A well pressure tank is essential for keeping a home’s well water system functional and healthy. The entire water system in your home is put at risk when a pressure tank does not perform as planned. Common well pressure tank symptoms, common tank difficulties, and solutions are listed below.
What is a well pressure tank?
A well system’s main component is the well pressure tank. It is a container used to transport pressurised water from a well pump inside a house. The pressure inside the tank rises as a result of the air inside the tank being compressed while the pump fills it with water. When the tank is drained of water, the pressure drops to a predetermined cut-off point, which activates the pump and refills the tank. Pressure rises as the pump fills up until a cut-off point is reached. The pump shuts off at this cut-off pressure and won’t start up again until the tank pressure drops below the cut-on pressure. By lowering the pressure, a well pressure tank prolongs the life of the well pump.
Typical well pressure tank red flags
If you notice any of these symptoms in your well system, there is a problem that needs to be addressed:
- Increased sediment in water
- Change of color, odor, or taste in water
- Increased hardness, iron, or sulfate in water
- Decreased water pressure
- Presence of bubbles in water
- Decreased levels of water yielded by the pump
- Too much water in the tank
- Increased electrical costs
What happens when a well pressure tank goes bad?
A faulty well pressure tank can have negative effects on your home’s plumbing and well pump. When your pressure tank fails, issues like water hammer, higher electrical costs, and well pump failure can all happen.
Water hammer
When water rapidly stops or changes course, it causes a phenomenon known as water hammer, also known as hydraulic shock or hydraulic surge. Pipes knock against one another to produce a hammering sound when this occurs. The pressure inside the pipes can be more than ten times the system’s typical pressure when water hammer happens. If this hydraulic shock happens frequently, pipes may leak, burst, or harm system pumps and valves that are attached to them.
Increased Electricity usage
The well pump may run nonstop due to issues with the well pressure tank, such as a broken foot valve. The pump consequently consumes a significant amount more electricity than it would otherwise. Check your energy statement each month for any surges to see whether your well water system is consuming too much electricity.
Problems with the well pump
The well pump may short cycle or run continuously due to a number of issues with a well pressure tank. The well pressure tank is made to reduce the pump’s duty. The pressure switch activates the pump when the tank is almost empty and keeps it running until the tank reaches the desired pressure. The pump shuts off when this pressure is achieved. This enables the pump to operate with the greatest efficiency while using the least amount of energy. However, when the pressure tank malfunctions, water pressure varies, and the pressure switch may over- or under-activate the pump. The pump overheats and the motor degrades when the switch activates it repeatedly. When the well pump malfunctions, the pressure tank cannot receive any water.
Common water tank problems
Due to the nature of well pressure tanks, the majority of issues that occur require the replacement of the complete tank. Although the majority of the components in well pressure tanks are difficult to replace, corrective maintenance is occasionally feasible.
The well pressure tank is waterlogged
Solution: Replace the well pressure tank
When a tank is waterlogged, it indicates that there is an imbalance between the amount of water and air present. To keep the water and air separate inside the tank, a rubber bladder swells and compresses inside the tank. The pressure inside the tank decreases when this bladder bursts because the water and air are no longer kept separate. As a result of the tank’s pressure dropping, the pump does not shut off, causing the tank to take in too much water. A waterlogged tank will result in visible changes in water pressure since air is required to create pressure inside the tank. Unfortunately, a well pressure tank’s bladder cannot be changed, necessitating the replacement of the complete tank.
How can I tell if my well pressure tank is waterlogged?
There are multiple ways to identify if your well pressure tank is waterlogged. The following are symptoms of a waterlogged tank.
The water pressure fluctuates.
Constant changes in water pressure are a typical sign of a waterlogged pressure tank. All of a home’s outlets, but especially the shower, will show these variations. The pressure gauge on the outside of the tank will display these changes visually.
The pressure tank is completely full.
By definition, a waterlogged tank is one with a full well pressure. You can determine if the tank is totally full by giving the outside of the tank a light knock. Knocking will produce an echo if there is air in the tank. On the other hand, when the tank is full with water, knocking will only result in a single “thud” sound.
The well pump short cycles.
Short cycling refers to the frequent on and off cycles of a pump. Pressure inside the tank is no longer controlled when the bladder inside ruptures. As a result, the pressure switch, which is dependent on controlled pressure, switches between the “on” and “off” states quickly. The well pump is controlled by a pressure switch, which controls when to turn it on and off. As a result, the pump alternates between filling the tank with water and turning off. This causes the pump to rapidly overheat and may lead to pump failure. You won’t have any water at all because water cannot be pumped to the pressure tank as a result.
The water quality decreases.
Filtration systems connected to your well pressure tank require water pressure to force water through a filter media. If your tank waterlogs, the water pressure will decrease, and the filters will not be able to effectively remove contaminants from water.
The well pressure switch has stopped working
Solution: Replace the pressure switch
The pressure switch sends signals to the well pump when the pressure drops below a cut-on point and rises above a cut-off point. When a pressure switch fails, it can cause damage to the pump and tank if not resolved promptly.
Signs of a bad well pressure switch
If your well pressure switch has stopped working, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
- The pump does not turn off when the tank’s pressure exceeds the preset cut-off pressure.
- The pump does not turn on when the tank’s pressure drops below the preset cut-on pressure.
- The pump short cycles.
- The pump is running, but the water pressure in your home is low.
A short-cycling pump and low water pressure may be caused by a ruptured bladder. A tell-tale warning that your pressure switch is not working is the failure of the pump to turn on and off at the cut-on and cut-off points. This failure could also be caused by a faulty pump, but you should check your pressure switch for faults first.
If you believe that your well pressure switch may be faulty, a professional will be able to diagnose the problem in your system. A yearly inspection of your well system can allow you to avoid damaging problems to your system by catching issues early on.
Can I replace a well pressure switch myself?
If you discover that your well pressure switch is faulty, you will want to consult a professional to replace the switch for you. Improper installation can cause numerous problems for your well water system and jeopardize the health of both your tank and pump.
How much does a well pressure switch replacement cost?
A well pressure switch alone normally costs between 1,645 and 3,290. The price of replacing a well pressure switch ranges from 9,871 to 14,395 when labour is included.
The check valve stops working
Solution: Replace the check valve
While a damaged check valve, sometimes referred to as a foot valve, can impact the pressure tank, it typically affects the well pump. After being pumped, the check valve stops water from pouring back down into the well. The tank empties as a result of the water flowing back into the well. The pressure switch turns on the pump when the tank empties and the internal water pressure drops. The cycle of the tank emptying and the pump running will continue since the check valve is not preventing backflow. The pump has to run nonstop as a result. In addition to shortening the well pump’s lifespan, this will increase your electricity costs.
Can I replace a well foot valve myself?
Although a well foot valve can be replaced by the homeowner, you should hire a professional to install it. Poor installation might harm your home’s plumbing as well as the pump and pressure tank.
What is the ideal pressure for a well pressure tank?
The pressure in an empty well pressure tank should be 2 psi below the tank’s cut-on point. When pressure falls below the cut-on threshold, the pressure switch will turn on the well pump. The pressure at which the pressure switch turns off the pump to stop pressure from rising excessively is known as the cut-off point. For instance, the cut-on point should be adjusted to 28 psi in a tank with a cut-off point of 50 psi and 30 psi, respectively. This prevents you from running out of water by enabling the pump to start when the tank is almost empty. Up until the 50 psi cutoff point, the pump will keep running. The cut-on/cut-off mechanism permits the pump to activate and off as little as possible to elongate its lifespan.
What causes a well pressure tank to fail?
Three common reasons for a well pressure tank to fail are the following:
- Wear and tear from extended use
- Corrosion caused by poor water quality
- Pressure switch failure