Well Pressure Tank Condensation

[101mph]

I've been trying to prevent my well tank from getting condensation on it (which eventually leads to the water getting on the basement floor).

The first picture is the tank and the red lines showing where the condensation occurs (only on the bottom 10" or so of the tank).

The second is how I insulated the tank. I thought that this would take care of it but I'm still getting moisture underneath the insulation and I'm sure it'll eventually get on the floor again.

The humidity in the house is about 55% at 70* F now (this usually doesn't happen in the winter).

Any suggestions on how I can solve this issue?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just like a can of soda out of the fridge, it's going to sweat. The problem is the well water is colder than the room temp. Once it warms, it'll stop.

If you're not seeing it as much in the Winter, it's a dryer season and the water is evaporating quicker than during the humid months of Summer.

 

[Firstram]

Short of spray foaming the tank that's a tough one. Try building an airtight blue foam dog house type cover that is sealed to the floor.

Hang one of these in there
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DampRid...ging-Moisture-Absorber-3-Pack-FG83K/100390502

 

[roadrunner255]

Portable dehumidifer?

I had one in my previous house, also kept the odors down.

https://www.costco.com/dehumidifiers.html

Cheers.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[NUTTSGT]

You could always place it in a drip pan with a drain hose to the sump pump pit since it's right beside it.

 

[rlitman]

Short of spray foaming the tank that's a tough one...

Yep. First, get rid of that fiberglass. It will hold the moisture and grow mold.

If it were me, I'd buy a sheet of urethane foam, cut parallel slices up it so it can be bent around a circle, and use a can of Great Stuff to fill in the V's as you make a foam barrel that covers the tank. The important thing is you need to seal any space between the foam and the tank! You could caulk the top and bottom I suppose or just use more foam.

 

[101mph]

You could always place it in a drip pan with a drain hose to the sump pump pit since it's right beside it.

I'd like to try this, but I'm not sure if I can get anything under the base of the tank. It's all plumbed with copper pipe and lifting it is not possible without un-soldering everything.

 

[101mph]

Yep. First, get rid of that fiberglass. It will hold the moisture and grow mold.

If it were me, I'd buy a sheet of urethane foam, cut parallel slices up it so it can be bent around a circle, and use a can of Great Stuff to fill in the V's as you make a foam barrel that covers the tank. The important thing is you need to seal any space between the foam and the tank! You could caulk the top and bottom I suppose or just use more foam.

Another good suggestion. Sounds like a bigger job but may be the only way to solve it. It's a tight area with lot's of pipe to go around and I'm not sure I can get a good enough seal around the tank.

 

[Jeepster04]

Wonder if you wrapped plastic around the insulation to act as a vapor barrier if that would stop the warm moist air from getting to the cool tank?? Im a little surprise the insulation didnt stop the condensation.

 

[SGKent]

can you use a circulating pump to run in a little warm treated water (so bacteria doesn't form)? That or it has to be insulated in a way that warm humid air cannot get to it.

 

[58Yeoman]

I have a dehumidifier running in the same room. Problem solved.

 

[mike93lx]

How much water is condensing? Hard to imagine it being enough to cause a real problem

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd like to try this, but I'm not sure if I can get anything under the base of the tank. It's all plumbed with copper pipe and lifting it is not possible without un-soldering everything.

You could cut the copper and solder in an union. You'll probably have to do it at some point.

 

[fitter30]

Use foil and bubble wrap they make water heater insulation kits that might be cheaper to purchase

 

[101mph]

I have a dehumidifier running in the same room. Problem solved.

It's not a lot of water, but it does make a little puddle on the floor which will discolor the cement because of the iron in the water.

It's currently open to the entire basement. One day I may close off that area and make it a utility room. I may go with a dehumidifier then.

Thanks guys.

 

[rlitman]

... it does make a little puddle on the floor which will discolor the cement because of the iron in the water...

No. Condensate water is effectively distilled. It will not contain any minerals.

 

[mike93lx]

No. Condensate water is effectively distilled. It will not contain any minerals.

This.

Where would the iron come from? If you have iron in your water and that's getting on the floor, you have a leak not a condensation problem.

 

[SGKent]

This.

Where would the iron come from? If you have iron in your water and that's getting on the floor, you have a leak not a condensation problem.

Is the tank shell steel? Are there any iron pipes attached it that are sweating? Is there iron in the concrete (in the sand) that is leaching out? Is there bacteria staining the concrete. These can all be reasons for the concrete stain.

 

[Milton Shaw]

You need to insulate with a vapor barrier on the outside. You have to keep air from getting to the cold tank.

 

[Showkey]

Lowering the humidity level in the room where the tank is located.
I suspect the actual humidity is higher than 55%.

If the humidity level is say 46% .........the tank will likely stop sweating.

 

[electroman187]

Good advice from everyone. Get yourself a cheap hygrometer so that you can monitor your basement humidity level. Keep the humidity level below 50% and you'll see a drastic reduction of condensation.

https://smile.amazon.com/ThermoPro-TP50-Digital-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B01H1R0K68/ref=pd_bxgy_201_img_2/144-4444718-7771308?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01H1R0K68&pd_rd_r=ff1417fc-8b07-456f-ab43-ac3e58e904fc&pd_rd_w=1db6z&pd_rd_wg=OuWtZ&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=48W40FF6DKRMRTKBSAV7&psc=1&refRID=48W40FF6DKRMRTKBSAV7

 

[Boilerhouse]

My pressure tank and nearby piping starting sweating so much this spring, my wife was convinced there was a leak. I turned on the basement dehumidifier, and all was good.

 

[Showkey]

Example:
Pressure tank in the basement
Actual measured values

Basement temperature 67*
Basement relative humidity 48%

Water pipe and water temperature 53*
Pressure tank temperature. 59*. Varies on the amount of water use

Under these conditions tank and pipes do not sweat.


Radon vent pipe in garage with constant air flow, pipe temperature in 58-60*.
Pipe goes through the garage on warm humid day the pipe sweats enough to leave a puddle on the floor.

Same garage floor is now at 70*. In spring that floor is about 55*. Warm humid days in early summer. Floor sweat and water will puddle.

Both of theses examples.........condensation occurs and the only way to stop it is change the temperature of the objects or the humid the object exposed to. Not easy when open door or large concrete surface.

 

[thesilverone]

get a dehumidifier. My tank and resin tanks will sweat. I set the dehumidifier to 60% and the sweating stopped.

 

[Mattlt]

Try blowing a small fan on it to see if that solves the problem.

Build a box around it with (2) 40-watt incandescent bulbs inside burning constantly. Not LED, they need to produce heat. Use two bulbs in case one burns out.

The above are going to be cheaper to run than a dehumidifier.

 

[glentre]

I am interested in following this thread because I have a similar but worse problem. My 6 ft high x 2 ft wide fiberglass well tank is located in the house garage. Whenever the overhead door is opened in the summer, the humid air condenses on the tank and drips enough water that it runs under my stuff and all the way out the door. Plus, the tank is constantly covered with mold.

I try to control the problem by keeping the door shut but even moving cars in and out gives it a blast of moist air which immediately condenses on it. And, some days I need the door opened while working. A dehumidifier would not be effective in that environment.

Has anyone actually used spray foam on their tank and if so, how thick did you apply it and how did you manage to keep it smooth and not looking like the moon surface? Any other ideas?

Glen

 

[mike93lx]

I am interested in following this thread because I have a similar but worse problem. My 6 ft high x 2 ft wide fiberglass well tank is located in the house garage. Whenever the overhead door is opened in the summer, the humid air condenses on the tank and drips enough water that it runs under my stuff and all the way out the door. Plus, the tank is constantly covered with mold.

I try to control the problem by keeping the door shut but even moving cars in and out gives it a blast of moist air which immediately condenses on it. And, some days I need the door opened while working. A dehumidifier would not be effective in that environment.

Has anyone actually used spray foam on their tank and if so, how thick did you apply it and how did you manage to keep it smooth and not looking like the moon surface? Any other ideas?

Glen

I run a dehumidifier in my garage that is actively parked in. Works great.

Spray foam will be messy. You can cover the tank then shave and carve the foam to make it look better. If appearance matters, cover it up.

Maybe build an enclosure around the tank and air seal it. Place a pan to catch any condensation and direct it when you want it to go

 

[CraigStu]

I would try the fan idea first as it is easiest and cheapest. Lots of times simple air movement will solve the problem. Second I'd try the light bulb idea. I would buy a sheet of foam insulation to build a simple 4 sided box around as much as possible w/ all the copper lines in the way. No need to seal it perfectly, in fact I'd cut a few small triangles out at the bottom edge. Put it around the tank, drop the two light bulbs down inside and let the heat create an upward draft from the triangle inlets and out the top.

 

[JRC3]

Try blowing a small fan on it to see if that solves the problem.

This was going to be my suggestion. A tabletop fan would be the least expensive and easiest.


A dehumidifier would be the best solution. Not only would it keep the whole basement drier, but it would make the whole house more comfortable. You even have the sump well right there to drain it to.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Wonder if you wrapped plastic around the insulation to act as a vapor barrier if that would stop the warm moist air from getting to the cool tank?? Im a little surprise the insulation didnt stop the condensation.

Insulation delays air movement, it doesn’t stop it. That’s what the vapor barrier is for. In order to stop the condensation he needs to prevent the moist air from reaching the tank, through some type of vapor barrier system that completely seals the tank inside it

 

[koditten]

I'm confused why only the bottom 1/4 sweats. I know there is a bladder in the tank, but when the pump shuts off, the tank should be mostly full of water with only a small head space for the compressed bladder.

Are you sure you are not short cycling the pump? With the pump turning on and off rapidly you are gonna see some bigger electric bills.

With that said, is there a time of day when there is little water use? The water in the tank should warm up to room temp fairly quick.

 

[JRC3]

I'm confused why only the bottom 1/4 sweats. I know there is a bladder in the tank, but when the pump shuts off, the tank should be mostly full of water with only a small head space for the compressed bladder.

A pressure tank is mostly air. My 44G only yields 12 gallons. Not sure of the physics or whatever, but to compress that much air would require way more pressure than the pump is stopping at 60psi.

Pressure tanks confuse people. First they rate them at total capacity instead of drawdown capacity. Then the word "pressure" is there to make people think they make pressure. Instead the pressure is for the bladder to give it drawdown between cycles. Instead they should call it a "pump cycle tank" or something like that.