Well Inspection — Pump, Flow & Water Quality | Residential Network

Overview

What this service is.

Many homes outside the urban Puget Sound corridor — particularly in rural Pierce County, parts of Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Enumclaw, and across Mason, Thurston, and Lewis counties — rely on private wells. A standard home inspection does not cover the well system in depth, which is why a dedicated well inspection is recommended for any property on private water.

A well inspection examines the pump, pressure tank, and well-head equipment, measures actual flow rate (gallons per minute), checks water clarity, and confirms the system is delivering adequate, consistent water.

Specialized lab-based water quality testing (for bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, and other contaminants) is available as an add-on through partner labs. We'll discuss whether that's appropriate for your specific property when you book.

What's Included

Everything we cover.

Visual inspection of well head, casing, and surrounding area
Pump performance and pressure tank evaluation
Flow rate testing (gallons per minute)
Pressure switch and cycling check
Visual water clarity assessment
Documentation of well age and equipment where available
Recommendations for additional water quality testing if appropriate

When To Add This

Is this right for you?

Any property on a private well rather than municipal water
Rural homes in Pierce, King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Mason, Thurston, or Lewis counties
Properties with shared wells (additional considerations apply)
Older wells where the owner doesn't have recent service history
Any property where well documentation is missing or incomplete

Common Questions

FAQ.

Why isn't this part of a standard inspection?

Wells require specialized equipment (flow meters, pressure gauges) and additional time. Most homes are on municipal water, so we offer this as a focused add-on rather than building it into every inspection.

Can you test the water itself?

We do a basic clarity check during the inspection. Comprehensive water quality testing for bacteria, contaminants, or chemical analysis is done through certified labs — we can coordinate that as a separate service.

How is pricing determined?

Pricing depends on well type (drilled vs. shallow), accessibility, and location. Call us with the property address and we'll give you an exact quote.

What if the well has problems?

We'll document the findings and refer you to qualified well specialists for repair quotes. Typical issues — pump replacement, pressure tank failure, low flow rate — all have known fixes.

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