Water Tank Leak Diagnosis & Repair FAQs

Leaks at the water tank Tee

How to diagnose & fix leaks at the water tank / pump switch after frozen water pipes

I have a well the water is back on after the frozen lines defrosted but water is coming out of the pipe ! By the pump ! Looks like a leak ! No pressure on gauge! Should I turn off the pump?

SOS: my wayer froze and now is working but water is coming out of pipe by the big blue water tank the gauge says I have zero pressure should I turn off the power to the pump !

The pipe froze now water is running and leaking out of pipe by the water pump and no pressure on gauge should I turn pump off!

It on that T-joint , it’s a pin hole leak ! I can either spray flex seal on it or replace the t joint with a handle turn on it! Thanks for helping me picture attached

It’s leaking a pin hole of water on the t joint in the picture attached!

I figure I can spray it with flex seal or get the piece replaced with a different type of t joint with a handle to turn water on & off! It on the side faceing me! On 2018-01-09 by Becca -

Suggestions by (mod) - To repair a leak in the water tank tee

Becca

With the pump OFF, if there is a leak anywhere in the system water will continue to leak until the system pressure is down to about zero.

I see water on the ground but not where the leak is occurring.

I see at the left side of the tank water piping what looks like a foam insulated water line connected using a stainless steel hose clamp that can be tightened using a screwdriver.

If you have a leak there, try tightening that clamp.

Tell me where you see water leaking.

See PIPE / HOSE CLAMP LEAK REPAIR

Bottom line: if the leak really is at the tank tee itself, I'd prefer to have that part replaced. I wouldn't want to trust the topically applied sealant to prevent a new leak, perhaps worse, if no one is at home to catch the problem.

But in your photos I see several threaded fittings, at least one of which shows corrosion and may be the actual leak point - at that shutoff valve. I'll have added yellow pointers to the suspect connections where there may be leaks.

The three yellow arrows point to obvious and common leak points and the yellow lines point to five additional places to check carefully for leaks.

Watch out: among these, the most dangerous indicator might be leaks at the outlet of that pressure relief valve - the bottom yellow arrow.

The two arrows point to apparent leak points at that shutoff valve. The leftmost arrow is pointing to corrosion - a likely confirmation that there has been leakage at this point. - Daniel

by Becca

Yep I returned the flex seal you can’t use for that ! Got the part to replace it! Waiting on someone that can do it ! Tnx all!

Picture of part ! The people have a pipe wrench so I better wait for them to do it ! Tnx again!

by (mod) - replace water shutoff that is leaking through brass body

That's a brass bodied ball valve shutoff - nice going. A pinhole leak can be caused by

- freezing and cracking of the valve body

- corrosive water (that also will threaten copper pipes and lead to more pinhole leaks)

- mechanical damage

- or a leak at the valve connections mistaken for a leak in the valve body

I would replace the part, thus making a more reliable repair than a coating could provide.

Water Tank Condensation - Mistaken for Leakage

Tip: See CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS

What's causing a puddle of water near our water tank only when we've been using water?

I can not find where I have a water leak, but every time we run water upstairs we have a little puddle of water near our water storage tank. If we do not run water there is no puddle.

But I do not see the leak.

Could I have a leak in the bladder that goes into the tank and when the bladder is filling it pushes out a small amount of water?

If we run a lot of water we get more water near tank. Advice please On 2018-07-08 by Edward McKeown

Diagnostic suggestion by (mod) - check first for condensation on the water tank

Edward

Perhaps it's not a leak but condensate dripping off of a cold water pipe or off of a water pressure tank that's collecting moisture from the air?

Try using a dry towel to wipe off everything that's wet: the water tank, pipes, valves, etc. at the water tank.

Then watch closely to see where water first appears. If it's condensation on the tank that may be the puddle source.

If however you see water dripping at a control valve or relief valve or pipe connection that'll be the repair point. - DF

Water Tank Leak Repair Q&A

WellRite 60R tank leaking from bottom: can it be repaired?

WR-60r well rite diaphram water tank leaks water from the bottom. Can this be repaired (Dec 31, 2014) Anonymous

Reply: Unless the leak is at a repairable plumbing connection, or the tank has a replaceable bladder, replace the tanki

Temporary patches using a screw and neoprene washer or epoxy are just that: temporary and usually not long-term reliable.

Your Well-Rite 60-R is a 20 gallon water pressure tank from Flexcon, sold widely at plumbing suppliers and building suppy stores.

It uses an internal bladder that is not considered economically replaceable so even if the leak is at the tank bottom bladder access port or even if the leak is traced to a bladder failure, repair still isn't recommended.

I'd replace the tank unless the leak is at a threaded plumbing fitting that can be re-made. A matching WR-50R water tank retails (in 2026) for $500 to $650. - Daniel

How to fix a leak in a fiberglass water pressure tank

Hi I have a leaking pressure tank at the fitting at the bottom. There is a boost pump plumed into the wet side of the tank.

I checked the schrodier valve near the gauge at the top and water does come out of it.

Does this tank need replacing?

Please see the attached picture. 2020-08-12 by Bill -

by (mod) -

Bill

A leak at the tank bottom would be from a defective piping connection OR it could just be condensation; let's start diagnosing that leak by wiping the tank dry and watching it closely to see exactly where the leak occurs. Otherwise any repair advice anyone might give is too speculative to be very helpfu.

If water comes out of the air valve (Schrader valve) at the top of a water pressure tank AND if the tank uses an internal bladder, then the bladder has leaked - and failed.

But your tank may not use an internal bladder. Rather it's simply waterlogged. That would explain why opening the air vent or Schrader valve mounted on that gauge tee at the top of your water pressure tank squirts just water, no air.

Watch out: what's that little pump mounted on the wall above and to the right of the water tank. It looks like a pump intended to serve as an injector pump system to add disinfectant to a water supply system, but only 1 of the two tubes is attached to the little pump.

The second tube that would bring disinfectant to the pump has been disconnected.

Also I notice that the wiring to your pressure control switch is unsafe: missing a strain relief at the switch side and missing the switch cover - shock hazards.

Can a hole in a water pressure tank be repaired?

Can a hole in the tank be repaired On 2017-02-16 by Karen squires

by (mod) -

Karen,

As long as we are talking about a steel water tank that does not use an internal bladder, a hole in a water tank might be repairable, depending on the overall condition of the tank and the extent of rust that you cannot-see: on the inside of the tank wall.

In WATER TANK REPAIR PROCEDURES

My photo at the top of this article shows a type of tank repair screw and washer. A screw size is selected to accommodate the diameter of the hole in the tank and is screwed in place; its washer seals the leak by pressing against the tank's outside surface.

Beware that because corrosion is on the inside of the tank the tank wall will be thinner around the point of leakage than you might think, so you might need a larger screw than you might guess.

So buy several sizes so that if on installation the first screw leaks because it's too small you can try a larger one.

There are also metal expoxy sealants that can work if the tank surface is clean and dry, though I prefer a mechanical seal.

Beware that a water tank that has perforated is probably at or near the end of its life and that other leaks may appear soon.

Finally, you might want to have your water tested for corrosivity, as if it's corrosivity index is high your building plumbing is also at risk and you might want to install an appropriate water treatment system. T

he corrosivity of water is discussed at CORROSIVITY or ACIDITY of WATER https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Acidic_Corrosive_Water.php

How do I repair a ruptured water tank bladder?

by (mod) - SOME bladder-type water pressure tanks are designed to permit bladder replacement.

Kevin,

SOME bladder-type water pressure tanks are designed to permit bladder replacement.

Those tanks will have a removable panel, usually on the tank bottom. If your water tank is one of those you'd buy a replacement bladder assembly from your local plumbing supplier or if necessary through the water tank manufacturer.

You can check with the manufacturer or in your water tank's installation and maintenance manual for the replaceable-bladder feature once you know the water tank brand and model.

My pressure tank has a pinhole leak - can this be repaired?

My pressure tank has a very small pin hole . Can the pressure tank be welded or sealed in anyway , or will the tank need replaced completely ? - Tom A. 8/11/11

Reply:

Yes, Tom. At your local hardware store you can probably purchase a special screw and washer part (less than $5.00. U.S.) intended to temporarily fix pinholes in water pressure tanks.

Watch out though: often a pinhole on the exterior wall of the tank will be found to be a bigger hole when you start messing with it

- because the tank is corroding from the inside (usually) the area of thin walled steel may be bigger than you think. Buy several repair screws of varying size and start with a small one to see if that can screw in tightly enough to stop the leak. If it won't, you'll need to use a larger screw.

Welding is technically possible but not economical, and a repair epoxy might work with good surface cleaning provided you could take the tank out of service long enough and keep it dry during the gluing process, but like the little DUtch boy with a finger in the surface of the dike, that's not the most reliable repair.

Figure a new water tank is in your future

Can a leak in a water tank be fixed?

Can a hole in the tank be repaired? 2017-02-16 by Karen Squires

Answer by (mod) -

Karen,

As long as we are talking about a steel water tank that does not use an internal bladder, a hole in a water tank might be repairable, depending on the overall condition of the tank and the extent of rust that you cannot-see: on the inside of the tank wall.

In WATER TANK REPAIR PROCEDURES

My photo at the top of this article shows a type of tank repair screw and washer. A screw size is selected to accommodate the diameter of the hole in the tank and is screwed in place; its washer seals the leak by pressing against the tank's outside surface.

Beware that because corrosion is on the inside of the tank the tank wall will be thinner around the point of leakage than you might think, so you might need a larger screw than you might guess.

So buy several sizes so that if on installation the first screw leaks because it's too small you can try a larger one.

There are also metal expoxy sealants that can work if the tank surface is clean and dry, though I prefer a mechanical seal.

Beware that a water tank that has perforated is probably at or near the end of its life and that other leaks may appear soon.

Finally, you might want to have your water tested for corrosivity, as if it's corrosivity index is high your building plumbing is also at risk and you might want to install an appropriate water treatment system.

The corrosivity of water is discussed at CORROSIVITY or ACIDITY of WATER