CaptainPackers
Member
I recently replaced my old bladder-less galvanized well pressure tank with a new one. I couldn't add air to it any more. No air would go though the fitting, and it looked so rusty that I wasn't about to even try to replace the fitting. One day I came in from outside and the pump was running continuously. After letting the pump cool down, I bled the tank and pumped some water back in, just to verify the pump was still working. It seemed to be OK, so I decided it was time to replace the tank.
I'm almost certain the gauge on the old tank ranged from about 35 (or 40) to 55 for the cut in and off pressures. But when I returned the pump to service after installing the new tank, it wouldn't generate more than 40 psi.
I don't know if my old gauge was bad and reading high, or the pump seals were damaged the day I found it running continuously. I can't find any information about my old pump. It's an old Tait pump and all I have is the model number, which I can't look up. I've read that some of the older pumps ran with 20/40 switches, so I'm wondering if maybe my pump is fine and my old gauge was bad.
I'm thinking about just putting it in service and adjusting the cutoff to 40 psi and just seeing how it goes, if the water pressure in the house seems normal, I'm done. If it seems like a trickle, then maybe I need a new pump too.
If I have to replace the pump, I'd like to match the old one in size. Does anyone know anything about the Tait model 5CN, B.M. (build model? ) W87338L? [I looked on the other side of the motor housing later and found a tag that indicates it is 1/2 HP]
If not, any general recommendations? Mostly it's just me and my wife. We use about 400 gal per week. We have two additional house guests for about another month and are using about twice the volume. But this is a backup system, so I don't want to oversize the pump. I also need to power it with a modest generator (4000 W) during power outages.
I'm thinking about a Wayne 1/2 or 3/4 HP pump.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
P.S. my pressure tank has a 36 gal capacity.
Thanks.
I'm almost certain the gauge on the old tank ranged from about 35 (or 40) to 55 for the cut in and off pressures. But when I returned the pump to service after installing the new tank, it wouldn't generate more than 40 psi.
I don't know if my old gauge was bad and reading high, or the pump seals were damaged the day I found it running continuously. I can't find any information about my old pump. It's an old Tait pump and all I have is the model number, which I can't look up. I've read that some of the older pumps ran with 20/40 switches, so I'm wondering if maybe my pump is fine and my old gauge was bad.
I'm thinking about just putting it in service and adjusting the cutoff to 40 psi and just seeing how it goes, if the water pressure in the house seems normal, I'm done. If it seems like a trickle, then maybe I need a new pump too.
If I have to replace the pump, I'd like to match the old one in size. Does anyone know anything about the Tait model 5CN, B.M. (build model? ) W87338L? [I looked on the other side of the motor housing later and found a tag that indicates it is 1/2 HP]
If not, any general recommendations? Mostly it's just me and my wife. We use about 400 gal per week. We have two additional house guests for about another month and are using about twice the volume. But this is a backup system, so I don't want to oversize the pump. I also need to power it with a modest generator (4000 W) during power outages.
I'm thinking about a Wayne 1/2 or 3/4 HP pump.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
P.S. my pressure tank has a 36 gal capacity.
Thanks.
Last edited: