How To Drain My Well Pressure Tank

Low well tank pressure can damage your well pump reduce water pressure throughout your household and over time can cause your tank to prematurely fail.

How to drain my well pressure tank. Any filtration equipment softener iron filter reverse osmosis system other should be by passed or turned off as draining the tank may cause sediment in the pipes or tank to be disturbed. Step 6 replace access hatch. Drain the water pressure by turning off the electric to the pump and opening the drain faucet on the tank. For example if your well pump pressure control switch is set to cut in start pumping water from the well at 30 psi then set the pressure tank to 30 2 28 psi.

As its name implies the purpose of the pressure tank is to keep water pressurized to avoid the need for the pump to cycle on whenever your turn on a faucet. One of the most important tasks in colder climates is winterizing your well s pressure tank. See figure 2 open the hose bib to run the water until the tank is empty. The air pressure on an empty tank should be 2 psi below the pump s cut in pressure.

Scrub the calcium deposits off the pressure tank and pipes. Open the drain valve and allow the pressure tank to drain completely. Bleed air pressure out of the water tank or add air pressure into the water tank until the tank pressure is at the desired set pressure. Connect a garden hose to the boiler drain or hose bib at the bottom of the well tank.

If you can not remove some of the build ups use a piece of steel wool. There are two types of pressure tanks. If you have a well you probably have a pressure tank somewhere near it. Hydro pneumatic ones with a single compartment containing both air and water.

Remove the cover from the pressure valve located on top of the tank and check the tank s bladder pressure with a tire pressure gauge. Turn off the power to the well pump. Shut off the main shutoff valve. If you believe your well pressure tank is experiencing a loss of pressure it s important to drain the tank and check the system s integrity immediately.

Set the access hatchback onto the well pressure tank and tighten it down with the screws. Water in a tank left in a dwelling without heat over the winter can damage the pressure bladder or in extreme situations even cause the tank to rupture. Run the hose to the outdoors.