The water tank is one of the most significant parts of the system when it comes to well water in your home. It is the pressure tank that serves as the mediator between your home supply of water and your well pump in order to retain pressure and deliver a constant stream.
However similar to all mechanical processes, well water tanks are prone to deteriorate or malfunction, which all begin in minor ways before letting to greater and more expensive issues into descent.
Neglecting the symptoms of a failing tank may lead to low water pressure, inordinate cycling of the pump, contamination, and even a complete shutdown of the system. It is necessary to notice early warning signs to prevent the occurrence of sudden water shortage or even destroying the well pump.
The following are indications of three frequent three signs that well water tanks should be maintained or repaired by pros:
Varying or Weak Water Pressure
The first red sign is usually water pressure that abruptly falls off or swings erratically. Your well tank is built to generate constant pressure of water in your house. It uses a mixture of water and air and it is controlled via pressure switch. Where everything functions well, you receive constant flow in your taps and showerheads.
When you begin to experience low water pressure, especially when more than one fixture is in use, then chances are that your tank is having some troubles keeping up the pressure. It could be the effect of a waterlogged tank (in cases when the air bladder fails and the tank is flooded with water), a faulty pressure switch, or tube leak or corrosion within the tank.
You may also notice that your water pump is switching on and off too often. This is called short cycling. This occurs when the tank does not retain pressure and this situation compels the pump to overwork to cover. Short cycling is not only an irritating factor, but it is also brutal to your pump and may severely reduce its life. The little pressure hiccup can easily result in a replacement which could be very expensive.
As soon as you notice that the pressure isn’t staying the same, you should have a professional look at the pressure tank. A technician can look for leaks, check the state of the bladder, and make sure your system is set up correctly.
Strange Sounds or Air Spurts in the Water
Noise, like banging, hissing, or clicking near the tank or from the pipes when you turn on the tap, is another sign that your well water tank needs to be checked. There are times when air may come out of your tap before the water starts to flow. Noises happening now and then are normal, but constant air spurts or sounds like metal clanging should be a cause for worry.
A ruptured bladder inside the pressure tank or a situation where the tank is too full of water are often to blame for these problems. A rubber bag or diaphragm keeps air and water from getting into most modern well tanks.
When this bladder bursts, the air and water mix, which stops the system from building up and maintaining the right pressure. Around that time, you’ll start to hear and see strange sounds, which are caused by uneven pressure or air pockets.
In older systems, these signs could also be caused by sediment buildup or rust in the tank. Minerals from well water can build up over time and damage the inside lining or valves of the tank, letting small air bubbles into the system.
If you don’t troubleshoot these problems, they can go from being a minor bother to a major system failure. Having air in the lines can damage equipment and make your whole house use more water than it needs to. If you do regular upkeep, you can avoid having to replace your tank and keep your water clean and safe.
Increased Electricity Costs and Regular Pump Cycling
Has your energy bill gone up without warning? It could be your well pump, which means it’s also your pressure tank. The pump works harder and repeats more often when the tank can’t keep the pressure up. Each burst uses more electricity.
In a healthy system, the well pump only works when it needs to, which is usually when the tank pressure goes below a certain level. But if the tank isn’t working right-because of a broken bladder, a leak, or a problem with the valves-it might not be able to hold air for long, which means the pump has to run several times an hour.
First of all, this endless cycling is bad because electricity is wasted. Your water bill will go up even if you don’t change how much water you use every day. Additionally, it lowers the pump’s usefulness. Pumps are expensive, and using them too much can cause them to break down early.
If the pump turns on every time someone flushes the toilet or runs the sink for more than one minute, you should check the tank. Sometimes it’s easy to fix, like by moving the pressure switch or adding air to a bladderless tank again. Sometimes, the tank may need to be fixed or replaced.
Final Thoughts
When everything’s working as it should, the water from your well flows silently and effectively into your home’s plumbing system from the tank. Pressure fluctuations, strange noises, and increased energy bills are some of the subtle warning indications that it is beginning to fail.
You can save spending hundreds-if not thousands-of dollars on repairs down the road if you learn to recognize these signals early on. Water pressure drops, sputtering faucets, or an unexpected increase in your electrical bill could indicate that you need a professional to evaluate your well tank.
Preventative maintenance is essential, and not only for your tank but for the whole well system and the water supply to your house. Cleaner water, less costs, and fewer plumbing surprises in the future are all possible outcomes of taking preventative measures.
