I have a 1hp shallow well pump with a 4.4 gallon pressure tank. The manual tells me to pump the blader to 18-19 psi. It has been working fine for a year. Now the pump turns on as soon as you turn on the water and off when you shut the water off. I checked the bladder and it has no pressure. I tried to pump it up but it woun't build any pressure. Do you think the bladder is bad?

Sounds likev the membrane has ruptured. There are several ways to test a bladder tank. (1) Open the snifter valve on top of the tank. If water comes out tank's faulty, **OR** (2) Take a metal object and start at the bottom of the tank and start tapping. You should hear a "clunk" until you get about half way up the tank. Then you should hear a "clank".
If you hear the same noise all the way up the tank then it's faulty.
In both cases if it fails (1) and(2) the tank must be replaced. By the way the tank is pressured at 2 PSI UNDER the cut in point of your control box when the pump's shut off and the pressure bled off. If your box reads 30/50 the bladder tank setting should be 28 PSI. Good luck, Tom

Why do you have such a small tank? Unless there is a good reason, you can do yourself and your pump a favor and think bigger.

It is a Compleat unit Pump is on the tank. Check out Northern industrial pump item # 109231
www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200352050_200352050&issearch=109231

Thanks Tom, I found out that with the pressure off the tank wasn't enough. I had to open the pressure side then pump up the pressure to force the water out of the tank as the bladder came back to shape.

Hi Hank,
Thanks for the update. Glad you're back in business. If you ever need help again you know where to come. Cheers, Tom