Most residential well casings are carbon steel and have a life expectancy of about 20 to 35 years, with an average of 25. A casing of High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel or stainless steel lasts longer, but is more expensive. PVC plastic well casing does not have the corrosion problems of steel and can last longer; but it is not as strong as steel at resisting any ground movement and cannot be used in rock.

    A carbon steel casing forms a surface layer of rust after installation that slows down any further corrosion, but that can be overwhelmed pretty quickly in a humid environment like Florida. Here's a photo of the above-ground portion of a steel well casing that was only 20 years old, with multiple layers of rust falling away. Painting the above-ground part of the casing with corrosion-resistant paint, and recoating every few years as necessary, is one way to slow down the progression of rust there. Likewise, painting PVC where exposed above ground is a life-extender. The UV-rays of sunlight make the plastic brittle over time and more easily fractured. Having your well contractor do an upper well cement grouting that wraps the the casing is yet another way to extend the casing life.  

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about WELLS:

• 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.