THE SKILLINGS BLOG

Using well water for home use goes without much thought for many people in New England. But for first-time homebuyers and those used to living along public water and sewer lines, buying a home with a well can be intimidating. Understanding the benefits and challenges of the different types of residential wells can help real estate agents provide homebuyers with the information they need and put minds at ease.

When the water flows from the faucet, we assume it is safe to drink. Throughout much of New England that is the case, however, there are problems that can arise in any home. Did you know blue-green staining in your tub or sink indicates corrosive water that will eventually damage you pipes. Or that one in five wells in New Hampshire have at least a small amount of arsenic?

A home’s heating system is one of the first things potential homebuyers want to know about when viewing a property. In New England, an old oil furnace can cost vastly more to maintain than a newer efficient system. Geothermal is one of the most efficient home heating options available today. Real estate agents should know how these systems work. Although they cost more to install than standard fossil fuel systems, the cost to operate and maintain geothermal systems is very low.

Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) are an environmentally friendly way to heat and cool your home that provides long-term cost savings. They rely upon energy or geothermal exchange between the air in a building and the temperature underground. Ground temperatures are always a constant 55° F. Geothermal works because the ground beneath our feet is warmer than the outside air in the winter and cooler in the summer. By inserting a series of small pipes that contain a water glycol mixture into the ground, heat can be transferred to the mixture and into your home in the winter. In summer when the temperature rises above the ground temperature, the process works in reverse.

In New England, temperatures between seasons can vary pretty dramatically.  Winters here can be super frigid, filled with inches or even feet of snow while the warmer months scan bring scorching summer sun.  While many people may try to "wait it out", that method rarely lends itself to a comfortable living all year long.  For many people, the creature comforts that are found in heating and air conditioning are a necessity, even if just for a portion of the year.