Sealing a Water Well - Costs, Experiences?

[Nicholas TenBrink]

Hello!

I'm just about to pull the trigger and make an offer on a property here in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St.Paul) region of Minnesota, I'm just about done with my analysis of what will be needed to get the house up and on the market but I am a bit stumped at this one point, and that is it has a currently un-used water well in the basement (3" pipe with pump).

The house had be switched over to the city water grid years ago, the well it self is registered with the state, and registered as 'Not In use'. Per MN state law, if the well is not in use it needs to be sealed, this requirement will kick in during the property transfer. Further info: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/sealin...

With all that info being said/thrown at you; Have you ever dealt with having a well sealed? What costs did you incur? How much of a royal pain is this to deal with?

From what I'm seeing, and this may just be anecdotal, but if everything is fine with the well a sealing will cost around $1000 and the contractors doing the work will pull out all the related pumps etc associated with the well.

Thanks! I look forward to hear back from you all!

-Nick

[Keith Linne]

@Nicholas TenBrink - You are right on with the projected costs!

I rehabbed properties full-time in the Twin Cities from 2011 until 2014 (I now work full-time as a general contractor), and sealing typically ranged between $900 and $1,200 for a standard single family home. 

It's super easy to do. Hire a reputable well sealing company (I recommend Bergerson Caswell, Inc or Don Stodola Well Drilling Co, if in the Twin Cities area), schedule the work, and pay them once it's finished. Both of the above referenced companies take care of the appropriate filing with the MN Dept of Health. When it comes time to re-sell the property, you simply provide a Well Disclosure and copy of the Certificate of Well/Boring Sealing (which you are given after work has been completed), and you're all set. Certainly do not let the need to seal the well deter you from the deal.

I hope that helps! Feel free to followup with any additional questions!