The house we're in has a bladderless, galvanized pressure tank (assume to be 25-30 years old) set at 40/60. I've got 2 questions regarding maintenance. First off: How often should I recharge the tank? I've heard a couple of opinions (twice a year or once a year) and wondered if there was a general consensus as to what the opinions were here. Other question was: I've recharged this tank in the past with usually no problems. The time previous to this last time, when the pump cycled on I had air going into the toilet supply lines for about 30 minutes then it was fine (faucets didn't seem to be affected as much as the toilets). The last time I recharged the tank, it took a full day for the air to leave the lines before everything became normal. No problems with water after that and I don't notice any pressure loss when the system is idle. Basically, I'm just wondering if this is a tank problem or a problem with the schaeder valve. Thanks in advance.
You just put to much air in the tank when you got air in the water lines. There is no set time when you should put air into the tank, Id say when you filled gal jug of water and the pump cam on put some air in it now just some. Like if you get a big glass of water and it comes on and stops when you turn it off put some air in it. I use a air tank all the time. But have a float in the middle of it. to much air it lets it out. Have a sniffer valve in the well line. So when the pump shuts off the water drains from the check valve to the sniffer valve. this lets air in. When the pump comes on it puts that air into the tank. dont every run out of air. Next timeyou pull the well Id set it up that way.
ED
Hi af66,
-You're putting in too much air. To charge this type of tank, first let it drop to cut in pressure, then switchoff power and let water drain till air just starts coming out, close valve right away (at tank drain or nearest faucet.)Turn off valve to house and switch pump on for about 15-20 seconds then off again.( this is to make sure water in tank is above the output pipe) Now pressurise tank air to 38 psi. and turn everything on. Should work normally now. As long as you don't use water while power is out this should only be necessary about twice a year.
Do it Right - Do it once.
Thanks guys. Appreciate your advice and input.
Tags: galvanized, pressure, tank, questions, into tank, last time, sniffer valve, tank when, this tank, time when, twice year, when pump
