JustAnswer > Home Improvement

Home Improvement

Ask a Home Improvement Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Home Improvement question?

2 Home Improvement Experts are Online Now

characters left:

Not a Home Improvement Question?

Question

Just had a new pressure tank installed. Pressure is definitely improved but only for a few minutes and then back to the old pressure. Tank shows about 35 to 40 pressure but after running water for a couple minutes it drops back to old water pressure. Plumber says it has to do with the pressure in the community well tank. any suggestions to maintain the pressure all the time.

Submitted: 183 days and 13 hours ago.

Category: Home Improvement

Value: $9

Status: CLOSED

Posted by Rick 183 days and 12 hours ago.

Answer

Hi XXXXXXXXXXXX
One option would be to install a booster pump to maintain better pressure. It's also possible that there is a blockage of some type restricting the flow to your tank. This would happen if the draw exceeds the flow capacity of the supply line to your tank.

183 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

this is a flotec pressure tank and i thought this would take care of our water pressure. are you saying we should add something on to this pressure tank. what kind of blockage could there be.

Posted by Rick 183 days and 11 hours ago.

Answer

All a pressure tank does is store water. It relies on waterever pump is supplying it. By itself it has no impact whatsoever on your water pressure. You mentioned a community tank. So I assume there is a community well and associated pump. That is what controls your water pressure. If I am mis-reading the situation please let me know.
The blockage could be rusty sediment that is reducing the cross section of the supply pipe. It could be a partially closed or broken valve.

183 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

i guess i misunderstood what this does. it is a precharged pressure tank and i thought that was like a booster pump. why is the pressure so good for a while and then goes down to very little

Accepted Answer

Because the amount of water that you are using (the flow) is exceeding the capacity of the supply (piping?).
The only way to overcome this is to either install a booster pump which may not be allowed given your community situation or improve the flow through the supply piping (increase the size or remove the blockage) or boost the supply at the source (the community well/tank). It's also possible that the community well is not adequate to keep up with the demand from the community so your pressure suffers. Keep in mind that well pumps run on a pressure switch that usually has a 20 lb difference between the pressure it shuts off at and when it turns back on. So it is possible that what you are experiencing is the normal pressure fluctuation in the pump switch operation.

Expert:	Rick
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	652
Answered:	9/17/2009

General Contractor

Licensed Construction Supervisor & Remodeling Contractor 35+ years experience

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.

Home Improvement

Ask a Home Improvement Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Home Improvement question?

Related Home Improvement Topics:

Question

Answer

Hi XXXXXXXXXXXXOne option would be to install a booster pump to maintain better pressure. It's also possible that there is a blockage of some type restricting the flow to your tank. This would happen if the draw exceeds the flow capacity of the supply line to your tank.

Reply

this is a flotec pressure tank and i thought this would take care of our water pressure. are you saying we should add something on to this pressure tank. what kind of blockage could there be.

Answer

Reply

i guess i misunderstood what this does. it is a precharged pressure tank and i thought that was like a booster pump. why is the pressure so good for a while and then goes down to very little

Accepted Answer

Related Home Improvement Questions

Hi XXXXXXXXXXXX
One option would be to install a booster pump to maintain better pressure. It's also possible that there is a blockage of some type restricting the flow to your tank. This would happen if the draw exceeds the flow capacity of the supply line to your tank.