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Multiple pressure tanks ???

J

jCarroll

Well-known Member
Location
mid-Ohio
We purchased this property a month ago. 25gpm well, with a 12
gpm submersible pump. Pressure tank is a 20 gallon model
H20.
Pump fills from lo to hi pressure in 15 seconds, pumping 3
gallons. Tank has 28 psi above bladder - right on spec.

Conclusion is that it has an undersized tank for the pump/well
capacity.

Rather than swapping out the H20 tank for a larger one (to
increase pump run time), can I install a second tank (larger than
the H20) and plumb them in parallel so that both are operating
when water is being used. I have the space for two tanks.
 
Seems like it would work but that is a bad set up right now. Has to be hard on that well pump cycling that many times. Need to get a run time in excess of two minutes for sure and longer would be better.
 
Sounds like there is something wrong.
I always set the air pressure in the tank at the cut in pressure of the pump control.
The bladder has to be completely void of water as I recall.
 
A ruptured bladder could be the issue. with water on both sides, the remaining air volume is too small to allow the cycle time needed. If you drain the tank, and use a carpenters stud finder on the side of it if fibergless, you can tell if there is water above the diaphram. (or lift it up to see how much it weighs or sloshes. putting an additional tank on it is OK, but the original is not working correctly, thus taking up space that a new tank would fix. Jim
 
I actually just did this yesterday. I have a 20 gallon tank that has 5.8 gallon drawdown(50-30 psi) The pump would run about 20-25 seconds. I added a 44 gallon tank with 13.6 gallon drawdown. It now runs for around 1 minute-20 seconds with both tanks. I plumbed it so the main waterline had it's pressure switch and then tee'd to either tank and then another tee for the water to the house. Something you could do that has an immediate affect would be dropping the pressure from 40-60 to 30-50 to increase the drawdown or even make the range 30-60 to increase the drawdown more. (That may put more strain on the bladder though.)
 
Did you drain off all the water pressure and wait some time before you checked the air pressure. Last year we had a leaking bladder but it took some time for it to leak down. It was still leaking out when I wheeled it in the plumbing shop for my warranty replacement!
 
Sounds like you may have problems with your tank because a 20 gallon tank should be in the 5 gallon drawdown range.

But yes you can have two tanks in parallel.

A good rule of thumb is one to one in gallons.
Your 12 gpm pump should have 12 gallons of drawdown to allow the pump to cool between cycles.
Depending on your pressure settings this means you need a bladder tank in the 35 to 50 gallon range or a equivalent tank size (non bladder tank) in the 80 to 120 gallon range.
 
Yes you can install a 2nd tank I know because I have used a set up like that for 20 plus years and it works just fine. When it was first set up it was used so one tank feed my dads garden irrigation and the other tank my house but now it just feeds the house and the water tank for the animals
 
If the bladder tank really isn"t ruptured and water logged. Try dialing the smaller screw/spring down to one turn from tight for more differential pressure. The best solution is a Franklin Mono-Drive which varies pump rpm to match demand. The pump shuts off when demand drops very low or nothing.
 
You can put as many tanks as you want as long as they are hooked in parallel and not series. Here at the farm I have three tanks on the main well. One at the house and one each at the barns. This way the water is closer to where it is used. The flow is much better. It also lets the pump run for a few minutes to pump them all back up. Since I added the two extra tanks the well pumps last twice as long. I also have mine set a 40-60 on pressure. I would not set it down to 30-50 like some one stated below. Here if you do that the water flow is just terrible.
 
We keep the water pressure down so the kids waste less hot water in the shower. Although the pressure is dialed Up to 35-65 for the summer when irrigating .
 
I agree with jm. The life of a pump is determined by how often it starts. The length of time it runs is not that important if its not overloaded.
 
With respect, I think they have only one input output fitting, so they will all be parallel no matter what. Jim
 
On the bladder type you are correct but the old type can be hooked up in series and then they don't work right. Don't ask me how I know that. LOL.
 
(quoted from post at 23:19:38 06/11/12) On the bladder type you are correct but the old type can be hooked up in series and then they don't work right. Don't ask me how I know that. LOL.
Click to expand...
I still dont get what u mean in series???Did u maybe have a jet pump..As i understand it ..If u have a submersible pump u must have a bladder or else it will watter log..Jet pumps have a deal on them to keep air in a the tank,,, And good day every body..We are off to the sale barn.. :roll: :lol:
 
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