A well pressure tank is an important part of your well system. First the well pump transfers water from your well and into your home. Then a well pressure tank stores and pressurizes that water for household use. Over time, a pressure tank can experience problems that manifest in your well system. Here are three undeniable signs of a failing well pressure tank.

You can recognize when a water hammer or hydraulic shock occurs by the sudden, loud bang in your water pipes. Water hammer happens when water flow suddenly stops or changes direction. This abrupt change causes water pipes to knock together. You may hear a water hammer when a water appliance accesses water or when you turn a water faucet off somewhere in your home. Frequent water hammers can stress water pipes and weaken old joints. Over time, your pipes may break. Water hammers can occur when a well pressure tank is no longer able to maintain a constant, optimal water pressure in your home. Instead, water flow is more apt to experience fluctuations that result in water hammers.

Over time, you are able to establish a rough average for the electrical cost to run a well pump. Well depth, water pressure, and other factors determine how much energy your well pump uses. A sudden jump in electrical utility charges can mean something is wrong with your well system. There are several reasons why your electrical use may increase dramatically. A bad well pump eats up more energy, as does an undersized well pump that must run continually. However, your well pressure tank is capable of forcing a perfectly fine well pump to run constantly. The check valve on a well pressure tank prevents water from returning to the well. This valve can break or get stuck in one position, upsetting the balance of pressure inside the tank. As a result, the well pump turns on to pump more water into the pressure tank. Repeated cycles of water leaving the tank and the well pump turning on makes the pump run nearly nonstop.

Your well pump is the work horse of your well system because it must deliver water to your home. Most well pumps last 25 years under normal wear and tear, but some conditions shorten the life of a pump dramatically. High levels of well sediment, failure to maintain internal bearings and valves, and higher pump demands are among the most common. If you continue to experience a succession of worn well pumps, your well pressure tank may be to blame. Each time you turn the water on in your home, the well pressure tank sends pressurized water instantly to your tap. A failing tank allows water pressure to drop below a preset threshold that activates the well pump. Next time you need water, your well pump must turn on in order to deliver the water that the pressure tank cannot. In the absence of a properly functioning well pressure tank, your well pump must turn on and off each time you need water. Over time, your well pump wears out more quickly than it should. You can check your well pressure tank and make sure the air pressure is at the right psi. Additionally, you can make sure your tank is not waterlogged, or too full of water, to function. However, it's best to let a professional tackle the complexities of well water tank air pressure and water levels. Contact Brown & Cox if you suspect your well water tank shows any of these signs of failure. We can inspect all components of your well system and make the necessary repairs.