will likely take some experimenting to determine which solutions and ratios are most effective, how often you should spray, and which locations are ideal.

Place Spider Traps: Traps with a sticky glue designed to catch and kill spiders can be effective if you place them in areas where spiders are likely to be. These are often laced with a pheromone or aroma that attracts spiders to the trap. As with store-bought insecticides, you should carefully read the instructions and make sure they are placed out of reach of children and pets.

Use Store-Bought Insecticides: When used indoors, these treatments are usually intended to be used, in the corners of your home, beneath furniture, and along the baseboards. As described earlier, make sure you understand the instructions and potential hazards.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas released by decaying uranium. You can find it in nearly all soils and at very low air levels. However, the real problem arises when radon enters your home and becomes trapped. Long-term exposure to high levels  radon gas causes lung cancer.

Radon is the second largest contributor to lung cancer after cigarette smoking. There is no doubt that higher levels of radon are found in some regions of our country. However, the presence of elevated levels of radon is evident in all 50 states of the US. It is estimated that every 1 of 15 American homes contains an elevated level of radon gas.

So, it is important to test your home for radon to determine whether your home has high radon levels. This article will discuss everything you need to know about the safe level of radon, its health risks, and how to perform radon testing.

Safe Level of Radon

Not long ago, media hype caused both panic and skepticism about the health risks of radon. But as the research progressed, it made two things clear. Living in a home with an elevated radon level over a long period can cause lung cancer. And there are effective ways to lower radon levels in your home.

But first, you should know what the safe level of radon gas is estimated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA recommends remedial action in a home as early as possible if the presence of radon is between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. Unfortunately, there is still no safe level of radon exposure.  However, the EPA asserts that action needs to be taken if the radon level within a home is 4 pCi/L or more.

Health Effects of Radon

As mentioned earlier, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. In fact, it causes approximately 3%-14% of all lung cancer based on the smoking prevalence and the national average radon level.  Medical studies have revealed that radon exposure can also increase the risk factors associated with blood cancers. Let’s explore the health effects of radon in detail.

• Lung Cancer

Although radon is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer, it is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.  As per the EPA, the chances of becoming affected by lung cancer increases significantly with the rising level of radon concentration detected in a home. The risk of developing lung cancer rises 16% for every 2.7 pCi/L increase in radon exposure. An annual exposure to 4 pCi/l is the equivalent of 200 chest x-rays per year. The EPA has approximated the chance of lung cancer as per the radon-concentration level.

• 4 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 2 pCi/L radon level approximately.
• 7 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 4 pCi/L radon level approximately.
• 15 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at an 8 pCi/L radon level approximately.
• 18 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 10 pCi/L radon level approximately.
• 36 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 20 pCi/L radon level Approximately.

But if you are a smoker, the chances of getting affected by lung cancer when exposed to radon skyrockets:

• 32 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 2 pCi/L radon level.
• 64 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 4 pCi/L radon level.
• 120 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at an 8 pCi/L radon level.
• 150 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 10pCi/L radon level.
• 260 out of 1000 people could be affected by lung cancer at a 20 pCi/L radon level.

Blood Cancer

A recent study published by Environmental Research reveals that radon exposure may also increase the risk factors associated with blood cancer. As the radon level increases, individuals have higher chances of becoming affected by different types of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. However, the reason is still unclear as the scientists are doubtful whether the radon emits the alpha particle that can potentially harm the DNA in the bone marrow and eventually cause blood cancer.

How to Test for Radon?

The best way to detect radon is to conduct radon testing. The EPA has already taken some strong initiatives to reduce the health risks associated with radon exposure. They have recommended testing the radon levels in all schools and homes below the third floor.

Fortunately, nowadays, you can find three types of tests available on the market to test your home for radon. These are continuous, short-term radon tests, and long-term radon tests radon tests.

• Continuous Radon Tests

The best way to detect radon levels in your home is to perform continuous radon testing. These types of radon tests are designed to test the radon levels continuously. To perform these radon tests, an electric monitor is installed to monitor the radon levels. As such, this electric monitor samples the air continuously in an ionized chamber to measure the radon level. However, you can use this monitor for short, mid and long-term radon tests to know the average running level of radon.

• Short-Term Radon Tests

Short-term radon tests can help to determine whether further testing is needed or not. You can measure radon levels with the help of electret or charcoal-based ion for 2 to 7 days. Nowadays, you can find many DIY kits available on the market for short-term radon tests. If you don’t prefer the DIY approach or need your results with a quicker turnaround time, you can also contact a professional for short-term radon testing at your home.

• Long-Term Radon Tests

Long-term radon tests are ideal for measuring the radon levels for 90 days to 365 days. These testing provide an estimated annual average radon concentration in your home based on alpha particle tracking.  However, the result may vary significantly as per a drop in air pressure, variable soil moisture, gusty winds, and snow cover. You will often need to contact state radon agencies and online retailers to perform this radon test.

How to Perform Radon Test?

If you are interested in performing a radon test on your own, you will need to carefully go through all the instructions and directions mentioned in the user’s manual on the radon test kit. No doubt, some of these tests are very much specific and need accurate timing to conduct. If not done properly, the test may provide unreliable results.

However, the instructions remain almost the same for many home radon tests. These include:

• Find the lowest area in your living space to place the radon test kit
• Make sure to close all the doors and windows (except for entrance and exit) for at least 12 hours prior to performing the radon testing and throughout the testing.
• Place the test kit approximately 20 inches above the ground or floor and make sure it is well away from the outside walls, windows, fans, and especially areas of high humidity like the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room.

When to Take Action?

The EPA firmly recommends performing a second radon test only if the first short-term test shows a radon level of  4 pCi/L or higher. However, if the second radon test shows a concentrated radon level above 4 pCi/L, you should consider contacting a professional to perform the radon mitigation. It will ensure that your home is free of the harmful effects of radon gases. You can use National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)’s online locator or contact your state health department to find a certified radon mitigation company.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have a better understanding of what radon is, how to test for it, and how to reduce radon in a home. If you are a smoker, you should understand the dangerous combination of tobacco smoke and radon will increase the risk factors significantly for lung cancer, not only for you but also for other residents in your home. However, the only way to know if you are at risk of exposure to dangerous levels of radon is to test your home.

What is Well Flow Testing?

A well flow test is about examining how much water your private well can pump to the system of your home. Checking the maximum and minimum range is essential to know how much water your well can safely pump to your home system. Some factors are considered to check the water flow level. They are:

• Duration
• Flow rate
• Pressure range
• Switch intervals
• Well depth

Further, there is a fixed formula to determine a well’s accurate water flow level. Two elements are very important in the formula. First, its necessary to gather information about the time for which the pump is running. Also, keep a note about the quality of water (in gallons) the pump is drawing.

The flow rate can then be measured by dividing the water drawn by the pump (in gallons) by the operation cycle of the pump (in seconds). This result is again multiplied by 60 to get the result about the well’s gallons per minute or GPM water flow.  So, the formula is:

(Gallons of water drawn by the pump/Number of seconds the pump was on)*60

You can hire a reliable and specialized company to check your well’s water flow.

What is a Good Well Flow Rate?

The more, the merrier! On a serious note, let’s be practical as the natural water resources, especially groundwater levels, will differ across various geographical locations. So, a universal standard cannot be set regarding a good well water flow rate. Nevertheless, a 3 GPM water flow is decent for private wells in households. However, a well’s water flow is usually considered good when it is 5 gallons per minute or above.

If your well water flow rate is low, a technician can help you improve the flow. The problem can be solved by installing a booster pump, a constant pressure system, or adjusting the pressure tank settings. You can also receive suggestions like widening the borehole or drilling the well deeper.

What is Well Water Quality Testing?

The water flow rate of your well determines whether your household system is receiving adequate water supply or not. On the other hand, water quality testing assesses the water quality indicators and contaminants in your well water. This is very important to ensure that your water is safe to drink and wash with. Good water quality also ensures that that the appliances connected to the water source can function well and have a decent shelf life. In addition, quality testing also helps you to obtain necessary guidance from your local health and environment department if contaminants are detected.

What are Water Quality Indicators?

Some water quality indicators checked during water testing are the pH level, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms. If your well water has high levels of total coliforms, there is a high chance that harmful elements like viruses, bacteria, and other parasites are present in the water. Further, a higher presence of fecal coliforms hints at the existence of germs causing hepatitis, diarrhea, and dysentery.

In addition, a high pH level in your water can damage your house’s appliances and plumbing systems. Moreover, it can yield some adverse health effects.

What are the Water Contaminants?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)says that the highest permissible level of nitrate in drinking water is 10mg/L. Maintaining this nitrate level is important for avoiding severe health problems like the blue-baby syndrome. If your well water has more nitrate than the permissible level, it will be considered contaminated.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) derived from “industrial fuel-related chemicals” can also contaminate your well water if your house is close to industrial areas. Some of these organic compounds are:

• Carbon tetrachloride
• Benzene
• Toluene
• Methyl tertiary butyl ether
• Trichloroethelene, etc.

Your well water can get further contaminated by harmful minerals like arsenic, lead, radium, mercury, and atrazine. Moreover, there are many instances of pesticide and germ contamination in well water.

If the inspection report says that your well water is contaminated, you must seek help from the local health or environmental department. You can also contact EPA to seek necessary guidance on the measures to be taken.

Why Should I Test My Well Water?

You should get your well water tested because consuming contaminated water or being in contact with polluted water can cause instant or future health problems. Problems like diarrhea and dysentery are common health implications caused by contaminated water. Further, the harmful minerals and chemicals in the water can cause severe damage to your skin, hair, nails, and internal organs.

You need to be more particular about your well water quality testing if you have children, pregnant women, elderly persons, or people suffering from chronic diseases at home.  Regular testing of your well water is the most effective way to ensure that your well water is safe for use.

How Can I Get My Well Water Tested?

Your state’s local health and environmental department will usually conduct examinations to check the levels of water quality indicators. Further, you will find a detailed list of certified laboratories for water testing in your area on your state’s official website of the Department of Public Health.

What is the Right Time to Have My Well Tested?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends water testing yearly during spring. However, you must make arrangements for well water testing immediately if you experience any change in the water’s taste, smell, or color. Further, immediate testing is imperative if there are reports about well water problems in your area.

Your well water should also be immediately tested after any repairing work on the well equipment. Additionally, any land disturbance or waste disposal near your well should call for immediate water testing.

What is the Cost of Well Water Testing?

The cost of well water testing may differ based on the test being conducted. For example, the cost of a test for checking arsenic levels will be different from bacteria-determinant tests. On average, well water testing will cost you somewhere between $100 to $750.

Final Words:

If the inspection report of your well water is not satisfactory, or your well water fails inspection, it is imperative that you follow measures as guided by the technician. In cases of a failed inspection, cleaning the well, evacuating the well, changing the pump and other equipment, UV treatment, etc., are recommended. If the condition of your well water is beyond improvement, the technician will advise you to have a new well drilled.