Do You Need a Well Inspection to Sell Your Home in AZ?
Do You Need a Well Inspection to Sell Your Home in AZ?
Approximately 300,000 residents in Arizona rely on wells for their daily water supply. There are approximately 100,000 known functioning wells within the state. The number of wells in Arizona is starting to rise with the concern of drought. Utilizing groundwater is a way for residents to save money, have the water they need, and stay self-sufficient. However, when a homeowner chooses to put a home with a well on the market, the selling process is different from homes already connected to city or municipal water.
Skip To: What Does A Well Inspection Consist Of? – Water Quality – Water Quantity
No, a well inspection is not required to sell a home in Arizona. However, having a well inspection conducted before selling a home is beneficial for both the seller and the buyer. Water quality is a concern when purchasing a home with a well. Prospective buyers want to know that they won’t be putting their health at risk if they purchase the home. The integrity of the system and the condition of the well are also important considerations for prospective buyers. You may face legal action if they have to make extensive and costly repairs. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep your well in good operating condition and to make sure your drinking water is safe. Health and legal consequences could arise if a home is sold with a damaged well or unsafe water source. As such, a well inspection should be performed to cover all bases, regardless of whether it is mandatory.
What Does A Well Inspection In Arizona Consist Of?
A well inspection covers all aspects of the well. From water to structural integrity, a well inspection ensures that the entire system is in proper working order and the water that is produced is safe to consume. Several tests are conducted as well during the inspection. The two main tests conducted during an inspection are for water quantity and water safety.
Water Quality Of Well Inspection
The most important part of a well inspection is testing for water safety and purity. This is done when the inspector collects a water sample from water coming from a tap within the home. It is then sent off to a lab for testing. After the testing is conducted the homeowner will receive a full report that details what is in the water, and what the safe limit is for each element found in the water.
The water is tested for PH levels, hardness, alkalinity, and turbidity which essentially means the clarity of the water. The lab results also include minerals present in the water such as iron, calcium, manganese, copper, chloride, and fluoride. Along with testing for minerals, the water inspection will also test for coliform bacteria and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, formaldehyde, chloroform, etc. These are extremely dangerous. In fact, VOCs are what has caused so many Camp Lejeune veterans to develop severe forms of cancer.
The inspector should also be asked to inspect for radon. In many areas, radon is not part of the normal well testing procedure. Read more on well water quality on the Arizona Department of Health Services website.
Water Quantity In Well Inspection
Water quantity is also an important aspect of well inspections. Testing for water quantity is essential making sure the well has enough water to serve the entire home. No one likes running out of water in the middle of a shower or doing the dishes.
Testing water quantity consists of the inspector measuring the dimensions and depth of the well, as well as conducting a flow rate test. Flow rate is tested by measuring how many gallons of water come from the well per minute. For a normal-sized household, a home typically needs between 100-120 gallons of water per person per day. Therefore the flow rate should be around 6 to 12 gallons per minute.
The pressure tank will also be checked during the inspection. There are several problems that can result in low water pressure or contamination, such as rusting, leaking, or other mechanical problems. The inspector should catch any of these issues during their well inspection.
To learn more about well inspections, and when they are necessary, contact John Gluch and his team of Phoenix real estate agents today!
Have other questions about Arizona Home Inspections? Check out this video!
Check Out What Others Are Saying About Well Inspections & Selling Your Home In Arizona!
Read this 5-star Google review below!
“…During the inspection, we wanted a specialized inspection based on a few things that came back. He helped us as out-of-state buyers to know what and what are not typical items an Arizona house would have. Yana helped to coordinate a last-minute inspection the DAY BEFORE our inspection period was over. This helped to give us peace of mind, and we sure did appreciate their sense of urgency and understanding of the importance of this to us…”
By: Lizzi C.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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