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retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
edited March 2014 in General Discussion
My Well Water Pressure tank is Ka'Poot...
Pump constantly goes on / off when you turn the water on.
Goes off almost as quickly when you turn the water off.

Bladder is DOA I'm sure... Been coming for a few months.

I have an H2OW-To tank that's about 14 years old from Lowes.
And can't find a replacement bladder.
From what I can ascertain... The bladder is plastic not rubber.
So it had a definite lifespan of X cycles...
This I know from being in the plastics industry for so damn long.

If I'd had the cash originally, I'd installed a tank with a larger capacity and replaceable rubber bladder.
But... I didn't. When we built in 2000... We had a budgeted amount of money and that was it.

So, I'm looking for a replacement tank... With more capacity and replaceable rubber bladder.

I'm strapped for space with about 48" inches of height and 30 x 30 inches of footprint.
I plan to replumb and add a couple of isolation ball valves, so connections aren't an issue.

I've got a deep well foot pump delivering ~5gpm but not sure of the pressure.
I know it'll build over 60psi... Since that was the pressure switch setting... 40/60
I've got 12 fixtures... Including DW, Washer, 2 showers, and garden tub.

I've found an AMTROL unit... Well-X-Trol 86 gal tank with rubber replaceable bladder with a draw-down of 25.3 gal @ 40/60

It fits the envelope at 47-1/4" high and 26" dia... $631 delivered.

Anyone have a better solution ??? Thanks for your time. [;)]

Comments

  • LesWVaLesWVa Member Posts: 10,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Before you invest in a new tank.

    Check the one you have now. If it has a "tire Valve" on the end. Add some air from a compressor. At times the air will leak off and cause the pump to cycle constantly once it drops to a certain PSI.
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by LesWVa
    Before you invest in a new tank.

    Check the one you have now. If it has a "tire Valve" on the end. Add some air from a compressor. At times the air will leak off and cause the pump to cycle constantly once it drops to a certain PSI.
    Done that... Won't hold.
  • LesWVaLesWVa Member Posts: 10,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you tried adding air and nothing.

    Best to go ahead and invest in a good new tank like the one you chose and be done with the headaches.
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by LesWVa
    If you tried adding air and nothing.

    Best to go ahead and invest in a good new tank like the one you chose and be done with the headaches.
    That's my thoughts...
    Just wondered if there was a better tank that would fit the bill.
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
    Actually it was ~$350

    It is a FloTec FP7130-08 220 gal equiv. with 26-30 gal draw down (depending on pressure). 24" in dia. x 53" high

    Here it is...

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-85-Gal-Pre-Charged-Pressure-Tank-with-220-Gal-Equivalent-Rating-FP7130/100184364

    edit...just went back and saw your height restriction, so here's one that is only 36" high (120 gal equiv.)

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-50-Gal-Pre-Charged-Pressure-Tank-with-120-Gal-Equivalent-Rating-FP7125/100158595


    I've looked at the Flotec's... Along with "Water Worker" tanks.
    That's pretty much what the big box stores sell. From I can see...
    The bladders are plastic and I can't find a supplier to replace the bladder. Although I know they got installed.

    Until I started researching tanks... I didn't realize that most all the less expensive ones have plastic (vinyl) bladders.
    And that's the wear component... The plastic folds and will eventually tear or work a hole into them from use.
    The rubber bladders last longer and typically are replaceable... Resulting in higher initial costs.
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
    So those ones aren't any good?


    I got 14 years... From what I've read, that was about 8 years more than I should have.

    The vinyl bladders just won't hold up...
  • footlongfootlong Member Posts: 8,009
    edited November -1
    14 yrs aint bad for a tank..0f course as we get older we tend to ''go'' more often.. Hence more ''flushes''[:(]
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by footlong
    14 yrs aint bad for a tank..0f course as we get older we tend to ''go'' more often.. Hence more ''flushes''[:(]
    If it's yellow let it mellow... If it's brown flush it down.
    Saves water... But sometimes ya gotta flush anyways.
  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yeah but remember you can't add air unless you drain off the water
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mogley98
    Yeah but remember you can't add air unless you drain off the water
    Yep... Drained, reset pressure to 38 psi...
    Worked for a couple days and back to square one.

    Pump comes on almost immediately... off... on... off... on... etc.
    And off almost as fast as it came on.

    Bladder is shot... [:(]
  • pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,559 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Got a well x trol that is over 30 years old and still working good. Why do you need /want such a large tank for residential use ? Worked as a well driller for years you should be able to get by with a 40 gal equiv with zero problems .
    cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
  • nards444nards444 Member Posts: 3,994 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ive seen them at lowes/HD for 200-300 bucks with the plastic as yous speak.

    Question is this. Buy one for 250 with a plasitc bladder and replace every 15 years or so. Buy a rubber bladder one for double and replace the bladder every 15 years for whatever those cost. You really saving any time and money worrying about getting a rubber pressure tank?
  • pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,559 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am with Nards on this just doesn 't sound cost effective to go with the replaceable bladder for home use .I can see it in some industrial applications but not a house .Heck even in poultry houses supplying water for 60,000 birds at the time we install the plain diaphram tanks .
    cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
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