Home well water system.

[sailchef]

First I would like to say hello again to everyone out there. I’ve been off the site for quite a while. I’m still driving the 911, but not as much or as hard as I used to. These days it’s more my going to work on Sunday vehicle. Every time still feels like the first time.

Having said that, I have an issue in my home and I knew that the Brain Trust here at Pelican would be the place to go to get answers.

I have a well system for water to my house. It’s in my yard, I’m the only one on it and I’m close to the ocean so there is no lack of water in the ground. The well pump brings the water up out of the ground and is pumped into a pressure tank, no filters, softeners or anything like that. It’s pretty straight forward. The pressure tank has an air bladder.

Lately when I take a shower or turn on the faucet it spits and sputters air for a while in both the hot and cold lines. I’ve run the water several times this past month with all faucets open for 5 minutes or so to evacuate the air but the symptoms return if I haven’t run the water for a while.

I’m thinking this is probably due to a faulty bladder in the pressure tank. I replaced the tank a little less than 10 years ago with one that came off the shelf at Lowes .

What do you guys think? Am I on the right track or am I missing something here. I don’t want to have to crawl under the house and replace the tank if that is not the culprit. Any suggestions for replacements other than the typical Lowes/Home depot selections would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance. A token photo of the 911 follows.

[cabmandone]

Easy way to check your bladder tank is to know what your pump cut in pressure is, turn off the pump, drain the tank, check the air in the bladder. Air pressure should be 2 lbs below your cut in pressure. Could very well be you have a failing tank bladder as you suspect.

BTW, if your tank air pressure checks out, you could have a bad check valve allowing some water to drain back to the well. Possibly a cracked line as well. I'd start with your tank and go forward from there.

[rfuerst911sc]

Great advice by Cab , in regards to the bladder tank . There must be a legitimate plumbing store near you or a decent well supply company . That is where I would look for a replacement tank IF you determine the tank is bad .

[Hard-Deck]

Cabmando has the probable right advice. I have had wells my entire life. If you are using a bladder tank, it is probably crusty and in need of replacement.

[Bugsinrugs]

When the bladder fails it usually fills with water. Check the valve at the top of the tank. If water comes out it’s bad.

[Rusty Heap]

30 years on wells, simple set-up like yours.


As others have said.

Don't over think this.

All a pressure tank is , is a waterbed mattress inflated with air via the air stem . in a vessel of water in the tank.


Test - normal use the system, then kill power to the well pump.

wait a minute, then turn on a faucet.

If bladder in tank has leaked/popped/failed, you'll have no water pressure or flow.

I healthy bladder will slowly bleed down flow but fill a 5 gallon bucket till the tank reaches zero psi.


I bump up my pressure switch to a 50 psi / 70 psi cut-off. A standard is 40 / 60.


ALSO Check, the check valve.........if that isn't holding "household pressure" in the water lines without the pump on,, then yes somehow, your house faucets are getting air trapped that needs to be burped.

[Erakad]

When my tank failed there was a noticeable surging when taps were open, replaced with a larger tank and higher pressure valve...no problems. Good luck.

[mepstein]

A blown bladder makes the pump run all the time since there is no pressure reserve. It makes it pretty easy to figure out.

[plumb4u2]

Your check valve on the pump itself is bad, pump needs to be pulled, a broken bladder will never cause air in the system. When a bladder goes bad the air leaks out very slowly

[unclebilly]

I agree with the last post. It sounds like your check valve in your pump is bad or you have a pump issue or a supply issue.

How deep is your well? Can you see the fluid top? You can find fluid top by lowering a fishing float down into your well on a fishing line. When the line gets slack, you have fluid top.

You could also have a leak in the water line between the well and your house.

I would do a pressure test first to see if you are losing pressure in the system. This requires a pressure gauge and a valve to shut off pressure between the p-tank and the house.

If you have a leak, look to the tank first. When my p-tank failed, it just developed a small water leak.

Also check that your well pump is giving at least 50 psi.

I pulled my pump needlessly and changed it due to a bad control box a few years ago. I doubt this is your problem but rule it out before you pull your pump (not after like I did).

[tubwreck]

If your pump is a suction pump (jet pump) inside the house, as may be the case for a shallow well, then you may have a leak in the suction line and/or a failure in the foot valve at the intake.

(In general, every part of the system between the check valve on the pump and the faucet in your house is under pressure. It is difficult for air to enter a pressurized water system, so look at the unpressurized side.)

[red-beard]

If there is air, look for a leak in the suction side.

[plumb4u2]

It is impossible to have air build up in a jet pump system guys. OP has a submersible pump

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

It is impossible to have air build up in a jet pump system guys. OP has a submersible pump

Yep. Jet pump would just lose suction and you'd have to prime the system to get water again.