Heating boiler bladder type expansion tank compression tank pressure adjustment.
Expansion tank pressure too high.
With a failing pressure tank you might be replacing a costly well pump much sooner than expected.
If the pressure is too high it can wreck even a new expansion tank.
Most expansion tanks come pressurized to 12 40 psi but before you install the tank you have to match the system pressure.
Most expansion tanks are set to a pre charge of 20 psi when they leave the factory while the majority of residential water systems have significantly higher water pressure than that.
The air side of the tank should be checked and adjusted before adding water to the system if the tank is already installed and the system has pressure in it the pressure should be drained at the tank to 0 psi before testing the pressure on the tank.
Look at the valve and see if there is any water residue on it.
Use a bicycle pump or compressor to fill the tank to match the system pressure you noted earlier.
Start by removing the protective cover from the air valve on the tank.
Use a tire gauge to check the pressure.
A properly sized pressure tank ensures your household water needs are met and your pump is protected against short cycling.
It can seem very odd for tank pressure to increase above it s pre charge or pump cut off pressure but believe it or not it can happen.
The usual cause of un planned water tank bladder pressure increase is a small leak that lets water into the tank s air space.
This tells you that the pressure in the hot water tank is too high.
We ll tell you how this happens what you can do and how you can do your own simple diy test at home to check it.
Too low of psi and the bladder will never squish to take up expansion.
Pressurized well tanks extend the lifespan of your well pump by preventing rapid on off cycling of the pump and maintaining water pressure throughout your home.
Check to see if your release valve is spurting water.
A pressure tank is an integral part of maintaining your well.
If your well tank is more than 8 10 years old this is a question you ll want to know the answer to.
Join john woodard our master water specialist.
For most installations the factory set air pre charge in an expansion tank is correct and should be left alone.
This means that whoever installed your tank was supposed to manually increase the tank s pre charge to match the water pressure at the time of install.
