Well Owner’s Guide
This well owner guide gathers plain answers to the questions we hear most, from pump life and pressure tanks to lost water and testing. Written by the family behind Oasis Well Service. When you need a hand, call 703-791-3981.
Plain answers for well owners
If your home is on a well, you are your own water company. This guide collects the questions we hear most, answered the way we would answer them at your kitchen table. No jargon and no scare tactics.
It comes from the family behind Oasis Well Service, working on wells since 1987. Start with the guide that matches your problem, and call us if you get stuck.
Our guides
- How long does a well pump last? What to expect and the signs it is near the end.
- How to check and set your pressure tank with a tire gauge.
- Water pooling near your well, or a pump that never shuts off, including the running toilet that fools everyone.
- Lost water after a power outage? Breakers, generators and cutoff switches.
- What our free diagnosis covers, and what happens after.
- Well water testing in Prince William and Fauquier County: what to test and when.
From the blog
More reading: signs your well pump is failing, low water pressure on a well, and well water that smells like rotten eggs. See every post on the blog.
Need a hand?
These guides help you understand what is going on. Never open a pressure switch cover or touch wiring. If something looks wrong, call 703-791-3981. Out of water? Call our emergency line at 703-776-0996, 24/7.
New to owning a well? Start with how your well works, then try the safe checks you can do yourself. For quick answers, the FAQ page collects the questions we hear most.
Ask About Your Well
Type what is going on, like "pump keeps clicking on and off" or "water smells like rotten eggs". You will get a plain answer in a few seconds. For anything urgent, just call.
Answers are general guidance from an AI helper, not a diagnosis. Never open a pressure switch or touch wiring. Emergency? Call 703-776-0996, 24/7.
Questions we hear a lot
What maintenance does a private well need?
There is no true routine maintenance for a submersible pump. What helps is keeping your pressure tank balanced to your switch setting, testing your water for bacteria each year, keeping the well cap sealed, and fixing leaks quickly.
What should I do if I have no water?
Check the well breaker first. If it trips again or nothing changes, turn it off and call our emergency line at 703-776-0996. No-water calls take priority.
Who is responsible for testing private well water?
You are. Public water is tested by the utility, but a private well is up to the owner. Annual bacteria testing is widely recommended.
How do I tell if it is my pump or my pressure tank?
Rapid clicking on and off often points to the tank. No water at all, weak pressure, or a tripping breaker can point to the pump, switch or wiring. The symptoms overlap, which is why we start with a diagnosis.
What areas do you serve?
We work across Prince William and Fauquier counties, plus parts of Loudoun, Stafford, Culpeper and nearby Fairfax County. Call 703-791-3981 and we can often start the diagnosis on the phone.
Are you available on nights and weekends?
Yes. Oasis Well Service is available 24/7. Call 703-791-3981 for our main line or 703-776-0996 if you are out of water.
What brands do you install?
We install Gould, Myers and Grundfos pumps and constant pressure systems, Well-X-Trol pressure and holding tanks, Bison hand pumps, and GDS and Viqua UV lights.
What can I safely do on my own well?
You can check and reset the well breaker, and check the air in your pressure tank with a tire gauge with the power off. Do not open the pressure switch cover, touch wiring, or try to pull the pump.
Talk to a Lindgren today
Free diagnosis, honest answers, and no-water calls go first. Call any time, day or night.