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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

Well Tank Repairs
Water Pressure Tank / Water Tank Diagnosis & Repair Guide
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • Do I need a new water tank or well tank?
  • Reasons to replace a water tank
  • What is the the function of water pressure tank?
  • How to diagnose & correct water pump short cycling "on-off" and loss of air in water tanks
  • How to adjust the water pump pressure control switch
  • How to add air back to a water pressure tank
  • Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures
  • Questions & answers about well water tanks: types, diagnosis, installation, repair, & replacement of water pressure tanks

Water tank repair or replacement guide: The water tank troubleshooting article series beginning here describes how to determine if you need to replace the water pressure tank. Synonyms for water pressure tank include: water tank, water storage tank, well tank, pressure tank, pressure control tank, Extrol, WellXTrol, bladder tank, bladderless water 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.

Also see WATER TANK REPLACEMENT. The illustration at page top is courtesy of Carson Dunlop, Inc. in Toronto.

Water Pressure Tank Diagnosis & Repair Advice

Short cycling of a water pump which is defined at SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP means that the water pump or "well pump" turns on and off too rapidly or too frequently when water is being run in the building. If this is the problem with your water pump, SHORT CYCLING CAUSES describes the most common causes of this problem. We also provide a complete SHORT CYCLING DIAGNOSIS TABLE that lists all possible causes of well pump rapid cycling on and off. If you are not sure what "water pump short cycling" means or how it is recognized, read SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP.

Intermittent water pump cycling which is discussed at Intermittent Water Pump Cycling When No Water is Running means that the water pump comes on for no apparent reason.

Loss of water pressure means that the pressure with which water enters a plumbing fixture has become too slow, or is sometimes too slow or weak in water flow rate, or water flow may stop entirely. See WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

Readers of this document should see WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY, and also see WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY and WELL LIFE EXPECTANCY, but before assuming that a water problem is due to the pump or well itself, see Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost a specific case which offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost.

© 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about well water pressure tank diagnosis & repair

Question: Do I Need a New Water Tank? - should I replace my old water tank?

We just had our pump replaced after 18 years. Total cost with tax was $2400. Project was done on emergency basis on a Friday night and we were really stuck. During his visit the plumber/owner suggested we consider a larger pressure tank than our 20 gallon unit, also recently replaced. The system worked well for many years and I don't see the need to purchase another larger tank. Any thoughts? - Wayne Ouellette

Reply: You may not need a new water pressure tank.

If your water tank is a newer bladder type, even a smaller 20-gallon tank gives the equivalent of a larger old style (non-bladder) tank in the draw-down cycle - the amount of time that you can run the water before the pump has to come on.

As long as your pump is not short cycling (which may shorten pump life), the gain from a larger tank is probably not much. If your tank is an older type with no internal bladder, the reason to go to a newer tank would be reliability and reduced maintenance.

Some Reasons to Consider a New Water Tank

  1. The water tank is perforated, damaged, or leaking - you need a new one
  2. The water pump has constant short cycling problems and the water tank is an older non-bladder type you can reduce the frequency of water tank maintenance (adding air) and eliminate problems with automatic air volume controls that try to add air for you by installing a new bladder type water pressure tank. At WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL we explain the different types of water tanks.
  3. Your well has a poor flow rate and you often run out of water. Less costly than drilling a new well is the addition of greater water storage capacity in one or a series of larger water tanks. But first see WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR, and see WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS.

Watch out: before you go to the trouble and expense of replacing a water pressure tank, make sure that you have correctly diagnosed the problem that you are "curing" - you wouldn't want to replace a water tank only to find that you still have the water pressure or quantity problem because another, perhaps less costly, part was at fault.


Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about well water tanks: types, diagnosis, installation, repair, & replacement of water pressure tanks.

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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.
  • Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
  • 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 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 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 TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR
  WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
  WATER TANK DRAIN VALVE

WATER TANK REPLACEMENT
WATER TANK SAFETY
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME

WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL

  • Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
  • Thanks to reader Wayne Ouellette for discussing water tank replacement needs May 2010
  • Pumptrol® Pressure Switch Adjustment, Square D, Schneider Electric Corporation, 8001 Knightdale Blvd., Knightdale< NC 27545 1-888-778-2733 - Square D Technical Library, web search 07/24/2010 original source: http://ecatalog.squared.com/techlib/docdetail.cfm?oid=09008926800a93be
  • 9013 Pumptrol® Commercial Pressure Switches Type F and 9013 Commercial Pressure Switches Type G, Catalog, SquareD, Schneider Electric Industries SAS, Schneider Electric Industries SAS, web search 02/23/2011, original source: http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/Machine Control/
    Pressure-Float-Vacuum Switches/Pressure Switches-Water and Air/9013CT9701.pdf
    Square D is a brand of Schneider Electric.
  • Class 9013 Square D Commercial Pressure Switches: Water Pump Pressure Control Switch Class 9013, Type F, G, Manual, Square D Company, 8001 Highway 64 East, Knightdale, NC 27545-9023, USA, (919) 266-3671, www.squared.com, web search 02/24/2011, original source: stevenengineering.com/tech_support/PDFs/45COM.pdf. Quoting:

    The Type FSG, FYG, FRG - PUMPTROL® Water Pump Pressure Switches are used to control Water Pump Pressure Switches are used to control
    electrically driven water pumps and have the following features:
    • The Type FSG is the standard water pump switch, suitable for all types of pumps: jets, submersible,
      reciprocating, etc.
    • The Type FYG is designed to meet higher horsepower and pressure requirements.
    • The Type FRG is reverse acting: the contacts open on falling pressure.
      All are diaphragm actuated.

    The Type G - PUMPTROL® Commercial/Light Industrial Pressure Switch is used to control electrically driven water pumps and air compressors. It has higher electrical ratings for direct control of motors in pump and compressor applications. The Type G switch is diaphragm actuated and has contacts that open on rising pressure.

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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