Water Well Questions, Answered
Straight answers about pumps, pressure, water quality, and what things cost, from a licensed, family-owned well company in McDade, Texas.
Straight answers about pumps, pressure, water quality, and what things cost, from a licensed, family-owned well company in McDade, Texas.
The usual suspects are a waterlogged pressure tank, a failing pressure switch, a leak in the line, or a pump that's worn out. The tank and switch are cheapest to rule out, so those get tested first. If pressure only drops when two fixtures run at once, that points more toward the pump or a restriction than the tank. See well repair.
Watch for sputtering faucets or air in the lines, short cycling, a pump that runs constantly, sudden pressure loss, sandy water, or an unexplained jump in your electric bill. Several of those can also be pressure tank or switch problems, which cost far less to fix, so get it diagnosed before replacing anything.
Depth decides it. A submersible pump sits down in the well and pushes water up; that's what most Central Texas wells use, and it's required for anything deeper than roughly 25 feet. A jet pump sits above ground and pulls water up, which only works on shallow wells. We measure your well and tell you what it actually needs.
Most replacements are done the same day, often within a few hours once we're on site. Deeper wells, or jobs that need new drop pipe or wire, take longer. We'll tell you what to expect before we start. See pump replacement.
Yes, that's short cycling and it will shorten your pump's life. It usually means the pressure tank lost its air charge or the bladder failed, so the pump has nothing to cushion against. The tank is much cheaper to replace than the pump, and fixing it early often saves the pump.
At least once a year for bacteria, and any time the taste, smell, or color changes. Also test after flooding or heavy rain, after any work on the well, and before buying a property on a well. If livestock drink from the same well, annual testing is worth it for them too. See water testing.
That's iron, and it's very common in Central Texas groundwater. It isn't a health hazard, but it stains fixtures, laundry, and concrete, and it builds up in water heaters and appliances. An iron filter handles it once testing confirms the level.
That's hydrogen sulfide, sometimes from sulfur bacteria. If the smell is only on the hot side, it's often the water heater's anode rod rather than the well, a much cheaper fix. If it's on both hot and cold, it's coming from the well and needs treatment.
It starts with a water test so we know what we're treating. A typical whole-home setup runs water through a sediment pre-filter, then whatever your results call for (an iron filter, a softener for hardness, UV if bacteria are present) before it reaches the house. Systems get sized to your household's peak demand. See filtration and treatment.
It may well be. Plenty of Central Texas wells are fine. The problem is you can't know without testing, because bacteria and most contaminants have no taste, smell, or color. That's exactly why annual bacteria testing is the standard recommendation for private wells.
It depends on well depth, pump type and horsepower, and whether the wire, drop pipe, or pressure tank need replacing at the same time. A shallow jet pump costs considerably less than a deep submersible. We won't quote a number sight unseen. We diagnose first, then give you honest upfront pricing you approve before any work starts.
Yes. T&A Water Well Services holds TDLR License #60249 and carries insurance. We're family-owned and based in McDade, Texas. Licensing matters on wells: your well is your drinking water supply, and bad work can contaminate it.
Yes. If you're out of water, call or text 512-718-7092. We're open 6 AM to 6 PM every day including weekends, and no-water calls get priority over scheduled work. See emergency well repair.
We're based in McDade and regularly work in Bastrop, Elgin, Rockdale, Lexington, Smithville, Giddings, Taylor, Manor, Caldwell, Cameron, Lockhart, La Grange, and out toward Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Bryan, and the Hill Country. See our full service area, or just call and ask.
Yes. A lot of our work is agricultural: stock tanks, livestock water, and solar-powered pumps for pastures without electric service. Animals without water is treated as an emergency the same as a house without water.
Call or text for well repair, pump service, and clean-water systems across Central Texas—honest pricing, licensed pros.