Questions & Answers about setting the air pressure charge in a water tank that uses an internal bladder: set #3.

This article series describes how to determine the proper air pressure setting in a bladder-type well tank, when, and how to actually change the air pressure in the water tank. It describes how to determine the proper air charge for water pressure tank and how to adjust the actual tank air pressure to that number.

Bladder-type Water Pressure Tank Air Charge Setting #3

These questions and answers about how to set the rightr air pre-charge in a water pressure tank were posted originally

at WATER TANK AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT - be sure to review the procedures and advice given there.

On 2019-02-12 by (mod) - watch for other water leaks

That sounds like you did just the right adjustment.

Keep in mind there can be other leaks that you can't see directly: leaks in well piping, a leaky foot valve or check valve, and even subtle leaks on the pump itself

On 2019-02-12 by Phil

I suspected the pressure of my tank was low.

I shut off power to the pump and opened the faucet until the water stopped and gauge near tank read zero pressure.

I then checked the bladder pressure and it was 31. I have a 40-60 system.

So I set the bladder pressure to 38 and adjusted to cut in and cut out to exactly 40 and 60.

Good to go for several months, then thought my water pressure was on the low side again.

Checked the bladder pressure and sure enough it was 32 this time. I left it as is for now. I tried putting soap around the top Schrader valve but I did not see any bubbles.

If I have a leak it must be real slow one.

Any ideas am I missing anything? Really appreciate any guidence you can provid.
Thanks,
Phil

On 2019-02-09 by (mod) - normal for the pressure reading in the tank to go up as the pump runs

Thanks for asking Donald.

Yes it's normal for the pressure reading in the tank to go up. The 28 lb that you put is the correct air pre-charge for a pressure control switch with a cut in pressure of 30 PSI. But of course when you're pump runs it's going to raise the pressure up to perhaps 50 psi before the pump turns off.

On 2019-02-09 by Donald R Bryant

put 28 psi in my water tank then when i let it fill with water the reading was higher ...is this normal?

On 2017-10-05 by Ron King

I have an aqua air Model V60 water tank.

The gauge reads 60 lbs pressure when tank is full when I used gauge o tank is shows 58 1/2.
Whhenthe pump starts the gauge shoes 45 lbs pressure.

What do I need to do if anything? The pump seems to run extra long after a device towlet, tap has been shut off.
Any help would be appreciated . Thanks Ron

On 2017-06-14 by (mod) - pressure tank gauge not working

It's possible that your gauge is jammed with debris and not registering the proper pressure. If the water pressure actually is that high the system is unsafe. I suggest making a separate water pressure measurement at a hose bib more laundry spigot.

See also

• WATER PRESSURE GAUGE
• WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY
  

On 2017-06-14 by dave

water tank
pressure is over 100 PSI and seems to stay there

On 2017-06-12 by (mod) -

OK so if the switch isn't turning on the pump when pressure is below the CUT-in setting,
and if the switch has power but simply isn't closing in response to the pressure drop, I suspect a debris clogged switch or water tube to the switch.

On occasion the fault is a jammed relay in the switch itself. Try replacing the switch and checking that the tube or pipe nipple that carries water pressure to the sensor in the switch bottom isn't clogged.

On 2017-06-12 by David

Thanks, especially fro the proper air pressure setting. Right now my Well X-Trol 20 gallon pressure tank has no water.

The water pressure gauge is reading zero. When the tank was full of water and the pump not running, the water pressure gauge read 50psi. My switch is a 30/50 switch.

When I ran the pump 2+ days prior, the water flow rate was low. I suspected low air pressure.

When I added air 2 days ago via schrader valve, but emptied the tank of water, I (incorrectly as you noted) set it to 35 lbs. Yesterday (still no water in tank) it was at 26 lbs. Today (still no water in tank) it is 18 lbs. I have not added water or run the pump in 2 days.

If the tank is not holding air pressure, is it correct to assume it is leaking air or the diaphragm is damaged? If so, what is the best solution. Thanks in advance.

On 2017-06-12 by (mod) -

David:

First let's clarify "pressure" - if you read pressure at a gauge when no water is being run, that's data we can understand

- pressure with no water running when the pump cuts OFF should be close to the CUT OUT or CUT OFF pressure - 50 psi in your case.

- pressure when water is running when the pump cuts ON should be about 30 psi - the CUT IN pressure, though

Pressure on the gauge when water is running can indeed fall BELOW the CUT IN pressure IF the the rate at which water is being run is faster in gpm than the pump and well can deliver to the building.

The fact that your pump never cycles off and then back on while your're running water tells us that the pump and well can not deliver water fast enough to get "ahead" of the water usage rate. That can be due to any of a myriad of causes such as low flow rate into the well, leaks in the piping system, a worn or damaged pump impeller, or simply a use rate that exceeds the pump capacity.

I would NOT replace the pressure tank - that's not the problem in a case like this one.

I WOULD correct the tank air pressure pre-charge. You set it too high - above the CUT IN pressure is a mistake. The PSI when pump is OFF and the tank has been drained should be 2 psi below the cut-in or in your case 28 psi. Else the pump might never turn on when it should

On 2017-06-12 y David

I have a Well X-Trol 20 gallon tank connected to a shallow jet pump (well is about 20 ft). The tank is about 10 years old.

The pressure switch is set to 30/50. When running, the water flow rate is low and the pressure us under 20lbs. The pump does not cycle on/off when running. I emptied the tank of water, added air to 35lbs of pressure.

I did not yet add water back, but I left the water value open. The next day the pressure was down to 26lbs. I did not see a water leak & do not hear an air hiss. Is it time to replace my tank?

On 2017-04-04 by (mod) -

Right, when the pump has pressurised the tank, at the CUT OFF pressure the tank will pressure will be above the pre-charge and above the CUT-IN Pressure.

On 2017-04-04 by Thomas

I drained my water bladder and set the psi on the tank to 40. I turned the water back on and when the pressure gage on the water line got to 63 it shut off. I checked the air pressure on the valve and it was higher than what I set it at with it empty. Is this normal?

On 2017-03-12 23:30:21.650712 by (mod) -

Check the pressure gauge to see what it's reading when you see poor pressure; remember that pressure and flow-rate are different effects. Even high pressure will give poor flow if piping is clogged, because the water has to force its way through a small opening.

CHeck the obvious things like clogged faucet strainers.

Then see WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - https://inspectapedia.com/water/Poor_Water_Pressure_Diagnosis.php

On 2017-03-12 23:22:44.856644 by Dana

There is low pressure in the water flowing from the faucets in the house. The pressure switch setting is 40/60 psi and the tank precharge is 28 psi.

On 2017-01-25 17:58:33.755966 by Tom

town water with very low pressure, installed 300 gallon water holding tank and a shallow well jet pump.

Turned water on in house and just the same as always, takes the water a while to drop the pressure to 30 pump kicks on a few seconds

and it shuts off because it has reached 50 this is the cycle til I shut house water off. ok now I turn on the water in the house pressure slowly drops

but I also turn on the value to drain the tank with and the water comes out with pressure and continues until I shut it off just what it is suppose to do, so why not the house water. Just don't know whats wrong or what to do would love the help

On 2016-08-02 19:26:38.610324 by Anonymous

The Well-X-Trol WX203 is a newer Amtrol product.

Your model, #203, is a 32 gallon tank. At 30/50 pumping range you're getting about ten gallons of draw-down before the pump has to turn on.

The product chart shows draw-down quantities for various tank sizes at three pressure ranges: 30/50, 40/60, 50/70 psi.

The tank will work with a lower operating range of 20/40 but the draw-down quantity will probably be reduced by a bit over 10% or to about 9 gallons.
That means the pump will run 10% more often - probably not a catastrophe. You will also see the the flow rate at fixtures (what people call "water pressure") will be a bit less.

I'd give it a try.

On 2016-08-02 05:42:10.917451 by BillM

I have a Well-X-trol WX203, which comes preset 28 psi and a pump switch 30/50. May I change the recommended 30/50 pump switch to a 20/40 and accordingly adjust the air pressure to 18 psi? I am worried about too much pressure on the pipes in this old house. Or, must I stick with the 30/50 original setting?

...

Continue reading at WATER TANK AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• NO WATER PRESSURE if you have no water at all.
• WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
• WATER TANK AIR HOW MUCH TO ADD
• WATER TANK AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
• WATER TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS
• WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR

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