Well Pressure Tanks – Has It Gone Bad?
Posted on: 10 October 2017
There are several elements that are put to work to provide your family the water from your well. When things aren't working as they should be, it can be difficult to determine exactly what is malfunctioning and what you need to do to get your water flowing again. Here, you'll learn what symptoms will tell you that it is the pressure tank causing your problems.
What is the pressure tank?
The pressure tank is typically found inside your home. This tank is usually a cylinder shape and many times, blue in color.
Inside this metal tank is a rubber bladder. The bladder is filled with air and is what creates the pressure that is needed to force the water from the tank to the fixtures throughout your home.
What are symptoms of the tank failing?
When a pressure tank has reached the end of its life, there are a few things it will do to give you an idea that it's time to replace it.
- Clicking on and off all of the time. You should be able to hear it kick on and off when you are running water, but it shouldn't be doing it often. It should click on to run the water to fill the tank and then turn off until the water has been dispersed into the home, at which point it will click on to refill again.
- Varying water pressure. The water coming from your kitchen faucet should maintain a regular water pressure – a steady stream. If you notice that the pressure is fluctuating, chances are, your pressure tank either needs maintained or replaced.
- Complete loss of water. If the bladder inside the tank has completely ruptured, it is possible that the water will completely stop coming out of your fixtures. If there is no pressure in the tank, the water cannot be pushed from the tank into your waterlines to the fixtures.
How do you know that the bladder has ruptured?
On the top of your tank you will see an air valve – much like those on the tires of your car. Unscrew the cap and use a pen to push down the center pin. If water comes out of that valve, then the bladder has ruptured. This is because the bladder isn't supposed to have any water inside of it. You should get nothing but air when you press down that center pin.
Talk with your local well specialist to learn more about the pumps that work to keep the water flowing into your home.
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