If your home is not connected to the city utility connection for water, you will depend on a well for your water needs. You need the water to flow through your taps at a certain pressure so that you can get all your work done well. The utility connection from the city council will have its system to maintain a constant pressure of water in all homes. But when it comes to the well, if you need pressure, your pump must work every time you open a tap or flush your toilet.
When the pump switches on and off so frequently, it is bound to get damaged too fast. If you want to prevent this, you must have a system where you can get water at constant pressure in all your water outlets in the house. It is for this purpose that the well pressure tank is used.
Understanding The Working Of A Well Pressure Tank
The water pump in your home is placed beneath the water level in your well. The well is the main water source for the house. When you want to avoid the pump from working too frequently, you must install the well pressure tank. This tank is placed in your basement or under the stairs usually, from which water to all your water outlets will come. The tank keeps water inside and maintains constant pressure on the water. It is this pressure that will make the water flow through your taps and other outlets at a certain pressure so that you can get all your work done.
The pressure in the tank is preset as per requirement. The normal pressure settings for a home is between 40 and 60 PSI. This pressure pushed down the water with force to all the outlets. Every time you remove water from the tank, the pressure comes down. When the pressure comes to a present level, it will trigger the switch of the pump. The pump starts to work and brings water to the well pressure tank. This will again build up the pressure and ensure constant pressure in the water flow.
The well pressure tank along with the pressure switch and the pump is what will keep the water flowing well in your homes without damaging the pump by frequently switching it on and off.
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Why Do You Need To Replace The Well Pressure Tank?
There are many reasons why you will need to replace the well pressure tank. One of the common reasons is the wear and tear. There can be rust in the tank, which is not good for the water you get. There can be leaks that will cause water to drip. The third reason could be that the pump is working too frequently.
When all these happen, it is better to replace the well pressure tank. There is also another reason why many households replace the tank. When the size of the family increases, they may need more water. So, they must go for a larger tank. They will need to replace the existing tank with a larger one.
If you want to buy a new tank, you must know what size you will need to buy. So, how will you determine the size of the tank? For this, you must know the tank drawdown. You can calculate this by multiplying the flow rate with the minimum runtime of the pump. The flow rate is the amount of water your pump will produce per minute. The minimum runtime is the minimum period the tank must work before it can be switched off, to dissipate heat.
Removing The Old And Fixing The New
Before you start removing the old tank, you must switch off the water supply and the power connection to the motor. You must first drain the water from your existing tank. You can do this using a hose and a bucket. The time taken for this will depend on how much water is there in the tank. You must first disconnect the pressure switch from the electrical connection. Remove the plastic cap that is covering the pressure switch. Remove the wires that connect the switch to the power supply.
Once you have removed the switch power supply, the next thing to do is to disconnect the tank from the well supply pipe. Use a pipe wrench to loosen the nut that connects the tank to the pipe. You don’t have to remove the nut completely. Once you have loosened this, you can remove the old tank and place it aside.
Remove the plastic covering on the inlet and outlet ports. Before you screw on the stub-outs, you can wrap some plumbing tape on the threads so that the union will be fully sealed. Connect the stub-outs to the ports. Align the tank correctly and screw the union rings tight. Place the tank on the base and secure it.
Connect the tank package which you purchased or use the old set of the pressure switch, pressure gauge, and tank cross and connect it to the new tank. Reconnect the electrical supply to the pressure switch. Release pressure from the tank and switch on the pump for water to fill in. Once the air in the system is out, you can close the pressure valve. This will ensure that the pump will stop when the pressure is reached. Use water only after the tank is filled, and the pump is switched off.
Conclusion
Before you remove the old tank and install a new one, it is better to talk to the manufacturer of the tank and familiarize yourself with the installation procedure. Make sure you have all the tools that you require for the job. The installation process may vary with the tank manufacturer. If there are PVC pipes, it is better to remove the old unions and install new ones. Use PVC primer and PVC cement to fix the union securely.
If you think that the tank package that you have with the old tank cannot be used, purchase a new package. This will include the pressure switch, pressure gauge, tank cross, etc. If you are using a tank that has a capacity above 30 gallons, it is better to use a hoist and chain to lift and place the tank in position.
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