Pressure Tank Replacement - Is this the correct setup?

Hey all,

We are on a well and recently noticed a drop in water pressure. We have a 40 / 60 switch & tank setup. I eventually found a leak at the pressure tank T-fitting. I decided to replace the entire T and tank since the old fitting was so rusted out and I wanted to get a larger pressure tank in general. I was able to replace everything: new tank, new T-fitting - I did keep the same gauge and switch (but I plan on replacing the gauge in the near future). I plumbed it in exactly how the old one was plumbed in:



Additionally, the old T-fitting didn't have a spigot valve nor the pressure relief valve which I added. Since I've bought the house, I've found a lot of questionable things with plumbing, electric, etc. One thing I'm wondering on this setup is that the plumbing terminates at the T. I'm not sure if this is okay or not.

Here is a visual of what I mean, the first diagram is how I understand the tank should be plumbed in:



This is how mine is plumbed in:


Although this setup seems to work fine, I'm wondering if that's how it should/can be or not...

I'm not sure if I didn't notice before but I feel like I can tell in the shower when the water pressure is lower and then the well kicks on - is that normal? In other words, I can feel when it's at 40psi and when it kicks up to 60psi due to shower pressure. I'm uncertain if I'm noticing that now because I just replaced everything and am really trying to notice it or what.

Some other things to note is I do have a 3-stage whole house water filter installed with a meter (so I know when to replace my filters) and a check valve (so the meter doesn't get backflow readings).

The only other thing of note is we had our well pump replaced about 4 years ago. I think part of the problem with that is it wasn't on it's own dedicated breaker (it was sharing with another large appliance - A/C I think). Also, I didn't learn until then to shut the well pump off to turn the water off, I was using the whole house valve which came before the pressure switch; so I'm sure the switch was running the pump....Anyways, the only reason I bring that up is that we had similar pressure problems when we replaced the pump, however, with that it was much much lower pressure feeling than it is now. Now it feels like we have a good pressure but I'm noticing the 40 / 60 difference.

Any help / suggestions are greatly appreciated. I know I'll also have some follow-up questions. Thanks!

 

Here is a close-up of the pressure tank T-fitting:

 

The pressure tank and switch at my vacation home are arranged the same as yours except that the water to the house is not between them. (Elbow at the tank instead of a tee.) The water to the house is from a tee between the pressure switch and the pump feed. It has worked fine for 47 years.

I do notice a very slight change in pressure/flow in the shower when the pump kicks on. I think that is a reaction of the anti-scald hot/cold balancing function in the shower valve.

Looking at the second photo again it appears that your house feed in not the same as shown in your diagram. I.e. house feed not between tank and switch. Your setup looks the same as mine.

 

Yes - that's correct. Apologies for the confusion. Water to the fixtures is NOT between the switch and tank. My pump and switch are also branched off from a tee. So the water from the well pump hits the tee; one of the branches goes to the tank & switch where it terminates; the other branch at the tee goes to the home.

Sounds like this may be an okay setup...This is a very basic look at my setup:

 

Yes, that looks the same as mine. As I said 47 years and no problems.

 

Awesome! Appreciate your help and thank you for the peace of mind!

 

Your install looks good.

It's pretty common to feel the water pressure to go from 60-40 psi and back up.
The faster your pump can recover the less you'll feel the difference.

 

Thanks PJ! I always trust your insight so the setup must be okay

Also thank you again John for knowledge!