Water tank repair or replacement diagnostic questions & answers:

Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures - do I need a new water tank or well tank? These questions & answers help troubleshoot problems that come up when repairing a water pressure tank.

Diagnostic questions for the water tank, water storage tank, well tank, pressure tank, pressure control tank, Extrol, WellXTrol, bladder tank, bladderless water tank.

Water Pressure Tank Diagnosis & Repair Advice FAQs

These questions & Answers about how to diagnose and repair water pressure tanks were posted originally

at WATER TANK REPAIR PROCEDURES - be sure to review the advice and repair articles described there.

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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.

 

Water pressure is falling off: is this a water tank problem?

I have noted that my water pressure in the house have been dropping little by little. I checked my water tank pressure and I got 30psi of pressure only. I brouhgt it up to 40psi and next day it was again in the 30psi.

the tank is fairly new I got it in homedepot about 3 years ago.any body has an idea what the solution could be.I will appreciate it. On 2017-11-29 by Mkke

Reply by (mod) -

I'm not sure how you brought up your water pressure. Just adding more air pressure to the water tank would be a mistake.

Assuming you didn't do that, start by looking for a water leak or running water. Or if you think the air charge is leaking out of your pressure tank, check this article:

See the diagnostic suggestions at WATER TANK AIR LOSS SIGNS 

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?

How do you repair or replace a ruptured Bladder? And can it be purchased at a local hardware store? On 2015-12-15 by Kevin Batts

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.

 

I checked my bladder tank: water comes out of the air hole

2 yrs ago I had the pressure switch on my bladder tank replaces by a friend, can't remember the reason he took off the pressure switch gage but he did and now it doesn't have a gage on it. Last week the switch is banging every time water is used. I know I need to replace tank.

I checked the air pressure, there is none. Water comes out the air hole. Tank is full of water. I assume bladder broke. I have another tank to replace it. (Used) husband died 3 yrs ago or he would already have this fixed. Anyway, so I turn off breaker to pump, turn off valves in and out, have the hose already attached to drain tank.

Suppose it actually goes smoothly and I attach the other tank properly. How do I tell without a gage how much air to put in and do I add air before I turn pump back on? I have a tire gage but will that work instead of an actual gage? On 2015-11-03 by hodaka

by (mod) - burst bladder can trap water in the water tank

You may have trouble getting the water out of a tank with a burst bladder as the bladder may collapse and cover the tank outlet; if so just get help to take the water-heavy tank outside;

The air pre-charge in an internal bladder tank needs to be 2 psi below the pressure switch cut-in pressure.

 

Does the color of the water tank matter?

Can you paint the pressure tank a different color than blue?

Reply: no.... and maybe. Don't paint an outdoor tank exposed to hot sun a dark color

Sure you can paint your water pressure tank any color you like.

However if the tank is located outdoors in bright sunlight you might want to stick to lighter colors so that you don't unnecessarily heat up your water (and increase tank pressure).

How do I let air out of the water tank?

16 June 2011 Anon asked:

How do I let the air out of our water tank?

Reply:

You don't normally need to get air OUT of a water tank, you need to get water in.

If someone is putting an air charge into a BLADDERLESS water pressure tank and they put in too much, the excess air will pass out of the tank through the building water piping and fixtures when water is next run in the building.

However if you needed to vent air out of a bladderless water tank, since air will be in the top of the tank, look for either an air valve or a removable plumbing fitting at or close to the top of the tank.

That valve can be opened (press the valve pin to release air just as with an automobile tire), or that fitting can be removed (watch out: old fittings may be corroded, hard to get out and hard to re-seal) to release air.

If your water tank contains an internal bladder, there will be a Schrader air valve (like a tire valve) at the top of the tank that can be used to put air in or let air out of the tank.

Watch out: if a water pressure tank that uses an internal bladder is set with an excessive air pre-charge the system will not work properly: the water volume draw-down before the pump turns on will be too small, or the pump may not turn on at all.

Worse, at pressures above the rated pressure for the water tank you may burst the tank or a water pipe and thus could and injure someone.

If you are asking because air is coming out of your faucets or other fixtures
see AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES

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

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