I've recently installed two eighty gallon water storage tanks to my
well which not only takes a load off the 220 volt electric motor at the
pump but also gives me a better water reservior for power outages.
My question is, how important is it to add a pneumatic fitting at the
top of the tanks and to pressurize the water? What's the purpose if the
pump at the well is already creating fifty pounds of water pressure?

"jaydoubleyou" wrote in message
oups.com...
I've recently installed two eighty gallon water storage tanks to my
well which not only takes a load off the 220 volt electric motor at the
pump but also gives me a better water reservior for power outages.
My question is, how important is it to add a pneumatic fitting at the
top of the tanks and to pressurize the water? What's the purpose if the
pump at the well is already creating fifty pounds of water pressure?


The water won't come out if there is no pressure. The bladder tanks have a
big balloon in them. The well pump fills the tank with water and pushes the
bladder back. When you open the faucet for a tiny bit of water, the bladder
gives pressure and the pump does not have to start up until the reservoir is
down some. Save cycling the pump. If your tanks are just plain old tanks,
you won't get any real benefit aside from what you can drain from them with
he pressure of atmosphere at best.

jaydoubleyou wrote:
I've recently installed two eighty gallon water storage tanks to my
well which not only takes a load off the 220 volt electric motor at the
pump but also gives me a better water reservior for power outages.
My question is, how important is it to add a pneumatic fitting at the
top of the tanks and to pressurize the water? What's the purpose if the
pump at the well is already creating fifty pounds of water pressure?

I would say the tanks should be pressured in order that water is
costantly flowing in and out of them to insure fresh water is in them
oherwise to use just as storage the water would soon become stale and
not potable. Thats my opinion. They can be pressurized regaless of
whether bladder type or not by providing an air pocket in the tank.

jaydoubleyou wrote:
I've recently installed two eighty gallon water storage tanks to my
well which not only takes a load off the 220 volt electric motor at the
pump but also gives me a better water reservior for power outages.
My question is, how important is it to add a pneumatic fitting at the
top of the tanks and to pressurize the water? What's the purpose if the
pump at the well is already creating fifty pounds of water pressure?

The system runs on the air bubble that is in the tank. It is a spring.
Pump compresses it and then the air pushes the water out when you draw
some. Without an air bubble, you would get no water at all out unless
the tank was above the point of draw or the pump ran every time you
opened a faucet.

Pump running every time a faucet is opened is a big clue that the air
bubble needs attention.

Proper pressurization of the tank is 2 psi below the pump cut-in
setting. That optimizes the pump run time, i.e., longest run between
start/stop cycles. Method is to totally drain the tank(s) then add
air. If the tanks were just recently installed they should be bladder
types and will already have an air valve on the top.

Your "take a load off the 220" is nebulous. It will draw the same
amount of current to pump 50 gallon water whether it does it all at
once or in several cycles. It will save some, however, as the pump
starts draw more current until to speed but I doubt if you will see
much of a change in your electrical bill. It is a good plan though as
it is the start portion of the pump action that causes the most wear,
or so I've been told.

Harry K