Can I install two bladder type water pressure tanks in water system?

speedball1 · Apr 29, 2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

I was told that I needed another pressure tank, so I ordered a Amtrol Well-X-Trol WX-202 20 gal Well Pressure Tank.

Did a plumber tell you that? Why? To add pressure? Volume? What?

Quote:

First, after really thinking about it, I probably don't even need the tank,

So what brought you to that frame of mind?

Quote:

Can I install the pressure tank in the barn as I had intended? Will it improve the pressure in the system?

Yes and no! Yes you can install the bladder tank and no it won't improve the pressure.
My advice would be to run the service line to the barn,(what size will the line be?) and sell the extra tank on E-Bay. Good luck, Tom

hkstroud · Apr 29, 2012, 10:05 AM

What is your water demand at the barn? As Tom said the answer is yes and no. A tank at the barn will not increase your pressure but it will increase the volume available for short period of time.

If you install the tank at the barn you will not be running electric to the tank. The well pump must be controlled by only one tank unless you want to get into a complex system of relay switching and valves.

More than you ask, but I assume the mountains of Colorado occasionally get below freezing. Unless you have heat in the barn, you would have to provide some means to prevent the tank freezing or provide means for draining the tank and lines.

See this post for a suggestion on how to prevent pipes from freezing in unheated barn.

http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbin...ng-587953.html

jlisenbe · Apr 29, 2012, 11:17 AM

You've got it. Might as well install it as it won't hurt anything. I think I'd put a checkvalve before the smaller tank. It would hold pressure at 60# in the tank until you are ready to use water in the barn. Again, not a great benefit, but whatever.

rlgerst · Apr 29, 2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

Did a plumber tell you that? Why? To add pressure? Volume? What?
So what brought you to that frame of mind?
Yes and no! Yes you can install the bladder tank and no it won't improve the pressure.
My advice would be to run the service line to the barn,(what size will the line be?) and sell the extra tank on E-Bay. Good luck, Tom

So, you would NOT install the second pressure tank. I am installing 400' of 3/4" PEX tubing.

speedball1 · Apr 29, 2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlgerst

So, you would NOT install the second pressure tank. I am installing 400' of 3/4" PEX tubing.

I just don't see any great advantage in installing the tank. It won't hurt but won't give toy more pressure, However, If you want more volume you could install a inline 40 gallon galvanized pressure tank. If you want the extra volume for the barn saved for the barn use install a check valve in front of the pressure tank. Good luck. Tom

rlgerst · Apr 29, 2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlgerst

Hi, I have a cabin high in the mountains in Colorado. I have a well and an 85 gallon bladder type pressure tank that is set at 40 psi on and 60 psi cutoff. The system works fine. I am now building a 40'x60' barn about 400' away from the cabin. I will cut the copper pipe and place a tee fitting just after the pressure tank and run a 400' water line to the barn. I was told that I needed another pressure tank, so I ordered a Amtrol Well-X-Trol WX-202 20 gal Well Pressure Tank.

First, after really thinking about it, I probably don't even need the tank, but it is being shipped and it will cost alot to ship it back.

Can I install the pressure tank in the barn as I had intended? Will it improve the pressure in the system? Can I just install the pressure tank without any controls? It would be extremely difficult to run electrical wires back to the well pump switch. Please help me figure this out….. Ron

OK - I can install the second pressure tank and get a little more volume. If I do install it, I will install it with no controls. I like the "check valve" idea. I will see how much it will cost me to return it, but there is always eBay.

I want water at the barn to wash the motorhome and ATV's. I will have a sink, but no toilet and that is all that I want the water for.

I plumbed my cabin so that every time that I leave the cabin, I completely drain all the water even in the summer. All my pipes have a slope to several drain points and I leave the drains and faucets open to dry out. Works great. I also turn off the inverter completely removing electrical power to the cabin and barn. The only power is from solar with a generator backup.

NOW, this new 3/4" PEX water line will run downhill from the cabin to the barn and will have a constant downhill slope until it reaches the barn. Then it will rise sharply through a 3” pipe that I have installed under the slab that turns vertically to be inside the barn. NOW, I want to drain the water to the barn every time that I leave the cabin. So at the lowest point I would like to install a drain that would drain the 400’ water line from the cabin and also drain the water from the barn. The lowest point will be underground about 3 feet from the barn because that is where the water line enters the 3” access pipe to the barn. HOW CAN I INSTALL A DRAIN THERE? UNDERGROUND about 4’ deep? How would you install a drain? Again, I need to figure this out. Please help…… Ron

jlisenbe · Apr 29, 2012, 02:42 PM

The fact that it is a downhill run to your barn will work for your good. You get an extra little pressure boost, depending on how much the drop is.

I'm assuming you want to drain the line everytime to avoid freezing? Anyway, does the slope continue down from the barn? If so, then could you run another hundred feet or so of pipe to a point below the barn where you could put a spigot? Open that spigot, and drain the whole line above it.

As HK pointed out, if freezing is an issue, then putting the tank in the barn just gives you one more thing to worry about. I'd consider just putting it with the large tank near the cabin. It will give you a little more initial volume and somewhat shorter pump cycles. But if you are draining everything everytime, then I don't know. Just seems to me to be another headache.

rlgerst · Apr 29, 2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlisenbe

The fact that it is a downhill run to your barn will work for your good. You get an extra little pressure boost, depending on how much the drop is.

I'm assuming you want to drain the line everytime to avoid freezing? Anyway, does the slope continue down from the barn? If so, then could you run another hundred feet or so of pipe to a point below the barn where you could put a spigot? Open that spigot, and drain the whole line above it.

As HK pointed out, if freezing is an issue, then putting the tank in the barn just gives you one more thing to worry about. I'd consider just putting it with the large tank near the cabin. It will give you a little more initial volume and somewhat shorter pump cycles. But if you are draining everything everytime, then I don't know. Just seems to me to be another headache.

Thanks, Your idea of running the line to create a lower point and put a spigot could work, but I would like to control a valve at the low point next to the barn.

I drain the water every time because when I left it in, it develped a bad odor. Besides water does not need to be in my pipes when I leave it for months at a time. I only use the cabin a few times a year.

Hope that I can find a valve that I can drain next to the barn...... Ron

parttime · Apr 29, 2012, 03:58 PM

rigerst, how about blowing the water out of the line with compressed air? I have a similiar set-up and before cold weather I open the spigot and blow from the other end. just a thought.

Can I install two bladder type water pressure tanks in water system?

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