Quick answer
If your Damascus home is on a private well, fall prep goes beyond draining hose bibs. Have your water tested by a state-certified lab (Maryland recommends at least once a year), check that the well cap is secure, keep the pressure tank from freezing, and plan for power outages, because no power means no water. Then do the usual fall plumbing checklist.
How is a well home different in winter?
Homes on public water get water pushed to them by the utility. A well home makes its own water pressure. A pump in the well lifts water to a pressure tank, usually in the basement or a utility room, and a pressure switch turns the pump on and off.
That means a few extra parts that can freeze or fail in cold weather, and one big difference: when the power goes out, the pump stops and the taps go dry after the pressure tank empties. Many homes around Damascus rely on wells, so these are the checks we'd add to any fall to-do list here.
1. Get your well water tested
No utility tests a private well for you. The Maryland Department of the Environment says private wells should be sampled at least once a year, by a state-certified drinking water laboratory, and any time the water's taste, smell or appearance changes. The EPA recommends testing every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH.
Fall is an easy time to remember it: put it on the calendar with your other fall chores. Use a certified lab rather than a store test kit, and keep the results so you can compare year to year. If you have a water treatment system, test after it so you know it's working.
2. Look at the well cap and the ground around it
- The well cap should be secure, intact and sitting above the ground. A cracked or loose cap lets in insects, small animals and surface water.
- Don't bury the wellhead under mulch, leaves or soil when you do fall yard work. Keep it visible and reachable.
- Keep pet waste, fertilizer, and anything else that could contaminate water away from the well. Maryland's well guidance specifically says to protect wells from livestock, pet and wildlife waste.
- Make sure water drains away from the wellhead, not toward it.
- If your well is in a low spot that floods, Maryland recommends a flood-proof well cap.
3. Keep the pressure tank and well equipment from freezing
The pressure tank, pressure switch and the pipe from the well usually come into the house in the basement or a utility room. If that space is unheated, or the pipe enters through a cold, drafty wall, it's at risk in a deep freeze.
Seal drafts around where the line comes in, insulate exposed pipes, and keep the space above freezing. If your equipment is in a well house or pit outside, check that it's insulated and that any heat source in it works before the cold arrives.
4. Watch for signs the pressure tank or pump is struggling
These are easier to deal with in October than in January:
- Water pressure that surges and drops while a faucet runs.
- The pump clicking on and off rapidly every time you use water (called short cycling). That often points to a pressure tank problem.
- Air spitting from faucets, or water that's suddenly cloudy or sandy.
- Rust or a wet spot on the pressure tank, or a pressure gauge that doesn't move.
- A higher electric bill with no other explanation, which can mean the pump is running more than it should.
5. Plan for power outages
Winter storms knock out power, and with a well that means no running water and no flushing toilets once the pressure tank runs out. A little planning helps:
- Keep some drinking water stored for each person in the home.
- Fill a bathtub or buckets before a big storm so you can flush toilets.
- If you want a generator to run the well pump, have a licensed electrician set it up with a proper transfer switch. Never back-feed a home through an outlet.
- After the power comes back, run the cold water for a minute and watch for air or discoloration.
6. Service your water treatment equipment
Many well homes have a sediment filter, water softener, or UV light system. Fall is a good time to change sediment filters, check softener salt, and replace a UV lamp if your system's manual calls for a yearly change. A UV system only disinfects water if the lamp is working and the sleeve is clean.
7. Don't skip the rest of the house
Everything on our county-wide fall plumbing checklist applies to well homes too: shut off and drain outdoor faucets, find and test your main shut-off valve (on a well system it's usually near the pressure tank), insulate pipes in cold spots, and check your water heater and sump pump.
Well water can carry more sediment than city water, so flushing the water heater (if your manual calls for it) can matter even more.
Montgomery County specifics
- Damascus is in the part of upper Montgomery County where many homes rely on private wells rather than WSSC Water.
- The Maryland Department of the Environment notes that private well owners are responsible for the safety of their own water, and says owners should have their well sampled at least once a year by a state-certified laboratory.
- WSSC Water's winter advice still applies inside a well home: keep areas with pipes at or above 55°F and leave the heat on, no lower than 55°F, when you travel.
Is this not for you?
Testing your water, checking the well cap and changing filters are all homeowner jobs. Call a plumber for leaks, frozen pipes inside the house, water heater problems and fixture issues. Problems with the well itself (a failed pump down in the well, a low-yield well, or drilling) are work for a licensed well contractor. Generator hookups are work for a licensed electrician.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test my well water in Maryland?
At least once a year, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, and any time the water changes in taste, smell or appearance. Use a state-certified drinking water lab. The EPA's suggested yearly tests are total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH.
Can a well pump freeze?
The pump down in the well sits deep enough that it rarely freezes. The parts at risk are the pressure tank, pressure switch and exposed pipes in an unheated basement, crawl space, well house or pit. Keep those spaces above freezing and seal drafts.
Why do I have no water when the power goes out?
Your well pump runs on electricity. Once the power is out, you only have whatever water is left in the pressure tank. A properly installed generator with a transfer switch can keep the pump running.
What does it mean when my well pump keeps clicking on and off?
Rapid on-off cycling, often called short cycling, usually points to a problem with the pressure tank, such as lost air charge or a failed bladder. It wears the pump out faster, so have it checked.
Should I still drain my outdoor faucets if I'm on a well?
Yes. Outdoor faucets freeze the same way on a well as on public water. Close the indoor valve, disconnect the hose, and drain the line.