What Brand Pressure Tanks are Recommended?

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Doozy8

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I was on the verge of buying a new pressure tank at one of the big box stores, but read some reviews and it seems a bunch of people had to replace the tank within the first 2 years. I am not looking for that. Can someone recommend a good brand for a pressure tank? Someone tried selling me an Amtrol WX203 or WX250, but without doing any research I held off. I am hoping to get this completed tomorrow.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you
 

Masterpumpman

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Amtrols Well-X-Trol tanks are my favorite. However I recommend that you look into purchasing a Pside-Kick http://www.cyclestopvalves.com/products.html. It comes with a small Well-X-Trol tank (all that is needed) a constant pressure valve and all components needed to keep your pump from cycling and give you constant pressure while taking a shower. NOTE: The big box stores don't usually handle them but you can call Cycle Stop Valves at 800-652-0207 and they will give you a supplier near you.
 

Texas Wellman

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The Well X Trol and Flexcon have the best reputations in the industry. I have used the wellmate on several occassions but several of my well friends dislike them (they say they always find them flat).
 

Doozy8

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Thanks all. I was sort of in a pinch, since this happened over the weekend. I dismissed getting it at HD or Lowes due to the brand tanks they carry and the reviews I read on them. I ended up with an Amtrol Champion 44gal. One place wanted over $600 for it, but another plumbing supply house by me had the same exact model for $358. I am in the process of installing it now. Just draining the old tank since it was too heavy for me to move on my own, turn it on it's side and remove the pipe to re-use.
 

Doozy8

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Installed the new tank last night. I had to drain the old tank into the sump pit since it was way too heavy for me to move out and pick up by myself with the water in it. Once that was done, I was able to lay it on it's side, remove the T pipe, cleaned the threads, taped it up and put it into the new tank then connected the pipes and tested the pressure switch and we have water!!! I never did this before, it was my first time and glad I tried to tackle it on my own. Thanks to everyone for their help and advice and for all the previous threads on pressure tanks.
 

Yi Ma

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I think Amtrol is a good brand. On the other hand, Waterworker is cheaper.

By the way, does anyone know why some Amtrol-Well-X-Trol have a composite base? These seem to cost a bit more than tanks without a composite base. What is the difference?
 

Valveman

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I think Amtrol is a good brand. On the other hand, Waterworker is cheaper.

By the way, does anyone know why some Amtrol-Well-X-Trol have a composite base? These seem to cost a bit more than tanks without a composite base. What is the difference?

Waterworker is made by Amtrol.
 

Reach4

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By the way, does anyone know why some Amtrol-Well-X-Trol have a composite base? These seem to cost a bit more than tanks without a composite base. What is the difference?
Composite base does not rust. However the January 2015 list price book show the list price the same for the regular painted steel base and the "Durabase(r)" composite stand. It may have been a premium initially so that people would not complain that they had cheapened the product by switching to plastic? Just speculation.

I am thinking that in addition to Well-X-trol tanks, the Flexcon Flex-lite tanks look interesting. They both use a diaphragm, and the Flex-lite has an epoxy-fiberglass outer shell. That would be my choice if I were in a more rust/corrosion-prone environment. My blue painted steel Flexcon Challenger PC144R has about 13 years on it so far, and I have not noticed rust on it. Nor have I noticed pressure loss.
 

Texas Wellman

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After suffering multiple failures of WellMate I no longer use them (my well friends were right). I either use normal galv. tanks or amtrol. The flexcon stuff is good too.
 

PumpMd

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On the replaceable air cells with the quick disconnects, this is what could be happening to them. I think it's from the people making the air cells, made a mistake on the lenth of the air cells because they blow up in the same place as the picture shows every time. I fixed the problem by putting a 4in longer but same diameter air cell back in from a different model. I had to find the problem because I had a bunch of these buried.
 

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Craigpump

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Amtrol WX series or an FLS series FlexLite.

Want a Water Worker or WP series, Challenger....? Call someone else.
 

Ballvalve

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Amtrol WX series or an FLS series FlexLite.

Want a Water Worker or WP series, Challenger....? Call someone else.

Again, waterworker is made by amtrol, and seems to hold up. Lesser warranty, Amazonia sold - same factory. Gaming us - and trying not to piss off the well guys. Souless corporate America of this era
 

Craigpump

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Water Worker & the WP series are indeed made by Amtrol, but they fail at a much higher rates than the WX series.
 

Valveman

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Some are better than others. But any diaphragm style tank will outlast any bag or bladder style tank. The diaphragm doesn't touch the sides of the tank as it moves up and down for each pump cycle, and it will last much longer than a bag style tank where the bag does rub on the sides.

Still bags or diaphragms will break from bending back and forth from pump cycling, just like bending a wire back and forth until it breaks. So reducing or eliminating most of the pump cycles will make any tank last longer.
 

PumpMd

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I will take the Wellmate & the ProSource apart later on today when I have 30minutes to spare. The ProSource I know for sure will have a hole in the bottom like my picture above. I have never taking a quick disconnect Wellmate apart yet, it will be interesting.
 

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PumpMd

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1st: Pro-Source composite quick disconnect.
Shows to be the same spot as usual, to short of an air cell for this tank.
 

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Reach4

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That Pro-Source PSC with the top-access replaceable bladder, presuming the bladder is long enough, looks like it would be interesting for a buried application.

When you bury a tank, how far down do you think it should go? Frost line?
 

PumpMd

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I go 18 to 24inches here in our area, with a valve cover box on top of the tank, this allows quick access for putting the Precharge back in the tank & removing the old air cell in about 15minutes.
 

Reach4

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I wonder if you could get some valve cover boxes filled with closed cell foam to guard against freezing or other cold concern. I understand that the air is mostly in the top of the tank and water in the bottom, but keeping the bladder at a higher temperature might make it more compliant for flexing.

That foam is very expensive, so maybe that would not be practical.
 
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