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This article describes Where do we find the water pressure tank drain valve on a private well, tank, and pump system, how is it used, how to repair leaky valves Readers of this document should also see Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case which offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost.

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WATER WELL, PUMP, & TANK CHECK VALVES

A check valve may be installed between the incoming water line from the well and the water pump and pressure tank, such as shown in this photograph. You can see the check valve as a bronze assembly connected to the well piping just before the well water line passes through the white foundation wall in the right side of this photo. (After the check valve we see an poorly connected electrical ground wire also clamped to the piping.) You'll notice that this is a (green) one-line jet pump system. (You can see the single pipe running from the foundation wall to the front of the green jet pump). The check valve helps avoid loss of prime and thus helps assure that the jet pump can suck water out of this shallow well. The valve prevents water from siphoning back out of the water tank and water pump and down into the (presumably lower) water well when the pump stops running. A check valve at this location is a great idea and reduces the risk that a failure of the foot valve down in the well leads to inability of the pump to draw water. The foot valve s located at the bottom of the well piping and intended to accomplish the same thing. This is "cheap insurance" or perhaps the foot valve has already failed (or was omitted) at this installation.

You may see check valves installed on municipal water supply piping too, to prevent possibly unsanitary water from inside a building's piping from back-flowing into and contaminating the municipal water supply system piping during a time of loss of municipal water pressure. Check valves installed at the right location on water system piping are a good idea.

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PLUMBING TOPICS
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
OIL TANKS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR & COSTS
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS
WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUST
WATER PUMPS & WELL TANKS
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
  IDENTIFY WELL PUMP TANK COMPONENTS
  MAIN WATER SHUTOFF VALVE
  WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES
  WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL
    WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
    WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR
    WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPLACE
  WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUST
  WATER PUMP RELAY SWITCH
  TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  WATER TANK AIR INLET VALVE
  WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
  WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY
  WATER TANK DRAIN VALVE
  WATER TANK RELIEF VALVE
  CHECK VALVES
PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER PUMP & TANK SAFETY
WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE
WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES
WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER TANK REPAIRS
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME
WATER TANKS HOW THEY WORK
WATER TESTING
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS

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