Do I Need a Water Pressure Tank?
If you rely on well water the short answer is yes! Every time a faucet gets turned on, a toilet flushes, or someone takes a shower or bath, water is demanded from your well. As a homeowner you expect water to flow at a certain speed. Water pressure in the line causes that water to flow. If a home relies on municipal water, water pressure is controlled (for the most part) by the city. But if a home relies on well water, a homeowner will need something to build that pressure. A well pressure tank maintains the water pressure in the household and more importantly, protects the life of the well pump.
How Does a Water Pressure Tank Work?
A well pump forces water to the surface. However, without a pressure tank, the well pump would need to turn on every time a faucet was turned on in order to maintain water pressure. A pressure tank acts as a water storage container giving a well pump a much needed rest in between cycles.
The pressure tank in a water well system creates water pressure by using compressed air to bear down on the water. Because of this pressure, when a valve is opened water is pushed out of the tank through the pipes in your home. When the water in the pressures tank drops below the required amount, a pressure switch is activated turning on the pump. The pump then refills the pressure tank. The combination of the pressure tank, pressure switch and the well pump is what allows water to flow through a home.
Pressure Tanks Protect and Prolong the lifespan of a Well Pump
Because the tank acts as a reservoir, it allows water to be drawn from the tank without the pump cycling on and off each time the water is turned on. This ultimately protects and prolongs the lifespan of the pump.
When the well pump is turning on and off too frequently, it is known as "short-cycling". Short-cycling puts enormous stress on your well pump and can cause it to prematurely fail. This requires an expensive replacement that could have been avoided.
By extending the time between the on and off cycles, a pressure tank keeps your well pump from undue wear and tear. It also stabilizes your overall household water pressure, so your faucets don't spit and sputter as they wait for the pump to catch up.
Selecting a Pressure Tank Size
When choosing a pressure tank you will need to know the gallons per minute (GPM) your well pump pushes water through your pipes and determine the water usage of your household. A well water contractor like Safewelltech can help you determine the appropriate size for a pressure tank and safely install it into your well water system.
Safewelltech is a dealer for several brands of professional-grade residential pressure tanks including Well-X-Trol (Amtrol), Wellmate (Pentair) and Flexlite (Flexcon). We often recommend Flexcon pressure tanks in our installations and repairs. Flexcon tanks are reinforced with durable, continuous strand fiberglass and sealed from the environment with weather resistant epoxy resin and are extremely well suited for above ground and underground installation. All pressure tanks sold and installed by Safewelltech include a 5-year warranty. To contact Safewelltech for more information and a free assessment of the condition of your tank call (518) 545-8085 or email service@safewelltech.com.
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