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WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS

AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK
AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK

BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
Bisphenol-A, BPA

CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER
CHECK VALVES
CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests
CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER
CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR

CISTERNS

DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater
DRINKING WATER TESTING

DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION
DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES

EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY

FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED

FILTERS, WATER
FLOW CONTROL VALVES
FOOT VALVES, WELL PIPING

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GREYWATER SYSTEMS

HARD WATER - SOFTENERS
HEAT TAPE USAGE GUIDE

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
Legionella Legionnaires' Disease

METHANE GAS SOURCES
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS

ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS IN WATER
OZONE HAZARDS

Pesticide Exposure Hazards

PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types
PLASTIC CONTAINERS, TANKS, TYPES
PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS
PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH ADJUSTMENT

RADON HAZARD TESTS & MITIGATION

RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks

REVERSE OSMOSIS CONCENTRATE DISPOSAL

SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE
SEWER GAS ODORS

TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL

VALVES, PLUMBING

WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS
WATER FILTERS
WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

WATER HEATERS

WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE

WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS

WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS
WATER PUMPS, TANKS, WELLS - BASICS

WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH
WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE
WATER PUMP PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TABLE

WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE
WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING
WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

WATER PURIFIERS

WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT
WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT

WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE
WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP

WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS
WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES

WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
WATER TANK AIR INLET VALVE
WATER TANK AIR LOSS SIGNS
WATER TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS
WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR
WATER TANK CAPTIVE AIR vs TRADITIONAL WellMate

WATER TANK CONTROLS & SWITCHES
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY

WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
WATER TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

WATER TANK REPAIRS
WATER TANK REPLACEMENT

WATER TANK SAFETY
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME

WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL

WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT
WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES
WATER TESTING GUIDE
WATER TEST INTERPRETATION

WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES

WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE

WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS

WINTERIZE A BUILDING

More Information

How Frequently to Add Air to a Water Pressure Tank
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • How often to add air to a home water tank for proper water delivery and water pressure
  • Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures
  • Questions & answers on how often you should add air to a water pressure tank
InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.

This article describes how often to add air to a building water pressure tank, and how to detect and correct air and water leaks in a building water supply system where a private well is the water source. Readers of this document should also see Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case which offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost. The illustration at page top is courtesy of Carson Dunlop, Inc. in Toronto.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

How to Add Air to a Water Pressure Tank

There are fancier methods than those described below but here are three simple methods, of which the second two work well for easy replacement of air lost from a bladderless or glass-lined steel water storage or pressure tank.

  • WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  • WATER TANK AIR ADD AT AIR VALVE
  • WATER TANK AIR ADD BY DRAINING

Bladder type or "captive air" water tanks do not normally need to have makeup air added but if you are finding short cycling on a bladder-type water tank system, if the problem is not in the pump control or water piping, the problem may be traced to a failure of the internal bladder itself - a component that may be replaceable. In that case adding air to the bladder type water tank won't correct the problem.

HOW OFTEN TO ADD AIR - How often is the addition of air needed in a water tank?

Frequency of Adding Air to Bladderless Steel or Fiberglass Water Tanks

When your water tank is a conventional older style that does NOT use a "captive-air" type bladder, unless there's a leak at the water tank you shouldn't have to add air again for months or maybe even a year.

The frequency with which you'll need to add air depends mostly on how much water is used.

Eventually air in this older type of tank gets absorbed into the water, losing the cushion effect and generating a need for more air.

Frequency of Adding Air to Captive-air Bladder-type Water Tanks of Steel, Plastic, or Fiberglass

Captive-air or bladder type tanks should never need air added. If you keep having to add air to a bladder-type tank something is wrong with the system, perhaps a torn or leaky water bladder in the tank or a leak in the steel tank body that is losing air.

The pressure tank's internal rubber bladder contains water, the steel tank body contains the air charge.

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers on how often you should add air to a water pressure tank

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Technical Reviewers & References

  • InspectAPedia.com® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
  • InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
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  • Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING

WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
    WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
    WATER TANK AIR ADD AT AIR VALVE
    WATER TANK AIR ADD BY DRAINING
    WATER TANK AIR HOW MUCH TO ADD
    WATER TANK AIR HOW OFTEN TO ADD
WATER TANK AIR INLET VALVE
WATER TANK AIR LOSS SIGNS
WATER TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS
WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR
  How Water Pressure Tanks Work
  Bladder Type Captive Air vs. Bladderless Water Tanks
  Bladder type Water Tank Failures
  Repair for Burst Tank Bladder
  WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
WATER TANK CAPTIVE AIR vs TRADITIONAL WellMate

WATER TANK CONTROLS & SWITCHES
  WATER PUMP RELAY SWITCH
  WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  WATER TANK AIR INLET VALVE
  WATER TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS
  WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  WATER TANK DRAIN VALVE
  WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
  WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY
  WATER TANK RELIEF VALVE
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY

WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE

WATER TANK REPLACEMENT
WATER TANK REPAIRS
  AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
  CONTROLS & SWITCHES on WATER TANKS
  INTERMITTENT CYCLING WATER PUMPS
  SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP
  SHORT CYCLING CAUSES
  SHORT CYCLING CAUSE: WELL PIPE LEAKS
  SHORT CYCLING DIAGNOSIS TABLE
  WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
  WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  WATER TANK AIR ADD AT AIR VALVE
  WATER TANK AIR ADD BY DRAINING
  WATER TANK AIR HOW MUCH TO ADD
  WATER TANK AIR HOW OFTEN TO ADD
  WATER TANK AIR INLET VALVE
  WATER TANK AIR LOSS SIGNS
  WATER TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS


Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment

  • Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
    Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
  • Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
  • Diagnosing Clogged Drains: Is it a blocked drain or the septic system? - A First Step for Homeowners
  • Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
  • Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures
  • Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
  • Interpreting Drinking Water Test Results and Correcting Unsatisfactory Water
  • Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: Testing & Correction - Advice (This Article)
  • Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from Lead Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice
  • Life Expectancy of Water Pumps - Well Pumps: how long should a water pump last? What affects pump life?
  • Life Expectancy of Wells & Water Tanks how long should a water well and its components last?
  • Plumbing Diagnosis & Repair: Water supply, drainage, septic systems, water testing, water contamination, defective plumbing materials & products.
  • Shock or Chlorinate a Well, How to - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
  • Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
  • Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
  • Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
  • Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
  • Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
  • Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
  • Water pressure tank failures & water pump short cycling diagnosis and repair
  • Water Supply & Drain Piping, water and drain pipe types, inspection, diagnosis, repairs, problem materials, clogging, etc.
  • Water Tests & Fees this water test fee schedule applies when testing is combined with other onsite building inspection services
  • Water Testing: background comments on classes of water contaminants, & links to home buyer advice about water testing, drinking water, water supply
  • Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
    • Home Reference Book - Carson Dunlop The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  • Crystal Clear Supply provides portable ceramic water filter purifiers and portable reverse osmosis water treatment equipment - see http://www.crystalclearsupply.com/category_s/7.htm
  • Handbook of Disinfectants and Antiseptics, Joseph M. Ascenzi (Editor), CRC, 1995, ISBN-10: 0824795245 ISBN-13: 978-0824795245 "The evaluation of chemical germicides predates the golden age of microbiology..." -
    This well-focused, up-to-date reference details the current medical uses of antiseptics and disinfectants -- particularly in the control of hospital-acquired infections -- presenting methods for evaluating products to obtain regulatory approval and examining chemical, physical, and microbiological properties as well as the toxicology of the most widely used commercial chemicals.
  • Potable Aqua® emergency drinking water germicidal tablets are produced by the Wisconsin Pharmacal Co., Jackson WI 53037. 800-558-6614 pharmacalway.com
  • Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation and Sterilization (Hardcover)
    by A. D. Russell (Editor), W. B. Hugo (Editor), G. A. J. Ayliffe (Editor), Blackwell Science, 2004. ISBN-10: 1405101997, ISBN-13: 978-1405101998.
    "This superb book is the best of its kind available and one that will undoubtedly be useful, if not essential, to workers in a variety of industries. Thirty-one distinguished specialists deal comprehensively with the subject matter indicated by the title ... The book is produced with care, is very readable with useful selected references at the end of each chapter and an excellent index. It is an essential source book for everyone interested in this field. For pharmacy undergraduates, it will complement the excellent text on pharmaceutical microbiology by two of the present editors."
    The Pharmaceutical Journal: "This is an excellent book. It deals comprehensively and authoritatively with its subject with contributions from 31 distinguished specialists. There is a great deal to interest all those involved in hospital infection ... This book is exceptionally well laid out. There are well chosen references for each chapter and an excellent index. It is highly recommended." The Journal of Hospital Infection.: "The editors and authors must be congratulated for this excellent treatise on nonantibiotic antimicrobial measures in hospitals and industry ... The publication is highly recommended to hospital and research personnel, especially to clinical microbiologists, infection-control and environmental-safety specialists, pharmacists, and dieticians."
    New England Journal of Medicine: City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Covers the many methods of the elimination or prevention of microbial growth. Provides an historical overview, descriptions of the types of antimicrobial agents, factors affecting efficacy, evaluation methods, and types of resistance. Features sterilization methods, and more. Previous edition: c1999. DNLM: Sterilization--methods.
  • U.S. Army Field Manual 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation, 1988, web search 07/02/2010, original source: http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/fm-21-10-field-hygiene-and-sanitation.shtml
    The purpose of this manual is to assist individual soldiers, unit commanders, leaders and field sanitation teams in preventing disease and environmental injuries. The manual provides information on preventive medicine measures (PMM) to the individual soldier as well as essential information for the unit commander, unit leaders, and the unit field sanitation team on applying unit level PMM.
  • When Technology Fails, Matthew Stein, Chelsea Green Publisher, 2008,493 pages. ISBN-10: 1933392452 ISBN-13: 978-1933392455, "... how to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure, as well as practical information for dealing with water-quality issues even when the public tap water is still flowing". Mr. Stein's website is www.whentechfails.com/
  • ...
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