Diane Barr
farm owner, business owner
I had a water softener system installed (3 mo ago) at my well house. The media fiberglass tank collapsed today when I shut my well power off at the panel, and drained my main line to do some water line work at the house. I contacted the water softener installer, and he's of the belief that the system malfunction lies in my well pump with a faulty check valve. I believe its the vacuum that was created when I shut off the well and drained the line that leads from the system. The pressure gauge on the line immediately below the pressure tank held steady pressure when the well power was off. To me this means my check valve was working fine. What do you think? Important features to know about my system:
Well house and softener system are located 40' of elevation greater than the house, run distance +/- 400'.
Well depth, 120'. New well pump 3 years ago. New pressure tank 4 years ago.
Order of installation of equipment: well pump, pressure tank, pressure gauge, shut valve (brass), media tank/softener equipment housed together in a 4x3 well house (1" PVC), 3/4" PVC main line to house 400' away with drop of +/- 40 feet.
Prior to installation of the softener system, my method of shutting off the water to the house was to turn the pump off at the panel, and then open a water line below the house elevation and drain the system. This is what I did in this occasion, and then said..."ahh, I have a shut off valve now I can use, and I am likely draining out my media tank, and that may not be a good thing". I hiked my way up to the well, opened my pump house door, and found my media tank collapsed, and said...OHHHH SHEESSSHHH!!!!".
What was the cause?
What sort of vacuum release or fix can be installed to prevent such an event in the future? Given the elevation difference in my source water and my point of use, this scenario could happen anytime I loose power and I have a sprinkler going.
Thanks!
Well house and softener system are located 40' of elevation greater than the house, run distance +/- 400'.
Well depth, 120'. New well pump 3 years ago. New pressure tank 4 years ago.
Order of installation of equipment: well pump, pressure tank, pressure gauge, shut valve (brass), media tank/softener equipment housed together in a 4x3 well house (1" PVC), 3/4" PVC main line to house 400' away with drop of +/- 40 feet.
Prior to installation of the softener system, my method of shutting off the water to the house was to turn the pump off at the panel, and then open a water line below the house elevation and drain the system. This is what I did in this occasion, and then said..."ahh, I have a shut off valve now I can use, and I am likely draining out my media tank, and that may not be a good thing". I hiked my way up to the well, opened my pump house door, and found my media tank collapsed, and said...OHHHH SHEESSSHHH!!!!".
What was the cause?
What sort of vacuum release or fix can be installed to prevent such an event in the future? Given the elevation difference in my source water and my point of use, this scenario could happen anytime I loose power and I have a sprinkler going.
Thanks!
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