Well storage tank

[sizem]

A simple answer to your question...yes, it can be advantageous in some situations.
For example, I just finished our retirement house. The well was 100ft deep and 1/2mile from house w/ approx 250 ft of vertical change. It's a lot easier to size a pump and its duty cycle to complete a 200 gal fill into an unpressurized tank. Tank is in waterproof sunken (8 inch) mechanical room w/ auto emergency drain. Water is pressured as demanded downstream of this tank. Works great...house flow is maintained at 60psig. However, the controls in my situation were a little complicated (e.g. turning pump on/off @ 1/2 mile away, setting/controlling 4 control points(custom reed switch level control) in the tank>>> emergency well pump stop, normal well pump stop, normal well pump on, and emergency shut off of house pump if water in unpressured tank is too low. I set up an exterior tap and ability to turn on well pump for emergency fire fighting. Again simple but not easy especially compared to the more typical well pump pressurized tank storage system. Good luck.

 

[dcg9381]

I think it would be a LOT easier to get a bladder type tank to replace you existing tank. We have had that at two houses and the system worked fine.

Do they make "bladder types" that store thousands of gallons?
I've got a few bladder types for the RV, I throw them in the back of the truck, but we're talking 80 gallons or so.

The only bladder type I know about are the "steel tanks" you see in Texas. They're just steel bolted together with a liner. A bit like an "above ground" pool. I liked these, but they were a lot more expensive than the plastic tanks that I put in due to the assembly.

 

[tez929rr]

Do they make "bladder types" that store thousands of gallons?
I've got a few bladder types for the RV, I throw them in the back of the truck, but we're talking 80 gallons or so.

The only bladder type I know about are the "steel tanks" you see in Texas. They're just steel bolted together with a liner. A bit like an "above ground" pool. I liked these, but they were a lot more expensive than the plastic tanks that I put in due to the assembly.

We have one of these (40K gallons) at our firehouse for a rainwater collection system. It’s been fine for ten years but the bladder is incredibly thin. I’ve come to prefer poly tanks, and I have one at my windmill well.

 

[tez929rr]

BTW, we figure roughly $1 per gallon price for any storage tank.

 

[zendriver]

,

 

[reader2580]

Do they make "bladder types" that store thousands of gallons?
I've got a few bladder types for the RV, I throw them in the back of the truck, but we're talking 80 gallons or so.

I think you're confusing this with this . The folks in this thread are generally referring to the latter when they mention bladder tanks.

There are bladder tanks like the first one available in sizes holding many thousands of gallons. The military uses them to provide water in temporary situations.

 

[dcg9381]

I think you're confusing this with this . The folks in this thread are generally referring to the latter when they mention bladder tanks.

There are bladder tanks like the first one available in sizes holding many thousands of gallons. The military uses them to provide water in temporary situations.

Ahh.. I call those "pressure tanks". Got it. I use a small one with a Stop Cycle Valve.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Ahh.. I call those "pressure tanks". Got it. I use a small one with a Stop Cycle Valve.

Sorry, yes I meant well pressure tank. Most of them have an air bladder in them nowadays though. Except around here our water is so hard that the bladder tank typically ruptures after 3 or 4 years. Atleast that's what people in my area say, yet if you go to the local tractor supply, they'll have the air bladder style well pressure tank at the store

 

[My Old Tools]

So carrie underwoods garage caught on fire and it sounds like she had a 10,000 gallon storage tank at the house that the fire fighters tapped into to put the fire out. Anyways, I was thinking today their has a be a better way than my old style bladderless air volume control valve well tank that kicks on every time you use 5 gallons of water. Why not add a big storage tank where the pump can run once a day for 15 minutes or so and pump the 300 gallons or whatever it is I use per day. Opinions?

If you have iron in your water, air over water (bladderless) tanks have the advantage of helping the iron oxidize and fall out of solution. We have an 800 gallon air over water servicing 9 houses, although only 5 are usually occupied. From an 800 gallon tank, maybe 300-400 is water, you might get 200 with any kind of pressure, the rest will be gravity feed without the pump kicking on. To maintain 40-60 lbs of pressure, the pump will kick on after 40-50 gallons.

 

[astrohip]

Except around here our water is so hard that the bladder tank typically ruptures after 3 or 4 years.

Hmm, I've never heard that before. Our water is rock hard, like over 25gpg. Our bladder tank is 18 years old.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Hmm, I've never heard that before. Our water is rock hard, like over 25gpg. Our bladder tank is 18 years old.

Idk, it's just what I heard on my local Facebook group. It's really not a big deal to drain the water and let it refill every 3 or 4 months. I have a friend that has a big galvanized well tank and a shallow well submersible pump and he claims he's never done anything to it in like 25 years. I always ask him about it, but it sounds like he doesn't know anything about it. It sounds to me like it just refills when it gets to a certain level and repeats. I guess it filling from the bottom constantly gives it the proper pressure for when the pump isn't running idk, becaise he's said he never has to drain his and everyone else tells him the same thing, somehow his is the only one that doesn't have to be drained. Even that rubber bladder needs air every so often

 

[Stuart in MN]

Very common everywhere that the water will not freeze. Not that useful in North America.

It can depend on how often the water in the tank is turned over. Municipal water systems everywhere have water towers, and they don't typically freeze (it does happen but it's not common.) Some of them use an aerator system to keep the water moving in the tank which can help, they're often not much more than an electric trolling motor.

 

[tez929rr]

Hmm, I've never heard that before. Our water is rock hard, like over 25gpg. Our bladder tank is 18 years old.

Same here. Bladder tank was replaced when we bought the house in 1996.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Same here. Bladder tank was replaced when we bought the house in 1996.

It's probably some ***** that didn't know what he was talking about. I can't even find that conversation from like 2 years ago. The only thing people around here know how to do is make babies and send them to the soft ball field.

 

[tez929rr]

It's probably some ***** that didn't know what he was talking about. I can't even find that conversation from like 2 years ago. The only thing people around here know how to do is make babies and send them to the soft ball field.

When we moved here in 96 I figured local people would be the ones to ask about stuff like that but I found they are just as likely to believe myths as anyone else.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

When we moved here in 96 I figured local people would be the ones to ask about stuff like that but I found they are just as likely to believe myths as anyone else.

How often do you add air to the bladder style pressure tanks?

 

[mike93lx]

How often do you add air to the bladder style pressure tanks?

If they aren't leaking, pretty much never

 

[tez929rr]

If they aren't leaking, pretty much never

What he said.

 

[RegeSullivan]

Very common everywhere that the water will not freeze. Not that useful in North America.

Well, if you spend any time in New York City you will see 10,000 or more tanks many made of wood on the roofs of buildings.

 

[yatg]

Well, if you spend any time in New York City you will see 10,000 or more tanks many made of wood on the roofs of buildings.

and there's a few stories about dead bodies being found in them

 

[Hobby_Man22]

and there's a few stories about dead bodies being found in them

Suicide or murders?

 

[bluedog225]

Suicide or murders?

Yes

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Yes

which one? lol

 

[rancherbill]

Why not add a big storage tank where the pump can run once a day for 15 minutes or so and pump the 300 gallons or whatever it is I use per day. Opinions?

Well, because some wells can only be pumped at a low rate. I believe the legal minimum for a house is to have a 2 or 1.5 GPM well. That is a lot of water 2 x 60 minutes x 24 hours is = 2880 gallons per day. Nobody and I mean nobody will run a well that hard. but they will run it for 15-30 minutes into a cistern. Then they will have lots of water for all the shower and cooking. My guess is Carrie Underwoods is a cistern for domestic water supply. I bet she has a big *** house with lots of rooms and showers for visitors.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Well, because some wells can only be pumped at a low rate. I believe the legal minimum for a house is to have a 2 or 1.5 GPM well. That is a lot of water 2 x 60 minutes x 24 hours is = 2880 gallons per day. Nobody and I mean nobody will run a well that hard. but they will run it for 15-30 minutes into a cistern. Then they will have lots of water for all the shower and cooking. My guess is Carrie Underwoods is a cistern for domestic water supply. I bet she has a big *** house with lots of rooms and showers for visitors.

That can't be right because a water hose is supposed to be 5gpm minimum.

 

[rancherbill]

That can't be right because a water hose is supposed to be 5gpm minimum.

IT IS RIGHT ! That is why the cistern is in the house. A nice shower is 5 gpm. How do you think houses are built with wells that are not great?

YOU PUMP OUT AND PRESSURIZE FROM YOUR CISTERN and replenish the cistern slowly from your well. I'd say 10% of the houses around here do it.

 

[tez929rr]

IT IS RIGHT ! That is why the cistern is in the house. A nice shower is 5 gpm. How do you think houses are built with wells that are not great?

YOU PUMP OUT AND PRESSURIZE FROM YOUR CISTERN and replenish the cistern slowly from your well. I'd say 10% of the houses around here do it.

Yes, low capacity wells are not uncommon around here. Well drilling is still more art than science.

 

[rancherbill]

Well drilling is still more art than science.

That's why you need me as a friend, I witch stuff. With just coat hangers I can find Utilities ( metal based), old burning barrel dumps, and WATER.

I had a property I wanted to subdivide. I needed to prove 2 new wells. The driller told me he had previously drilled 2 really ****** wells. I witched it and did a map. I walked at a right angle from every third post, and simply watched and counted my steps, I got some graph paper and transferred the data. I mapped the edge of the water. I risked 10 grand to 2 $5k wells. I got a 5.8 and a 5.1 well.

I thought about turning pro, but decided against it. Unhappy customers.

 

[chris142]

So carrie underwoods garage caught on fire and it sounds like she had a 10,000 gallon storage tank at the house that the fire fighters tapped into to put the fire out. Anyways, I was thinking today their has a be a better way than my old style bladderless air volume control valve well tank that kicks on every time you use 5 gallons of water. Why not add a big storage tank where the pump can run once a day for 15 minutes or so and pump the 300 gallons or whatever it is I use per day. Opinions?

That's exactly what I have. It's an old boiler of some sort. Holds about 500g total. Has air in it and when the water drops the pressure drops. Pump comes on at 20 psi and off @40.

There are valves in the drop pipe that replace the air lost from the tank. Its been at my place for over 50 years that I know of and is a pretty common thing in my area.

 

[chris142]

That's exactly what I have. It's an old boiler of some sort. Holds about 500g total. Has air in it and when the water drops the pressure drops. Pump comes on at 20 psi and off @40.

There are valves in the drop pipe that replace the air lost from the tank. Its been at my place for over 50 years that I know of and is a pretty common thing in my area.

Didn't realize I already responded lol