Pressure Tank on the Blink?

[lakngulf]

I had a water well dug in 1996. It has worked fairly well over that time, but now has trouble staying on. I can fiddle with the switch and get it to catch but then it goes off and on, off and on, and ultimately off. I can see the pressure needle going back and forth, back and forth.

Has my pressure tank bit the dust?

 

[beersngars]

Try letting some air out of the valve. If you see water as well, it's time for a new one. Check it now as the constant on/off cycling is hard on the pump.

 

[lakngulf]

Try letting some air out of the valve. If you see water as well, it's time for a new one. Check it now as the constant on/off cycling is hard on the pump.

Thanks. I did let some air out earlier, and that is what got it going a bit, BUT, yes, there was water coming out as well.

Does replacement invlove just buying a new tank similar to the one there and connect it up? Do I have to put a certain amount of pressure in it. I do not use it often, so would a small tank work just as well?

 

[beersngars]

Yes, just buy a new one close to what you have. It will come pressurized. You may want to adjust it, but no real need to. IIRC, it should be around 35 psi.

 

[SandburRanch]

Yes, just buy a new one close to what you have. It will come pressurized. You may want to adjust it, but no real need to. IIRC, it should be around 35 psi.

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As beersngars says, if possible buy one that has the same base height so the plumbing connection or tank height doesn't have to be modified.

Also don't plan on just disconnecting it to drain. If it only has a pin hole that caused the air side to fill with water over a ling period of time it won't drain like we would like and will have the water weight to contend with when removing it. It can be drained if need be but is a little more complicated.

The tank should have 2 lb. less pressure IIRC than the cut in switch pressure but keep in mind you are usually using two different gauges to check so being real precise is often a waste of time.

As for the switch being iffie - sometimes crud plugs the orifice in the switch so it doesn't always see the correct pressure. While you are there and the elect. supply cut off, I recommend removing the switch for cleaning or replacement and replace the short 1/4 inch pipe nipple it is often attached with unless it is brass.

 

[2458n]

When I needed a new pressure tank it was indeed full of water. Very heavy. A plumber said just take a chisel and punch a couple of holes. Worked ; but water every where. He is still probably smiling.

 

[SandburRanch]

When I needed a new pressure tank it was indeed full of water. Very heavy. A plumber said just take a chisel and punch a couple of holes. Worked ; but water every where. He is still probably smiling.

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Mine was in a location where I couldn't lift it so I drilled a hole in the top to siphon with a flex clear tubing. The bladder prevented that for some reason so I drilled a series of holes down the side and had success with the siphon tubing. A little slow but so is cleaning a water spill mess. A wet vac may be faster.

 

[Kays Supply]

You can also keep pressure on the tank with an air supply and force a lot of water out a faucet it your line. Just turn the power to the pump off first.

 

[woodchuckie]

It depends on what type of tank you have. Some have the water and air in the same container and all you have to do is drain the water out and put a little less pressure in than the pressure of your cut in pressure. The will become water logged over time and there is a cheap device that delay the water logging.

A tank with a separate air bag just gets air added to the bag which is like a rubber inner tube.

Can you not drain the water through the inlet or outlet pipes.

 

[SandburRanch]

With this bladder style tank, if it took 6 months with pressure for it to water log through a pin size hole it'd probably take 6 months to drain the water. Can't wait that long for a drink.