How to Add Air to a Water Pressure Tank

Method 1: Maintain the water tank Air Charge by an AVC: Air-Volume Control Device

Air volume controls (AVCs) are found normally only on older type bladderless steel water tanks (photo at left) and not on bladder type captive air water tanks. Therefore the procedures describe here are intended for conventional non-bladder type water pressure tanks such as the water tank shown in our photo.

The AVC or snifter valve is intended to automatically put a little bit of replacement air into the tank from time to time as water pressure cycles up and down, that is, each time that the water pump runs.

This device on older water systems often stops working.

We explain these valves and how they work, are repaired, replaced, or abandoned,

at AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK.

If your AVC has stopped working it can be repaired or replaced.

Another choice is to remove the air volume control and plug its fittings if it is leaking, and use one of the other water tank air charge methods described in these articles.

Watch out: If your water tank air charge is being lost rapidly, say within days of setting the proper air charge, then your water tank may have an air leak that can be fixed. Or you may need to replace the tank.

In that case see WATER TANK REPAIRS

Method 2: Use the water tank air inlet valve or tire valve or "schrader valve" to pump air into the tank

An air valve may be found on the water tank, on piping near the tank or water pump, or at the water tank outlet tee as shown in our photo at left.

Using a bicycle pump or a canister of compressed air one can add air to the water tank.

7 Steps to add air to a water pressure tank using the air valve

To add water to your water pressure tank accurately and effectively, it's best to follow these steps:

1. Turn off electrical power to your water pump
2. Open a nearby faucet and run until water flow stops. (If you have a useful place to send that water such as watering a garden or filling a tub, do that.)
3. Close the faucet that you opened
4. IF your water pressure tank is one that does NOT use an internal bladder, close the MAIN SHUTOFF valve between tank and the building water piping system.
   
   (IF your water tank uses an internal bladder to keep air and water separate closing the main water valve isn't necessary. )
5. Add air to the water pressure tank until the tank pressure reads 2 psi below your water pressure control switch CUT-IN pressure (the pressure at which the pump will turn on).
   
   For example if your pressure control switch is a 20/40 switch (CUT-IN at 20 psi, CUT-OUT at 40 psi) then set the tank pressure to (20 - 2) = 18 psi.
   
   Details on how to get air into the pressure tank are at WATER TANK AIR ADD AT AIR VALVE - this works best for bladder type pressure tanks or for water tanks that have an air valve (Schrader valve) on the tank.
   
6. Turn on power to your water pump
7. Re-Open the main water shutoff valve between pressure tank and the building.

More Step by step details for adding air to a water pressure tank by using the air inlet valve are found

at WATER TANK AIR ADD AT AIR VALVE

Method 3: Drain the water tank and allow air to enter the empty tank

A simple method for recharging the air in a water pressure tank is to turn off the pump, attach a garden hose to the tank drain, open the hose, drain the tank completely, and then let the pump re-fill the tank.

Opening a nearby faucet or valve will speed the drain process and may help let air into the water tank.

Details of the method we just described are

at WATER TANK AIR ADD BY DRAINING

If your well tank is a "captive air" or bladder type pressure tank such as the Well-X-Trol™ series

see WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT.

Bladderless water pressure tanks and their types, installation, and repair or adjustment are described

at WATER TANKS, STEEL

and

at WATER TANK CAPTIVE AIR vs TRADITIONAL WellMate

Bladder type or captive-air water pressure tanks and their repairs are described

at WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR

and at WATER TANKS HOW THEY WORK.

Water Pump Turns on Immediately When we Run Water

Goulds water pump comes on right away and runs continuously when I open any faucet

I have a JRS7 Goulds jet pump 3/4 hp, recently i have been encountering a problem which I cant' seem to rectify.

My pump is set that immediately when any tap is opened it will come on and the pump will turn cut off as soon as the tap is closed.

I have changed the pressure switch and am still experiencing the problem.

- Shawn White 7/23/11

Reply:

Shawn, if a pump always comes on immediately when you open a faucet and shuts off when you close the faucet, your water pressure tank is water logged - it's lost its air charge.

See the procedure for adding air back to your water tank

at WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD

Watch out: if you are running water slowly but the pump never can "get ahead" enough to reach the CUT-OFF pressure then there may also be an underlying problem of a well with a very poor flow rate OR something else that's limiting the ability of your pump to send water into your pipes and pressure tank.

Examples are a damaged pump impeller or a leak somewhere in the water piping system.

Water pressure falls immediately from 60 down to 40 and pump cycles on and off when we are running water

My pressure is set at 60 to 40, When you turn the water on it drops from 60 to 40 immediately and will continue to turn on and off until the water valve is turned off.

The pump basiclly want shut off until you stop using water (June 24, 2014) Anonymous

Reply by (mod)

Anon when pressure drops immediately on opening a tap I expect that there is little or no air charge in the pressure tank.

Your water tank is "waterlogged".

Take a look at

WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD