Drewmcg
New Member
Mystery solved....
Given the fact that the system was holding pressure with no faucets open (and no evidence of a second check valve), I decided to re-examine my conclusion that the bladder on this Flotec-sourced Sears captive air tank was intact.
I turned off the pump and ran a garden hose from the drain bib to the sump. After the water stopped flowing, I used a bolt to release the schrader valve for a few minutes. I went and drank a coffee (to allow any dripping from the drain bib to occur complete). I came back, released some more air (no water) from the schrader valve, and then carefully rocked the tank. A lot water inside still!
I tried to lift the end not anchored to fixed plumbing (connected to well casing by somewhat flexible tubing)--too heavy (I'm a big guy, and it was still too heavy). I concluded that the thing is nearly half full of water based on the swishing sounds. This explains the reduced drawdown: .26 X 16 gals (little less than one-half of the 36 gallon total volume of the tank) = 4.1 gal drawdown.
I spoke with the landlord a short while ago, who will replace the tank (probably with a Amtrol Well-X 44 gal), rather than pay a plumber to remove the tank, struggle with the rusted screws and retainer on the bottom, clean out (and sanitize) the old tank, and replace the bladder ($60 from Sears; $99 + shipping from Flotec!). As valveman suggests, this is a good investment over cheap captive air tank, which just seems like trouble waiting to happen.
Vavleman: I've followed your posts with interest, and read your website thoroughly, and respect your expertise, your views, and how you express them. That said, since I don't hardly ever run a hose, do not have a heat pump, and don't irrigate, I did not see the point of recommending a CSV + small tank to the landlord. I pay for the electricity (likely more in my application with a CSV) but not for the pump replacement (the 10 gpm pump should last for long time, anyway, with a low-demand, two-person, 1.5 bath household with no dishwasher such as mine). I think your rebuttal of the Joe Lane article (which I finally found, and read) pretty much admits this. I suppose if I had to pay for pump replacements I might feel differently, though! Cheers.
Given the fact that the system was holding pressure with no faucets open (and no evidence of a second check valve), I decided to re-examine my conclusion that the bladder on this Flotec-sourced Sears captive air tank was intact.
I turned off the pump and ran a garden hose from the drain bib to the sump. After the water stopped flowing, I used a bolt to release the schrader valve for a few minutes. I went and drank a coffee (to allow any dripping from the drain bib to occur complete). I came back, released some more air (no water) from the schrader valve, and then carefully rocked the tank. A lot water inside still!
I tried to lift the end not anchored to fixed plumbing (connected to well casing by somewhat flexible tubing)--too heavy (I'm a big guy, and it was still too heavy). I concluded that the thing is nearly half full of water based on the swishing sounds. This explains the reduced drawdown: .26 X 16 gals (little less than one-half of the 36 gallon total volume of the tank) = 4.1 gal drawdown.
I spoke with the landlord a short while ago, who will replace the tank (probably with a Amtrol Well-X 44 gal), rather than pay a plumber to remove the tank, struggle with the rusted screws and retainer on the bottom, clean out (and sanitize) the old tank, and replace the bladder ($60 from Sears; $99 + shipping from Flotec!). As valveman suggests, this is a good investment over cheap captive air tank, which just seems like trouble waiting to happen.
Vavleman: I've followed your posts with interest, and read your website thoroughly, and respect your expertise, your views, and how you express them. That said, since I don't hardly ever run a hose, do not have a heat pump, and don't irrigate, I did not see the point of recommending a CSV + small tank to the landlord. I pay for the electricity (likely more in my application with a CSV) but not for the pump replacement (the 10 gpm pump should last for long time, anyway, with a low-demand, two-person, 1.5 bath household with no dishwasher such as mine). I think your rebuttal of the Joe Lane article (which I finally found, and read) pretty much admits this. I suppose if I had to pay for pump replacements I might feel differently, though! Cheers.
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