Bad well pressure tank?

[Harold Veeder]

My deep water well pump seems to be working OK. How ever the pump is short cycling. It seems most times it is due to a bad bladder in the pressure tank. I tapped the tank and hear a hollow sound on the upper third of the tank. The schrader valve is totally corroded and I cannot check the air pressure.. What other tests can I run before I replace the tank? I was thinking of installing an "emergency tire valve" so that I would be able to check the pressure.

 

[Valveman]

If the Schrader on the bladder tank is bad, then the tank is bad. You cannot add another Schrader anywhere else that would put air in the correct chamber. A bad tank bladder is just a sign your pump is cycling on and off too much, which will also destroy the pump and other things in the system besides just the tank bladder.

 

[RS]

If you have a hose bib near the pressure tank you could add some air there to temporarily solve your short-cycling problem. Drain the system down and put in about 50 pounds, then start the pump and run a hose outside. There may be some surplus air to purge out, and some silt or dirt, and cycling the system a few times should flush this out.