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 Water Pressure Tank Life Expectancy &
Water Tank
Replacement Guide
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
This article explains how long a water tank is expected to last (it varies) and we describe how to decide when a water tank needs to be replaced -
advice about what to do when things go wrong, such as finding air and water leaks and the process of deciding to replace a water pressure or water storage tank. We also discuss where to put the water tank in relation to the pump and pump control switch.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
WHEN TO REPLACE WATER TANKS - When do you need a new water tank?
How Long Does a Water Tank Last?
The life expectancy of a water storage tank or water pressure tank depends on at least these variables:
- The water tank material: fiberglass, plastic, steel, galvanized steel, epoxy coated or glass coated tank liner. In order of probable life from shortest to longer we'd pose: unlined steel water tank, glass lined or epoxy-lined water storage tank, internal bladder type water tanks that store water inside the bladder, plastic or fiberglass water tanks.
- The water tank type: internal bladder holding water separate from air in the tank may have a longer life than a steel water tank
- The water tank installation and maintenance: a mistake like connecting galvanized iron fittings to copper fittings (GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION) reduces tank life as can water tank installation location: in a flooding well pit, in a wet crawl space for example.
- The water chemistry: aggressive water, more corrosive
- Water temperature: some warranties make clear that handling water temperatures over 180F can void the tank warranty[3]
- The amount of water usage: running more water through steel components may reduce their life
- Regular maintenance and inspection: to check for and repair minor leaks, assure proper operating pressures
When an older type (non-captive-air) tank needs replacement (for example because
it has rusted through and has perforations leaking water or air, or if adding air frequently
becomes a hassle, you'll want the newer type of "captive air" or "bladder" tank.
If your tank looks like it has
leprosy, if you see water streaming down its side from a "pinhole" leak, it may be possible to make a temporary emergency
repair using a rubber washer and screw.
Your hardware store sells special screws for this purpose. This is only a
stopgap measure. You need a new tank. |
Various types of tanks uses in and around buildings are identified and explained below, including water pressure tanks, water storage tanks, range boilers for hot water, indirect fired hot water tanks, expansion tanks in attics, basements, and on heating boilers, oil storage tanks, rooftop tanks, cisterns, water pressure booster systems. We also discuss when to replace water tanks.
Table of Water Storage Tank Materials, Life, Warranty Period
[in process, suggestions welcome]
Water Pressure Tank Life & Warranty Comparison Summary by Manufacturer & Tank Type |
| Water Tank Type |
Rated Life or Warranty |
Comments |
| Amtrol, Well-X-Trol internal bladder, pre-pressurized |
Warranty: 7 years |
Product range, multiple sizes [7] |
| AquaTanks, polyethylene |
Warranty: 25 years |
New Zealand, export, stackable tanks, 295L to 31,000L, above ground & underground, various colours [9] |
| Flexcon Well-Rite, Challenger (butyl internal bladder), FlexLite, Flow-Thru, Jet Rite, FLEX 2 PRO and InWell brands |
Warranty: 5 years |
U.S., Canada, Mexico [10] |
| Flotec 35-Gallon internal bladder |
Warranty: 5 years |
# FP7120 |
| Lochinvar glass lined water storage tanks |
Warranty: 5 years |
Thse [3] |
| Norwesco plastic aboveground water storage tanks |
Warranty: 3 years |
From date of manufacture. These tanks are used for chemical storage, not solely for water. Tank life when used for water storage may differ than when storing other chemicals. For water, these tanks meet FDA specifications for storage of potable water [2] |
| PVI® Storage Tanks (water heaters), glass lined |
Warranty: 5-20 years |
AquaPLEX® engineered duplex alloy, standard tank warranty is 10 years with a 20-year option.
NICKELSHIELD® nickel-plated tank, standard tank warranty is 10 years with a 20-year option.
POLYSHIELD® polymer-lined tank, standard tank warranty is 5 years with a 15-year option.[4] |
| Underground plastic water tanks, polyethylene tanks, using some polypropylene or EPDM components |
Warranty often extends from date of manufacture, not installation |
Selected and installed per instructions does not void warranty for this tank type. Installing under a driveway voids warranty. |
| Utilitech 86-Gallon vertical, bladder, interior coated |
Warranty: 5 years |
# LPT-86
Same for smaller models |
| Water Worker 14GAL Horiz Pressure Tank |
Warranty: 5 years |
#HT-14HB (Sears) |
| Wellmate Composite Water Tanks, internal bladder, Residential application |
Warranty: 5 years from installation |
No steel components. [5] |
Notes:
Watch out: in collecting water tank warranty and life expectancy data we found that the variety of tank types and tank uses produces a wide range of data. When comparing tank life expectancy or warranty be sure you are comparing tanks intended for the same application
In our experience internal bladder water pressure tanks last well beyond their warranty period. An OPINION guess woudl be 10-20 years is average for these systems.[1]
In our experience galvanized steel water pressure tanks, nearly all of which contain some sort of internal coatings, last beyond their warranty period. We've seen tanks fail in five years (aggressive water, new modern thinwalled tank, possiblyi with a defective internal coating, and we've seen older, thick-walled, well-coated galvanized steel water pressure tanks last 25 years or longer.
We do not have long term experience with fiberglass or plastic type water storage tanks but in our OPINION expect their life to be 20-25 years or more if protected from UV (for some plastics) and from mechanical damage. |
Steel Water Tank Rust Perforation & Emergency Tank Repairs
|
 This steel water storage tank is leaking. When you see damage like this on a water tank, the perforation has rusted through from inside the tank.
A tank that looks like this needs to be replaced.
Watch out: don't poke at rust like this on a water tank - you are likely to change a slow seep or drip into an immediate catastrophe - the steel around the site of rust perforation is usually quite thin. You still need to replace the water tank but this approach can stop or slow a leak while you wait for the new tank to be installed.
If the rust perforation on a steel, bladderless water pressure tank is very tiny, 1/8" or so, temporary repair can sometimes be made using a special short lag-type threaded screw with a neoprene washer. Leak repair screws are sold for this use.
Details of this rusted leaky water tank leak repair procedure are at WATER TANK PERFORATION LEAK REPAIR |
Where to Locate the Replacement Water Pressure Tank
 Locate the pressure tank as close as practical to the pump pressure control switch. If the water pressure tank located too far from the pressure control switch, or at a different elevation from the pressure switch, the pressure switch control may not operate properly.
Amtrol™ is quite clear about the proper water pressure tank location:
The Well-X-Trol should be installed as close as possible to the pressure switch. This will reduce the adverse effects of added friction loss and pressure switch bouncing, and the difference in elevation between WELL-X-TROL and switch.
Water pressure tanks will work rather well if placed located almost anywhere on the piping system on the same level as the pressure control switch.
Water Pressure Control Switch Contact Bounce & Short Cycling Water Pumps
But it's best to follow the Amtrol advice - keep the water tank and pressure switch close together. Incorrect water pressure tank location, too far from the pressure control switch for example, can cause improper pressure control operation or pressure control switch contact "bouncing" turning the water pump on and off too rapidly.
 If you have a problem such as the pump pressure control switch bouncing (the switch turning the pump on and off rapidly at the start or end of a pumping cycle) you can relocate the pressure switch to the new larger tank and run a longer wire to the pump or pump control relay.
Other causes of pressure switch bounce and well pump short cycling are explained at SHORT CYCLING CAUSES.
Our photo (above) shows a water tank located correctly in that the pressure control switch (that gray box between the blue water tank and the green treatment tank) is close to the water tank.
The owners located this water pressure tank in a closet and insulated the closet walls with fiberglass. The result was condensation that soaked the fiberglass, leading to a local mold contamination problem.
Our photo at above left is another illustration of a leaky water pressure tank that is beyond repair. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the typical life of a water pressure tank or water storage tank, and about when & how to replace a water tank
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- [1] "Sizing a [Water] Pressure Tank", Wellcare®, www.watersystemscouncil.org/, Tel: 888-395-1033provided by the Water Systems Council, retrieved 4/5/2013, copy on file as Water_Tank_Sizing_WSC.pdf - Quoting:
This publication was developed in part under Assistance Agreement No. X-83256101-0 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of WSC. EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication.
- [2] Norwesco Water Storage Tanks, Norwesco, Inc., 4365 Steiner St., PO Box 439, St. Bonifacius MN 55375, Tel: 800-328-3420, Website: http://www.norwesco.com Retrieved 4/5/13, copy on file as Norwesco_Water_Tanks.pdf
- [3] Lochinvar water storage tank warranty, Lochinvar, LLC
300 Maddox Simpson Pkwy
Lebanon, TN 37090
(615) 889-8900, Website: www.lochinvar.com, retrieved 4/5/13, copy on file as Lochinvar_Tank_Warranty_2011.pdf & Lochinvar_Tank_LTB-08.pdf
- [4] PVI Engineered Water Heating Solutions, PVI Industries, LLC
3209 Galvez Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76111-4509
Phone: 800-784-8326, 817-335-9531, Website: http://www.pvi.com/ retrieved 4/5/13 copy on file as Wellmate_Pentair_Warranty.pdf
- [5] Wellmate, Pentair Residential Filtration LLC
5730 North Glen Park Road
Milwaukee, WI 53209 USA
Phone: 800.279.9404, website http://www.wellmate.com/, Retrieved 4/5/13
- [6] WellMate™ Pentair Water, Installation Instructions, Pentair Water Treatment Chardon, 220 Park Dr., Chardon OH 44024, Tel: 440-286-4116 copy on file as WellMate_residential-captiveair-tank-install-manual.pdf
- [7] Amtrol Extrol™ pressure control tanks, which they call well tanks, are described at the company's website at www.amtrol.com/extrol.htm and installation and operating instructions for these well tanks can be found at www.amtrol.com/pdf/9015A290revcWXT.pdf
- [8] Well-X-Trol: Amtrol Extrol™ pressure control tanks used on hydronic heating and other systems such as models 35LBC, 50 LBC, 85 LBC, and 100LBC to 600 LBC also use a bottom bladder containing air - see amtrol.com/pdf/LBCSeriesEXTROL9017-095.pdf for details.
- [9] AquaTanks, NZ New Zealand, Galloway International Ltd.
36 Cryers Rd., East Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand.
, tel: 0800 370 007 Phone : +64 9 273 5666, Email: Email: mikew@galloway.co.nz , Website: http://www.aquatanks.co.nz/our-tanks retrieved 4/6/2013
- [10] Flexcon Industries, Well Tanks, Flexcon, Swan Group, Flexcon Industries
300 Pond Street
Randolph, MA 02368
Tel: 781.986.2424
website: http://www.flexconind.com/, retrieved 4/6/13
- [11] Dauphin Environmental Equipment, Inc., (Fiberglass wastewater storage tanks), (fiberglass septic tanks) Dauphin Environmental Equipment, LLC
721-B Lakeside Drive West
Mobile, AL 36693-5125, Website: http://www.dauphinenv.com/
 Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
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Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
- Amtrol - AMTROL, Inc.,
Corporate Office,
1400 Division Road,
West Warwick, R.I. 02893
Tel: (401) 884-6300
Fax: (401) 884-4773 The company's website is at www.amtrol.com; also see Amtrol's installation and instruction manual for their Well-X-Trol water pressure control tank, a PDF file
- Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire and Emergency Use--Includes How to Make Ferrocement Water Tanks, Art Ludwig, Oasis Design (May 30, 2005), ISBN-10: 0964343363, ISBN-13: 978-0964343368, Quoting:
A do-it-yourself guide to designing, building, and maintaining water tanks, cisterns and ponds, and sustainably managing groundwater storage. It will help you with your independent water system, fire protection, and disaster preparedness, at low cost and using principles of ecological design. Includes building instructions for several styles of ferro cement water tanks.
- Thanks to aerospace engineer Herman Vogel, July 2010,
for providing an update on High Density Polyethylene HDPE storage tanks for water, chemicals, waste oils, etc.
- Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
- Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
- Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
- Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
- Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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