How to Replace a Water Well Pressure Tank

If you live in an area that is not supplied with a mains water system, then you will probably be using a water well pressure system. These water wells use a pump which is quite powerful, and this requires a pressure tank to operate it, as there is a loss of compressed air beneath the ground. If you have a water well pressure tank, and it needs to be replaced, you can either have it done by a plumber, at some cost to yourself, or you can attempt to do it on your own. If you feel that you have the right home improvement skills to go ahead with this task, then following the steps can help you to get started.

Step 1 - Turning off the Supply

Before you begin to do anything else, you should ensure that your water and mains supplies are turned off at the wall. It's best to remove the circuit breaker for the pump completely, as this prevents any unfortunate surges. You will now need to locate your pump and pressure tank. These can sometimes be found in the basement, or in a cupboard under the stairs. Once located, you should drain the system of water. This can be done using a hose and an old bucket, and can take between 5 and 20 minutes, depending upon how much water is in the system.

Step 2 - Removing the Old Tank

Take off the cap covering the pressure switch, and remove the wires which are connecting the supply lines. Once the pressure switch is disconnected, use your wrench to loosen the pipes which connect the pressure tank to the well pump. You may need to disconnect the pipes that connect these two things together while holding them upright, so that the tank doesn't tip over. Once you have disconnected the switches, pipes and everything else, the tank should be able to be removed with a twisting-walking motion, such as you might use to get a fridge into the right position. Once the tank is free of its surroundings, you can lay it down and remove all of the piping, including pressure gauges and the pressure switch.

Step 3 - Fit the New Tank

You can reconnect the pressure switch and gauge to the new tank using a piece of Teflon tape. Make sure to place the tape around in the same direction as the screw turn, so that it won't be peeled off while re-attaching. You can install new pieces if you wish, but if they are working well, then there is no real reason to alter them. Put the new tank into the area of the old tank, and join the fittings back together, so that the tank is once more connected to the water pump. Reconnect the wires at the pressure switch. Once the pipes are sealed back together, and the switch is reattached, then you can turn on the mains again, and check that the pump is working.