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radioguru · Apr 1, 2007, 10:53 AM

I live in a rural area and my home is supplied by a well with a submersible pump. The water comes into a bladder pressure tank. I have noticed that when the shower or the dishwasher is running, the switch for the submersible well pump keeps switching off and on. I am worried that I will burn up the pump.

I need to know how to set up the pressure for this bladder tank. I think I have to drain the tank and then put some compressed air into it, and then re-fill it with water.

How much pressure, how do I proceed?

Thankful for any help.

speedball1 · Apr 1, 2007, 12:05 PM

"I think I have to drain the tank and then put some compressed air into it, and then re-fill it with water."

No so! Let me explain the function of a bladder tank. Pressure and bladder tanks provide a air cushion that produces water pressure in your system so your pump doesn't kick on every time you draw a glass of water. A bladder tank has a neoprene membrane in the center. As the pump puts water into the bottom half of the bladder tank the membrane compresses the air in the top half. When the pressure reaches the cut off point in the control box the pump shuts down. However you still have between 40 to 50 pounds of pressure pushing the water out to your system. As the pressure drops in the tank when you make a draw the pump kicks on and everything starts over again.
To check a bladder tank take something metal and start rapping at the bottom of the tank and work upwards. You will hear a "clunk" in the bottom half full of water. On the upper half you should hear a "clink" because the upper half should have nothing but air in it. IF the sound doesn't change or changes close to to tank top then the bladder's ruptured and the tank must be replaced.

"How much pressure, how do I proceed?"

Your air setting on the tank should be 2 pounds UNDER the cut in point in the pressure control box. If your pressure control has a 20 PSI cut in and 40 PSI cut out the tank pressure should read 18 PSI. This should be done with the pump off and no pressure in the system. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. Tom