Heavy Duty Pressure Tank Installation — Maryland, WV, VA & PA
We install heavy duty steel pressure tanks ranging in size from 34 gallons to 120 gallons. These tanks include new controls and are set on concrete blocks in most cases. By fully optimizing the tank tee settings, you get great water pressure and increased system longevity.
When the pump is not running, air pressure in the tank forces water into the home, and when the pressure dips to the cut-on setting of the pressure switch, the pump turns on. When the pump is running and you're using water in your home, the incoming water essentially goes right by the tank and enters the home. When the pump is running and you are not using water in the home, the water fills the tank and then the pressure switch shuts off the pump at the cut-off setting.
It is very important that a bad well system pressure tank be replaced — not only for pressure reasons, but because it can introduce bacteria into your well water supply. A bad rubber diaphragm in your pressure tank will also cause short cycling of the well pump, run up your electric bill, and wear out the pump. A common symptom of this is poor water pressure, surging, and reduced flow into your home or business.
Many homeowners don't realize their well tank has failed until water pressure becomes a serious problem. Watch for these warning signs:
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, don't wait. A failed well pressure tank puts unnecessary strain on your pump motor and will significantly increase your electric bill.
The terms bladder tank, diaphragm tank, and pump tank are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference. A bladder tank contains a sealed balloon-like bladder inside the pressure vessel — the bladder holds the water completely separate from the pressurized air charge. When the bladder fails, it must be replaced, and in most cases this requires replacing the entire tank. A diaphragm tank uses a fixed rubber diaphragm bonded to the inside of the tank to separate the water from the air. These are common in older installations and are generally not serviceable when the diaphragm fails — again, tank replacement is the solution.
Both types work on the same principle — compressed air on one side of the bladder or diaphragm pushes water into the home when the pump is not running. When the pressure drops to the cut-on setting of the pressure switch, the pump starts and refills the tank. We install heavy duty steel pressure tanks ranging from 34 gallons to 120 gallons — properly sized for your household water demand to give you steady pressure and maximum pump life.
When we install a new well pressure tank, we also inspect and replace worn controls as needed. These components are just as important as the tank itself:
The brain of your well system — it tells the pump when to turn on and off based on system pressure. Pressure switches wear out over time and can stick, causing the pump to run continuously or not at all. A new pressure switch is inexpensive and should be replaced whenever a new tank is installed.
A simple but critical component. If your gauge is stuck, inaccurate, or reading zero, you have no way of knowing what your system pressure is doing. We always install a new gauge with a tank replacement.
A safety device required on all well systems. If pressure builds beyond a safe level, the relief valve opens to prevent damage to your plumbing and tank. These valves can corrode and stick open or fail to open when needed — both are problems.
The small drain valve at the base of the tank tee is used to depressurize and drain the system for service. These inexpensive valves are often original to the installation and are frequently seized or leaking. We replace them as a matter of course.
The tank tee connects everything together — the tank, pressure switch, gauge, and relief valve. The shut off valve above the tank tee allows the system to be isolated for service. These valves are notorious for sticking after years of no use. We set the tank tee settings precisely to optimize your system pressure and maximize tank draw-down, which means longer pump life and better water pressure throughout your home.
One of the most common mistakes we see is an undersized well pressure tank. A tank that is too small for the household demand will cause the pump to short cycle — turning on and off constantly instead of running in longer, healthier cycles. Every time your well pump starts, there is a surge of electrical current that stresses the motor windings. A pump that short cycles can fail in a fraction of the time a properly sized system would last. We size every tank installation based on your pump's flow rate and your household's water demand to give you the longest possible pump and tank life.
Send a few photos of your current pressure tank and describe what's going on — surging pressure, short cycling, a waterlogged tank — and Scott will let you know what it'll take to fix it, no salesman required. We carry tanks and controls in stock and can usually schedule service quickly.
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