You can expect a well to last about 20 to 50 years, with an average of 35 years. The well pump should have an 10 to 16 year life, with an average of 12 years. So many factors affect the life of a well that it’s difficult pin it down to within a shorter range, and it’s possible for a well to fail even sooner than 20 years. Here’s a few examples:

• A years-long drought can cause the water table to recede, requiring a deeper well.

• Dug wells usually have a shorter life than drilled wells.

• Water quality can deteriorate or become contaminated over time.

• Geologic movement underground can cause well collapse.

• Nearby wells on neighbors' properties can reduce flow or water quality.

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about WELLS:

• Should I buy a house with a well?

• What is the blue dumbbell-shaped tank at the well equipment?

• What is the tank marked "potassium permanganate" in the water treatment system for? 

• Does an abandoned well need to be capped or removed?

• Does a homeowner need a permit to drill a water well on their property in Florida? 

• Is a high iron level in well water a health hazard?

• How often should a well be disinfected? 

• Should I test my well water for arsenic?

• What is the danger of radon in well water? 

• What size generator do I need to run my submersible well pump?

• Why would a well need to have a chlorinator/dechlorinator system? 

• Why does my well pump turn on and off every time I use water?

• What is the required water testing for an FHA, VA, or USDA mortgage application? 

     Visit our WELLS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.