When I was a kid, the well tank had no diaphragm but it did have an air cushion. It was in the basement and it was one of my responsibilities to check it every so often. The tank had a glass tube on the side which showed the level of the water in the tank and, therefore, the size of the air cushion above it. There was a range in which the water level was acceptable. Over the years, I recall adjusting it both up and down. Any excess air (more common) could be released from the air valve on top, using the pressure in the system. To increase the air (less common) the pump had to be switched off and the tank isolated from the pump inlet and the house plumbing, by closing two gate valves. Then the air valve was opened, followed by the drain valve. When the water level had dropped to within the acceptable range, the drain valve and the air valve were closed and the two gate valves were opened. That was in the mid 1960s, in the northern USA.
11.59 South Africa Good day John and Don, congratulations on a very interesting video. I use a Dab Easy box pump with a global water 60 litre pressure tank for our guesthouse . We work in bars in South Africa. The pump is set at 3.7 bar, and restart at 2.7 bars. The pressure tank is set at 2.2 bars. My problem is that when the pump is off and you open a tap in the house, only about 5 liters is used from the pressure tank. Then the pump restarts but over rev for a few seconds with a flow of +- 70 litres/minute, and shuts of again while tank is still supplying water is still needed in the house, and then restarts again. The Dab is a verible speed pump, and i think the demand to the guesthouse and the pressure tank at the same time is to much, and it takes the pump some time to adjust, but by that time the tank is filled again and while water is still needed in the guesthouse the pump starts again, same story. When a lot of water is needed like a washing machine, it is the same story, but the pump manage to stay on while speed goes up and down until it settles. When i use the pump without the pressure tank, it works 100% but starts everytime water is needed. Hope to hear from you soon, kind regards Egbert van Zyl. Email address is beryl1guest@gmail.com
Excellent video. Thanks. One point. When you go to drain the tank for the pressure test, shut off the main water supply valve just upstream of the pump. That way the entire house water system doesn't drain out the tank. My plumber told me this. I'm not a plumber or well expert.
Thank you Mr. John and Don for your great video. I have been looking someone more than a year like you. Now I`ll finally check air pressure in my 200 lt. tank and adjust pressure switch correctly to get maximum amount of water. Than I am going to inform you about result to get for some advice if necessary. ( Sorry for my english prep. or any other mistakes). Hi from Mugla/ Turkiye.
i could use some help first i dont know if i have a 30 50 or 40 60 pressure switch records indicate a 30 50 and the minimum pressure on the gauge is set to 40 and it pumps up to 60 but it drops back in like 2 minutes and 30 seconds and the tank pressure is 42lbs and if there is a faucet running the gauge stays at 40 lbs
man , I was hoping I was gonna find out my bladder was busted on my tank , but no water comes out, well systems are a pain if u don't know them , I gota keep turning the breaker off for the pump to stop it from running , then air comes out of the water lines constantly in the upstairs bathroom when the pump is off , still haven't figured it out
If I have very poor water pressure when I open turn on the faucet, the shower, etc. but the water pressure picks up as soon as the pressure gauge kicks on, what would you surmise would be the issue? Also, if someone is taking a shower & i turn on the kitchen faucet to rinse a cup or bowl, I have little to absolutely no water flow to the kitchen faucet. It evident that some component is allowing the pressure to drop below the cut in pressure. It will get down to 15psi and while the water is running it kicks on about 25psi & off at about 55psi. Can you point me in a direction of what I should check first? Should I cut the power to the tank, drain the tank & then test psi in the holding/pressure tank?
Hi guys, the rigid plastic tube on my switch broke off and leaked everywhere. I replaced it with soft copper and since the switch was 20 years old I replaced it also. Now the system tend to runs way to long with no water being called. Do you suspect my tank pressure is causing it? I’ve never checked the tank pressure? Also can I run the faucet to drain the train or so I need to run the hose at th gage like you recommend? Great video!
I have a deep well jet pump with 2 pipes so is it a good idea to have shutoff as well on both the hoses for maintenance so don't lose prime if need to replace pump or work on replacing impeller and parts? I have shutoff between pump and pressure tank and pressure tank and main water line to fixtures. Just thought of adding those other 2 or a check valve on the hose coming in
Hi there, here I'm from Indonesia, do you mind if you could forward me the water system diagram from the scratch ? for instance ..the water from the ground, for safety reason, I wish to know more about the whole system, the underground water is full of bacteria. how to make a good and safer system by using your products? thank you
We had our pressure tank replaced about 6 month ago. The pressure switch is 20/40. My problem is the runs down below 15 psi but the pump doesn't kick in for 4-5 min. Then runs for 14-15 min and pressure tank goes to 60 psi. I replaced the pressure switch and it still doing the same thing? Our water comes from a spring thats less than 100ft from the house. The spring is at the same level or slightly higher than the tank.
When you say drain the tank, do you mean drain the tank fully? Ours has a drain tap on it, but only drains until there's zero pressure. There's still a lot of water in the tank as air can't get in and it's created a vacuum. To empty it fully I have to disconnect the base pipe and keep swapping buckets under the tank for 1/2 hour till it drains fully. Do I need to do this or is zero pressure enough?
You need to pressurize the tank to push all water out. Then when all valves are closed you need to have the pressure 2 psi lower than when your switch comes on. Hope that helps!
