There are 3 important considerations for locating where your home water well will be drilled. It needs to be:

• Away from sources of contamination
• Convenient to power supply and pipe installation
• Accessible for drilling rig and pump-installing equipment
• If possible, always locate the well at a higher elevation than any waste water septic system or drainage system. State laws also specify minimum acceptable distances between wells and other structures. Old and abandoned wells should be filled and sealed by a licensed well driller to avoid contamination of the new well

Some water wells can be drilled and completed in as few as 3 days, others can take several weeks depending on drilling conditions and other factors that can complicate the drilling process. Geothermal wells are not as complicated and can be drilled and completed in a few days to several weeks depending on the number of wells required and the drilling conditions.

On a residential water well for a single family home the yield can be as low 1 GPM (gallons per minute) that works out to be about 1400 gallons of water in a 24 hour period. If you have extensive landscaping, the yield needs to increase significantly up to 10 – 15 GPM. Ultimately the end use of the water will dictate your GPM needs.

There are many factors that contribute to the existence of groundwater; the biggest is geologic formations. Without the right geologic conditions groundwater will not occur. A field representative needs to have a clear understanding of the regional geology to provide the best possible chance to find groundwater.

You need to provide a minimum setback of 50 to 150 feet from septic tanks, septic absorption fields and any source of major contamination. We will need a minimum of 30′ x 100′ of space for our equipment in order to drill your well.

Nothing permanent. You will have temporary disturbances while the well is being drilled. The final well will be an 18″ tall piece of well casing visible above ground surface.

Regular water well system maintenance is important. Knowing and practicing the basics of regular well maintenance can reduce risks to your water supply and prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns.

Go to 

 for a detailed resource on residential water well maintenance.

No contractor wants to drill a “dry” hole or a well with inferior water quality and it is unlikely they will encounter this problem. But when dealing with subsurface geology, it is difficult to guarantee finding water, or to predict its quantity and quality. Up front research regarding the depth, quality and flow rates of surrounding wells will help you to make an informed decision.

No, in the state of South Dakota you do not need a permit prior to drilling a residential water well. We submit a Well Completion Report to the state upon completion of your well.

Pros:

• No city water bills.
• Fresh water, not treated.
• No watering restrictions.

Cons:

• Maintenance/possible well repairs.
• Unless you have a solar system, when power goes out your well is down.
• Fresh water will sometimes require some type of treatment

The GSHP is one of the most efficient residential heating and cooling systems available today, with heating efficiencies 50 to 70% higher than other heating systems and cooling efficiencies 20 to 40% higher than available air conditioners. That directly translates into savings for you on your utility bills.

Yes. A GSHP can be a combination heating/cooling and hot water heating system. You can change from one mode to another with a simple flick on your indoor thermostat. Using a desuperheater, some GSHPs can save you up to 50% on your water-heating bill by preheating tank water.

Using what is called a desuperheater, GSHPs turn waste heat to the task of heating hot water. During the summer, when the system is in cooling mode, your hot water is produced free as a byproduct of the thermal process. In winter, with the heating mode, the desuperheater heats a portion of your hot water. Desuperheaters are standard on some units, optional on others. Stand-alone systems that will heat water all year around can be purchased.

Most of a GSHP installation is underground. Inside the house, the heat pump units are about the same size as a traditional heating and cooling unit.

GSHPs are durable and highly reliable. The GSHP contains fewer mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 50-year warranty.

GSHPs are very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside & outside of the home. GSHPs have no noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities, on or near the patio.

GSHP systems are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children or pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units. GSHPs have no open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.

A GSHP system moves warm air (90-105(F) throughout your home or business via standard ductwork. An even comfort level is created because the warm air is moved in slightly higher volumes and saturates the building with warmth more evenly. This helps even out hot or colds spots and eliminates the cold air blasts common with fossil fuel furnaces.

The buried pipe, or ground loop, is the most recent technical advancement in heat pump technology. Recently, new heat pump designs and improved buried pipe materials have been combined to make GSHP systems the most efficient heating and cooling systems available.

Nearly all GSHP system manufacturers offer a warranty for major components that is equivalent to the warranties for conventional heating and cooling systems. Manufacturers of plastic pipe used for ground loops warrant their products for 50 years.