Well Holding Tank ??'s

crashy · #1 05/21/07, 07:28 PM

Ok the water from the well goes into a tank in the garage when it turned on a hiss would come out now alls I hear is a clicking sound and the guage needle is flipping here and there but I still get water in the house. Do I need to have air put but back in the tank? I am hoping that I can fix this myself w/o calling in a repair man.
What kinds of ideas do you all have??

agmantoo · #2 05/21/07, 08:55 PM

The clicking is the pressure sensing switch rapidly turning on and off. This occurs when the tank is full of water and there is no air or in the case of a bladder tank the bladder is ruptured. This problem needs to be attended to ASAP. Is your tank a galvanized tank or is it a painted tank? Is your pump a submersible one (I think it is)?

Junkmanme · #3 05/22/07, 02:28 AM

There should be a relief valve on the top of the tank and it OR near it (at the top of tank) there should be an air-valve similar to the ones you have on your vehicle tires where you can put air pressure. Crank up air compressor and add air pressure there. When I have done this I have opened a valve on the outgoing water line from the tank in order to allow water to exit the holding tank. (Give space for the air.) When refilling the tank, the air pressure, of course will equal the static water-pressure in the tank/water lines. So, it's a good idea to drain some water to allow area for air larger than the area it will be "compressed" into.

Clear as mud?
Bruce

fordy · #4 05/22/07, 04:42 AM

...........As has already noted , let ALL water out of the tank ...
...........Check airpressure in tank with standard air gauge , fill tank too 38 psi...
..........Normal pressure is set at 40 psi kickin\60 psi cut off ......, If tank won't hold 38psi , then the internal air bladder has a leak(flat tire) , time for a new tank......turn pressure switch back on and tank should fill too ~ 60 psi and then cut off !!......
..........The reason for filling tank too 38 psi is you want the airbladder pressure to be set at 2 psi ...less...than the 40 psi kickin pressure of the pressure switch , good luck , fordy...

1GandJ1 · #5 05/22/07, 06:32 AM

Was always wondering..... If the bladder gets a leak and doesn't hold air any more. When you push in on the center stem of the air valve, would some water squirt out with the air? Was wondering if that would always happen and indicate a defective bladder.

crashy · #6 05/22/07, 09:04 AM

Thanks for the ideas...I hope my bladder isn't busted the tank is 20 years old now and I think I will need a new one shoot!!!

Junkmanme · #7 05/22/07, 09:27 AM

My tank, like this, didn't have a bladder and is still operating after 50 years. (Probably about ready to "rust-through", but hasn't yet........) Makes me wonder if one with a busted bladder wouldn't continue to function.......

crashy · #8 05/22/07, 10:06 AM

Oh it still works its just the guage in front that has the air pressure valve is not hissing anymore and the guage needle is flipping all around but water is still going in and the house water seems fine you can see a slight surge in pressuse but thats it so far,

agmantoo · #9 05/22/07, 01:18 PM

How about answering my questions. Knowing the answers could avoid your making a small problem into a larger problem.

VALENT · #10 05/22/07, 04:39 PM

Me, I would listen to agmantoo. There are differences between systems and they make huge differences in fixing the problem.

crashy · #11 05/23/07, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

The clicking is the pressure sensing switch rapidly turning on and off. This occurs when the tank is full of water and there is no air or in the case of a bladder tank the bladder is ruptured. This problem needs to be attended to ASAP. Is your tank a galvanized tank or is it a painted tank? Is your pump a submersible one (I think it is)?

Well ok I will answer...
The tank is galvanized and yes the pump is sub.

agmantoo · #12 05/23/07, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the response.
Your tank is not a bladder tank then in IMO. I have never seen a galvanized bladder tank but that is not to say I am absolutely correct.
With a submersible pump you will not lose prime by overly emptying the storage tank. You can drain the tank completely. You may get some air carried over into the house plumbing by the bursts of air/water will self correct. Your tank is fully filled with water and there is no air space. Yes the system is working as far as deliverying water but the pump is cycling too frequently. The frequent cycling is detrimental to the pump and to the pressure switch. You do need to correct the situation. The problem will reoccur from time to time and the introduction of air needs to be part of a maintenance program. You can eliminate the having to add air several ways. Using a bladder tank is the surest way.

VALENT · #13 05/23/07, 12:23 PM

But, if your system is adding air with a schrader valve or a pin hole in the well piping, the air will continue to be added and a bladder tank will have a problem.
If your well system has been working fine and is now not, I would bet there is a schrader valve that has stopped working from gunk or corrosion. The hissing you used to hear was that schrader valve allowing air into the system when the pump stopped pumping. Find that schrader valve(it looks like a bicycle tire or car tire valve stem) and replace it.

crashy · #14 05/23/07, 01:36 PM

Well I just called the well guy I thought I could do it myself but I am afraid I will not get the vavle on right and mess it all up. Hubby just had a total shoulder replacement so he can't help too much. The well guy knows what he is doing so I am just going to watch and learn so if this happens again I hope to be able to fix it myself.
Thanks for all your replies!!!!

VALENT · #15 05/23/07, 01:57 PM

crashy, let us know what he says/does, please.

agmantoo · #16 05/23/07, 06:34 PM

The repair man is going to do one of two things, either add air to the system for a temporary fix or install a new bladder tank for a lasting repair.. Lets see if I am correct.

crashy · #17 05/24/07, 02:07 PM

Ok I got the well fixed. It was the shrader valve and we had a new relief valve replaced as well. Our tank is bladderless so I guess we lucked out and the bill was only $88.00 I can live with that. He said for the whole outfit being 19 years old we have taken good care of it. WHEW!!!! Dodged a bullet on that one!!!
Thanks to everyone for helping me!!

VALENT · #18 05/25/07, 12:04 PM

gOOD TO HEAR Crashy. I once had a problem with a tenant who kept putting caps on the schrader valve to "keep it clean" Unfortunately, it also stopped the system from working. (It did keep the schrader valve nice and shiny, though.)

agmantoo · #19 05/25/07, 06:05 PM

Describe what you are calling a relief valve. I know a few things about wells but that is a new one to me. PS.... your problem will return in time, you need to get a small compressor or an air tank and learn to add air yourself. At least the service man was fairly honest. He charged your for a service call and and a couple of incidentals.

crashy · #20 05/25/07, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Describe what you are calling a relief valve. I know a few things about wells but that is a new one to me. PS.... your problem will return in time, you need to get a small compressor or an air tank and learn to add air yourself. At least the service man was fairly honest. He charged your for a service call and and a couple of incidentals.

Its has a opening where water can come out of and it on the side and on the top a pressure like cap it looks like a brass fitting anyways thats what he called it. I have an air compressor but how much air do you put in? I saw him use a little compressor.
He also was tripping a circut that is on the water tank itself. He was doing this while adding air to the system and he aslo had the front water faucet open.
I was ok with what I paid in a pinch I know I could do it.