Water pressure tank

[Jack345]

I have a mid 1980's Amtrol WELL-X-TROL pressure tank that I think is going bad. Pump is now turning on after about 1-2 gallons pull. I've adjusted the diaphragm pressure and found after draining water tank & setting pressure and run pump thru couple of cycles the pressure INCREASES in the diaphragm. I do not get any air out the when tank is drained. Also no water comes out the schrader valve. Could the pump be pressuring the diaphragm with air trapped in tank? Pressure measurements were made with tank being drained & valve open pump off. Thanks.

 

[old]

I have a mid 1980's Amtrol WELL-X-TROL pressure tank that I think is going bad. Pump is now turning on after about 1-2 gallons pull. I've adjusted the diaphragm pressure and found after draining water tank & setting pressure and run pump thru couple of cycles the pressure INCREASES in the diaphragm. I do not get any air out the when tank is drained. Also no water comes out the schrader valve. Could the pump be pressuring the diaphragm with air trapped in tank? Pressure measurements were made with tank being drained & valve open pump off. Thanks.

Does the tank have a place to add air to it?? If it does that is what is needed it sound like it is water logged and need to have pressure added

 

[rustred]

I have a mid 1980's Amtrol WELL-X-TROL pressure tank that I think is going bad. Pump is now turning on after about 1-2 gallons pull. I've adjusted the diaphragm pressure and found after draining water tank & setting pressure and run pump thru couple of cycles the pressure INCREASES in the diaphragm. I do not get any air out the when tank is drained. Also no water comes out the schrader valve. Could the pump be pressuring the diaphragm with air trapped in tank? Pressure measurements were made with tank being drained & valve open pump off. Thanks.

lots to be considered here, ... size of tank and type of tank and your cut out and cut in pressures. post some actual pressures and Schader valves are near the top of the tank . and how much air are you adding to the tank.

 

[Jack345]

Does the tank have a place to add air to it?? If it does that is what is needed it sound like it is water logged and need to have pressure added

Normal tire type valve can add air or take it away if needed . Its not water logged

 

[Janicholson]

I have a mid 1980's Amtrol WELL-X-TROL pressure tank that I think is going bad. Pump is now turning on after about 1-2 gallons pull. I've adjusted the diaphragm pressure and found after draining water tank & setting pressure and run pump thru couple of cycles the pressure INCREASES in the diaphragm. I do not get any air out the when tank is drained. Also no water comes out the schrader valve. Could the pump be pressuring the diaphragm with air trapped in tank? Pressure measurements were made with tank being drained & valve open pump off. Thanks.

If you can shut off the input from the pump, with the pressure reduced to zero, put 45# in the upper chamber. open a valve down stream and watch the pressure if it drops, the diaphram has a leak. Jim

 

[Jack345]

lots to be considered here, ... size of tank and type of tank and your cut out and cut in pressures. post some actual pressures and Schader valves are near the top of the tank . and how much air are you adding to the tank.

Manual calls for 30psi. have set pressure several times

 

[rrlund]

I wish I could remember what the well guy told me now. He told me how much air pressure should be in it, but I don't remember if it was with water pressure too, or with all of the water pressure backed down.

 

[Jack345]

If you can shut off the input from the pump, with the pressure reduced to zero, put 45# in the upper chamber. open a valve down stream and watch the pressure if it drops, the diaphram has a leak. Jim

Yeah, I've done that. It could be a very slow leak for pressure to drop in upper chamber, I was hoping that I could hear the air leak in drain pipe but it may require more pressure in chamber.

 

[Jack345]

I wish I could remember what the well guy told me now. He told me how much air pressure should be in it, but I don't remember if it was with water pressure too, or with all of the water pressure backed down.

I have the install manual for tank and its approx 30 psi.

 

[leroy in ne]

If I remember right: Empty tank, pump off, tank air charge pressure is 2 pounds less than cut in pressure of pressure switch. This causes pump to start before tank is totally out of water.

 

[Jack345]

If I remember right: Empty tank, pump off, tank air charge pressure is 2 pounds less than cut in pressure of pressure switch. This causes pump to start before tank is totally out of water.

Thats right

 

[joeysmith]

Thats right

How much is it gaining?
Cold air
Warmer water
The pressure will increase slightly
Pump stays off when no water is being used?

 

[farmersamm]

We run a 40/60 pressure switch on the pump. Should come on at 40, go off at 60. No wiggle room. Either burnt/sticking contacts, or sediment in the small pipe below the pressure switch, can cause problems.

Pump off, tank, and system, drained, pressure should be 38psi at Shrader valve(on our system). If not, the bladder leaks. If it's water logged, the tank is too heavy to rock.

 

[farmersamm]

I might note............the water pressure gauge will not read right if there's sediment in the pipe, or fitting, which connects it to the system.

 

[farmersamm]

If you lose your water in Winter............first thing you need to check is the small pipe connecting pressure switch to the system. These pipes can freeze up, and disable the pressure switch.

 

[farmersamm]

I have a mid 1980's Amtrol WELL-X-TROL pressure tank that I think is going bad. Pump is now turning on after about 1-2 gallons pull. I've adjusted the diaphragm pressure and found after draining water tank & setting pressure and run pump thru couple of cycles the pressure INCREASES in the diaphragm. I do not get any air out the when tank is drained. Also no water comes out the schrader valve. Could the pump be pressuring the diaphragm with air trapped in tank? Pressure measurements were made with tank being drained & valve open pump off. Thanks.

If you're not seeing air pressure when the tank is drained, the bladder is cheeeeeezed. This relates to your comment that no air comes out of the valve when the tank is drained.............it should be like letting air out of a tire.

 

[farmersamm]

When you buy a new tank, they generally come pre-charged at about 28psi IIRC. If you're not getting air pressure when there's no water pressure in the system, the bladder isn't holding air.

 

[Jack345]

If I remember right: Empty tank, pump off, tank air charge pressure is 2 pounds less than cut in pressure of pressure switch. This causes pump to start before tank is totally out of water.

Thats right

How much is it gaining?
Cold air
Warmer water
The pressure will increase slightly
Pump stays off when no water is being used?

OK, lets start with drained tank, Bladder pressure is set to 28-30 psi. turn off drain pipe start pump, it cycles off at about 50-52 psi. run 2 cycles of pump on/off. drain tank. check pressure of bladder its now 35+psi. Pump stay off if no water is used,but will start more often as water is used as pressure in bladder increases. I think the air chamber is leaking into the bladder when pump reaches 45-50psi. Please correct me if wrong but from top to bottom a pressure tank has the following 1.Bladder/diaphram 2. air 3. water on bottom

 

[Jack345]

When you buy a new tank, they generally come pre-charged at about 28psi IIRC. If you're not getting air pressure when there's no water pressure in the system, the bladder isn't holding air.

its holding air with tank drained and valve open

 

[wore out]

I have a mid 1980's Amtrol WELL-X-TROL pressure tank that I think is going bad. Pump is now turning on after about 1-2 gallons pull. I've adjusted the diaphragm pressure and found after draining water tank & setting pressure and run pump thru couple of cycles the pressure INCREASES in the diaphragm. I do not get any air out the when tank is drained. Also no water comes out the schrader valve. Could the pump be pressuring the diaphragm with air trapped in tank? Pressure measurements were made with tank being drained & valve open pump off. Thanks.

IMHE, when a "bladder tank" becomes suspect/funky it's SHOT.

And add the fact it's 40 years old.

Time to replace it and move on, you've gotten 2 to 4 times it's life expectancy already.