The situation

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

A hypothetical 1980s house on several acres between Parker and Franktown gets its water from a private well. The pressure tank, pressure switch and a water softener sit in a partly finished basement next to a carpeted office. Late one evening, a threaded fitting on the tank's supply tee cracks.

  1. Water sprays from the fitting. Because the well pump keeps refilling the system, the flow doesn't stop on its own.
  2. The homeowner hears the pump cycling repeatedly, which is unusual at night, and goes downstairs to find water spreading from the mechanical area toward the office.
  3. The pressure switch is above the spray. He does not touch it; he goes to the main panel, which is upstairs and dry, and switches off the well pump breaker. The spray slows and stops as pressure drops.
  4. He photographs the fitting, the tank area and the office carpet, and moves the computer and file boxes upstairs.
  5. The next morning, a well and pump contractor replaces the fitting and checks the pressure switch for water damage. A restorer extracts the office carpet and sets up drying.
  6. Because the house is on a septic system, the homeowner avoids draining the extracted water or heavy laundry loads into the house plumbing all at once, and asks the restorer where their extracted water will be discharged.

The office carpet and pad are dried in place because the water was clean and extraction started within hours. The pressure switch is replaced as a precaution. The homeowner adds a water alarm by the tank and labels the well pump breaker clearly so anyone in the house can find it.

What differs on a well and septic

On city water, closing the main valve stops a leak. On a well, there is often a valve after the pressure tank, but the fastest and most complete stop is cutting power to the pump. Many rural homeowners don't know which breaker that is until they need it.

Septic systems have limited capacity. Sending a large volume of water into the drains in a short time, such as extracted water or many loads of wet laundry, can overload the system. Ask how extracted water will be disposed of and space out laundry.

Response time is the other difference. Homes east and south of Parker can be a long drive for contractors based elsewhere in the metro, especially in snow. Knowing your shutoffs and having basic supplies on hand matters more here.

For any home on a private well

  • Label the well pump breaker and show everyone in the household where it is.
  • Know whether there is a shutoff valve after the pressure tank, and test it.
  • Put a water alarm on the floor next to the pressure tank and softener.
  • Keep the well contractor's contact information with your utility contacts.
  • If floodwater or sewage could have reached the wellhead, have the water tested before drinking it; your county health department or CDPHE can point you to private well testing resources.
  • Ask your insurer whether well equipment is covered, and under which part of the policy.

General information for Parker, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.