Symptoms
Is your pressure tank waterlogged?
A pressure tank needs a cushion of air to work. When that air is gone, the tank is called waterlogged, and the pump starts every time a little water is used.
This is a referral line. When you call, you are connected with an independent local well pump company.
Signs
The pump short cycles. The tank feels heavy or sounds full when tapped up high. Pressure swings quickly. Older tanks may also show rust or sweating.
Why tanks lose air
Tanks with a bladder or diaphragm can lose air slowly over time, and a torn bladder lets water fill the whole tank. Older tanks without a bladder can lose air into the water.
Repair or replace
If the tank only lost its air charge, a company may be able to recharge it. A torn bladder usually means a new tank. Ask what they found and why they recommend one or the other. See our comparison of bladder and diaphragm tanks.
Protect the pump
A waterlogged tank makes the pump start far more often. On local wells, where median depths run from 265 ft in Humboldt to over 500 ft in parts of Prescott Valley,[source] that wear lands on the part that is hardest to replace.
Where your tank sits matters
Tanks in a garage are easy to reach. Tanks in a buried vault, a crawlspace or a small well house take more time. Tell the company where yours is and how to get to it. If the area floods or stays damp, mention it, because moisture shortens the life of tanks and fittings.
Questions
Can I add air myself?
Setting the air charge has to match the pressure switch, and the tank must be drained first. Leave it to the pump company.
How long do tanks last?
It varies by tank and water. Ask the company to look at yours.
Is a waterlogged tank dangerous?
Not usually, but it wears the pump.
Related help
Want to talk it through?
Call and get connected with a local well pump company.
Call about your well(928) 655-8940