Learn Center
Everything you need to know before you drill.
Free guides, tools & answers20+
Independent and free — updated as state rules change.
Plain-English guides to planning, paying for, and living with a private water well — written for homeowners, not drillers. No jargon, no sales pitch.
12 in-depth guides8 free calculatorsWritten for US & Canada
Your curriculum
Four modules, zero jargon.
Start at the top if you’re new to wells. Each module is a short path through the guides and tools that matter for that stage of your project.
Module 1
Well Basics
What a private well actually is, the types of wells, and the parts that keep your water safe.
Module 2
Costs & Budget
What drilling really costs, what drives the price, and how to estimate yours before you call anyone.
Module 3
Is a Well Right for Me?
Choosing a licensed driller, buying a home on a well, and ground-source geothermal loops.
Module 4
Owning & Maintaining
Testing, treating, and caring for your well so it lasts 30–50 years.
Quick reference
Well words, in plain English.
The dozen terms you’ll hear from a driller — defined without the jargon, so you can read a quote and a well log with confidence.
01
Aquifer
The underground layer of water-bearing rock or sand your well draws from.
02
Water table
The depth below ground where the soil is fully saturated — the top of the groundwater.
03
Borehole
The actual hole drilled into the ground that becomes the well.
04
Casing
The pipe (steel or PVC) lining the borehole so it can’t collapse and surface water stays out.
05
Grout / annular seal
The cement or bentonite poured around the casing to block contaminants running down the pipe.
06
Static water level
How high the water naturally sits in the well when the pump is off.
07
Drawdown
How far the water level drops while the pump is running.
08
Yield (GPM)
How many gallons per minute the well can reliably deliver.
09
Submersible pump
The motor-and-pump unit deep in the well that pushes water up to the surface.
10
Pressure tank
The tank in your home that stores pressurized water so the pump isn’t running constantly.
11
Recovery rate
How quickly the well refills after water is drawn out.
12
Well cap / wellhead
The sealed top of the well at the surface that keeps insects, debris, and runoff out.
Before you call a driller
Free tools to run the numbers.
Estimate depth, cost, and pump size — plus look up your state’s rules — before you spend a dollar. No account, no email.
Cost
Well Drilling Cost Estimator
Estimate a new well by depth and ground type.
Planning
Well Depth Estimator
Typical well depth for your area.
Planning
Well Pump Sizing Calculator
Right pump GPM and HP for your well.
Cost
Geothermal Loop Borehole Estimator
Bore length and cost for a ground-source loop.
Regulations
State Well-Driller License Lookup
Licensing rules and your state board.
Regulations
Well Permits by State
What permit you need before drilling.
Water quality
Water-Quality Testing Guide
Build your private-well testing checklist.
Troubleshooting
New Well vs. Repair Helper
Diagnose a problem and likely cost.
In-depth guide
Well Drilling Cost Guide
The full reference on what a well costs and why.
Reference
Licensing & Regulations
Well rules, permits, and licensing by state.
Common questions
What homeowners ask first.
Most residential wells run $3,000–$15,000, with a national average around $7,500. The two biggest drivers are how deep you drill and what’s under your property. See the Cost Guide or run the Cost Estimator.
There’s no universal number — most US and Canadian residential wells land between 100 and 300 feet, but it depends entirely on local geology. How deep does a well need to be? walks through it.
The borehole and casing are long-term infrastructure (often 30–50 years), but the pump is not — expect to replace a submersible pump roughly every 8–15 years. More in How long does a well last?
The driller must be licensed in every US state and Canadian province, and most jurisdictions require a permit before drilling. Check yours with the License Lookup and Permits by State.
No agency tests a private well for you — it’s the owner’s job. Test at least once a year for bacteria, nitrates, and anything common in your area. See How to test your well water.
Maybe. Sputtering air, grit, or a sudden trickle are classic warning signs. 7 signs your well pump is failing helps you tell.
Confirm the license, ask for the well log and a water test, and get the full quote in writing. How to choose a licensed well driller is the checklist — then find a licensed driller near you.
Get the well tested and inspected before closing, and find out the age of the pump and casing. Buying a home with a well lists exactly what to ask.
The library
All guides, by topic.
Every guide on the site, grouped by where it fits in your project — not by the day it was published.
Planning 3
Planning
How Deep Does a Well Need to Be?
It's the first question almost every property owner asks before drilling: how deep will my well need to go? The honest answer…
Read guide →
Planning
Geothermal Loop Fields Explained
If you're putting in a ground-source heat pump, the most important part is the one you'll never see: the loop field buried…
Read guide →
Planning
Drilled vs. Bored vs. Driven Wells: Which Do You Need?
If you're putting in a new well, you'll run into three names: drilled, bored, and driven. They aren't interchangeable styles of the…
Read guide →
Buying 2
Buying
How to Choose a Licensed Well Driller
Hiring a well driller is one of the bigger decisions you'll make as a property owner, and the work happens underground where…
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Buying
Buying a Home With a Well: What to Check
A private well is not like connecting to city water — once you own the home, the well is yours to maintain,…
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Maintenance 3
Maintenance
The Annual Well Maintenance Checklist
A private well can serve a home reliably for 30 to 50 years or more, but only if it is looked after.…
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Maintenance
7 Signs Your Well Pump Is Failing
When the water at your tap suddenly drops to a trickle, sputters air, or carries grit, the well pump is usually the…
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Maintenance
How Long Does a Well Last?
If you own a property on a private well, it's fair to ask how long that well will keep delivering water before…
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Water Quality 2
Water Quality
Well Water Treatment Options: Iron, Arsenic, Hardness & Bacteria
If your well water tastes off, stains the sink, or you simply want peace of mind, you have probably wondered what it…
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Water Quality
How to Test Your Well Water (and What to Test For)
If your home runs on a private well, no government agency is checking your water for you. Public utilities have to meet…
Read guide →
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