How do I pressurize the 52 gallon Wellsaver water tank. Having trouble getting water into the tank.

Pump and Tank Buying Guide

I got my information from Lowe's Site

Pressure tanks are typically used in conjunction with private wells. The tanks provide consistent pressure to the home's water system within a range of approximately 20 pounds per square inch (psi) and also act as reservoirs, holding extra water in the system. Most home water systems are set up so the pump turns on (cuts in) at 20, 30 or 40 psi and turns off (cuts out) at 40, 50 or 60 psi, respectively. There's a diaphragm in the tank with pressurized air above the diaphragm and a water holding area below.

As the water holding area fills, the diaphragm is forced up, increasing the pressure and charging the plumbing system with greater pressure.


Once the system pressure reaches the pump cut out pressure the pump stops.


Water is drawn from the pressure tank without the pump cutting in until enough water is removed from the water holding area to decrease the system pressure to the pump cut in level.


After the pump cut in level is reached the pump comes on and runs until the system pressure is equal to the pump cut out level.

The tank allows water to be drawn from the system without the need for the pump to cycle on and off each time the water is turned on. Reducing on and off cycles cuts down on wear and tear and prolongs the pump's life. When choosing a pressure tank you will need to know the gallons per hour (gph) your pump pushes in your plumbing system and the number of plumbing fixtures, including outside spigots, in the system. Most manufacturers produce a chart that you can plug those numbers into to size your pressure tank. Just remember that if you're in doubt about the size tank you need, it's always better to go larger with pressure tanks. Larger tanks hold more water and reduce the number of times the pump is required to cycle on and off.

As somebody that has actually charged a tank, there isn't much to it if you have a source of compressed air. Add air to the tire valve looking thing at the top. Bring the pressure up to about 2 psi below the cut in pressure of your pump. If the pump kicks in at 30 psi, put 28 psi in the tank. Turn on the pump, and it should pump up to its cut off pressure leaving the tank holding it rated capacity.

All I can add to the answers that Biggisie and labman gave is that before you set the tank pressure at 2 PSI under the cut in point on the control box that the pump must be shut off and a hose bib opened to bleed off the pressure. Good luck, Tom