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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.

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.)

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PLUMBING TOPICS
OIL TANKS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUST
WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE & COSTS
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE
WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT
  WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
  WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR
  WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUST
WATER PUMPS & WELL TANKS
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER PUMP & TANK SAFETY
WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER TANK REPAIRS
  CONTROLS & SWITCHES on WATER TANKS
  INTERMITTENT CYCLING WATER PUMPS
  WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING
  SHORT CYCLING DETECTION
  SHORT CYCLING CAUSES
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
  WATER TANK AIR LOSS SIGNS
  WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  WATER TANK AIR ADD AT AIR VALVE
  WATER TANK AIR ADD BY DRAINING
  AIR HOW MUCH TO ADD
  AIR HOW OFTEN TO ADD
WATER TANK REPLACEMENT
WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME
WATER TANKS HOW THEY WORK
WATER TESTING
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS

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• 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
• Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
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• Water Testing: background comments on classes of water contaminants, & links to home buyer advice about water testing, drinking water, water supply
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