5 best well pressure tank: top picks and buying tips
I already have a good well pump at home, do I need an additional well pressure tank?
This is something you must have thought many times and still are thinking probably! Well, you have thought in the right direction and yes, you do need a well pressure tank to support the well pump you have at home.
A well pressure tank stores water and regulates the water pressure. Thus, the number of on-off cycles of the well pump is reduced and the well pump is subjected to lesser stress. This will boost its lifespan and contribute to its upkeep and maintenance.
So, are you convinced about the usefulness of the best well pressure tanks and want to buy one but not sure of where to start? Undoubtedly, there is an array of them in the market and choosing one out of these is a tough task.
Here’s where we come in! We will take you through 5 best well pressure tanks, all you need to do is choose one that suits you the best!
- Well-x-trol Pressure Tank
- Flotec FP7110T Vertical Pre-Charged Pressure Tank
- Wellmate WM-9 / WM0120QC Fiberglass Tank
- WaterWorker Well Tank
- Goulds V60 Pressure Tank
The 5 best Well Pressure Tank you can buy in 2020
1. Well-x-trol Pressure Tank
If you are looking for a well pressure tank that you intend to use specifically at home for domestic purpose, the Well-x-trol Amtrol wx 202 Pressure Tank could be the best well pressure tank for you.
It has a very compact design and the parts are very easy to assemble and install; if you have some basic knowledge about plumbing.
Moreover, all its components are made of high-grade steel and brass material, thus assuring you of its durability.
The bonus you get is that the tank is extremely lightweight without losing out on its longevity. If you have an eye for aesthetics, the blue color looks soothing and comfortable, even when you install indoors.
What’s more, the water chamber is lined with non-corrosive grade non-reused polypropylene, with an additional ringed seal to ensure longevity and safe water consumption.
This product is also carefully designed to maintain a steady flow of water by controlling the air pressure using the welding technology instead of standard steel threaded valves.
reasons to buy:
- Stainless steel air valve regulates air pressure perfectly
- High-quality steel build lasts a long time
- Non-corrosive material liner increases reliability
- No lead used for ensuring water purity
- Compact design takes up small space
reasons to avoid:
- Small capacity, full volume is 20 gallons only
2. Flotec FP7110T Vertical Pre-Charged Pressure Tank
You will be astonished to know that this product, even though it has a rated total volume of 19 gallons, is capable of delivering a performance that can easily compare with a tank rated for 44 gallons of total volume! And this comes straight from the manufacturer, who has boldly claimed this in their product description.
Although the tank is known for its performance, you should be careful while installing this product – many of its parts and threads are made of plastic.
Thus, if you are not careful enough you will end up breaking these parts and then will be left with no option than to re-order these parts.
The tank flaunts a compact design and can fit in the coziest of places, but you will not be able to install it right out-of-the-box in a mounting position.
This is because the manufacturer has discontinued providing the installation accessories (think of a mounting bracket). You need to order them separately, which ends up being an additional cost and effort for you.
reasons to buy:
- Compact-sized, easy handling, and indoor installations
- High-performance well pressure tank
reasons to avoid:
- Plastic components do not last very long
- Delays in after-sales service from the manufacturer
- Some installation accessories are discontinued by the maker
3. Wellmate WM-9 / WM0120QC Fiberglass Tank
This pressure tank has a capacity of 30 gallons and is sufficient to cater to your residential and commercial requirements alike. The overall design of the inner and outer shells as well as the chambers, along with the material used in building these, are strategically planned.
Care is taken that the end-product is light-weight, corrosion-free, requires very little maintenance, easy to use, and has a long life without affecting the water quality.
The inner air chamber is replaceable and made of high-grade polymer material. The outer casing is made of fiberglass material with an overall seal of epoxy resin compound.
This makes the product rust-free, even when used in extremely corrosive conditions in a coastal region. The base of the product is molded into the body and is made of polymer material, providing strong and corrosion-free support to the pressure tank.
This tank weighs not even half of that of a steel tank, this makes it easy for handling.
Overall design and materials used to make this tank easy and quicker to install as well as use. The extended after-sales warranty offered by the manufacturer further proves to be an extra plus point.
However, the problem lies in its really basic design. And it’s not completely metal-free, the air-fill valve is made of steel.
reasons to buy:
- High-quality inner air chamber
- Outer casing makes the product rust-free
- Resistant from corrosion even in coastal areas
- Strong and corrosion-free support to the pressure tank
- Lightweight makes it easy for handling
- Extended after-sales warranties
reasons to avoid:
- The design could have been made more attractive
- Not completely metal-free
- More power could improve water flow
4. WaterWorker Well Tank
This vertical pressure well tank from WaterWorker is made of cold-rolled deep-drawn steel. It provides higher strength at a comparatively lower weight.
The highest temperature it can withstand is 200 F, and it can also sustain a pressure of around 100 psi. The tank adheres to NSF 61 standards, to deliver safe and clean water fit to drink.
The tank base is made of steel with a protective covering of plastic, to make it erosion free and sturdy. The Butyl diaphragm is constructed seamlessly, so that it flexes instead of stretching and creasing like bladder tanks.
WaterWorker tanks flaunt a robust construction that makes them resistant to adverse conditions. The external casing is made of sturdy high-grade steel and the inner casing is lined with polypropylene material, providing the well tank strength for long term use and making it unaffected by corrosion.
It won’t be wrong to say that the quality and performance of this tank are at par with costlier and higher-end well tanks.
Rest assured, this tank is 100% lead-free and meets the national standards to provide water which is safe for consumption. That’s not all, it also comes with a 5-year warranty on the product.
reasons to buy:
- Corrosion proof and strong
- Performance on par with costlier tanks
- 100% lead-free for safe consumption
- 5-year warranty from the manufacturer
reasons to avoid:
- Draw-down is limited to only 5.8 gallons
- No built-in pressure relief valve
5. Goulds V60 Pressure Tank
This pressure tank from Goulds has a total capacity of 20 gallons. It is made of steel and brass, with some components being molded out of plastic.
The tank is easy to use and comes with an easy installation process.
Although the tank comes packed wonderfully, it could be more aesthetically pleasing. Further, it also requires you to buy installation accessories and valves separately. The tank has a 5-year warranty on it.
reasons to buy:
- Lead-free product, water will not get contaminated
- Attractive packaging
- Fitting tee kits, which make installation convenient
- 5-year manufacturer warranty on the tank
reasons to avoid:
- Could have been priced better
- Could be more aesthetically appealing
Things To Know Before Buying A Well Pressure Tank
Technologies used in tanks
If you are someone who has used a pressure water tank before, you might already be knowing that traditional tanks used to have a single compartment design.
The shell of this compartment was made of stainless steel and used to contain both the water and the air. Water pressure was regulated by the pressure of the compressed air on top of it.
However, there was a distinct disadvantage in using this concept. Under the high pressure at the contact area, water will gradually dissolve the air into it.
Thus, the air pressure used to decline gradually over a period, and subsequently, the water pressure was not regulated properly. This phenomenon was termed “waterlogging”.
With time, it became essential to devise a technique that would keep water and air separate, and prevent “waterlogging”. This was achieved by using Bladder and Diaphragm in the tanks.
You will see that most of the tanks being manufactured currently are based on either of these two technologies. Both these technologies separate the air from the water, so that uniformity of the pressure is maintained.
The only difference is that in bladder technology, a rubber bladder is used to hold the water which then contracts and expands based on the pressure it undergoes.
While on the other hand, in the diaphragm technology, a layer of rubber is used to separate the air and water and only this rubber layer moves up and down depending on the tank pressure.
Pressure tanks are now available as “pre-charged” – these tanks are ready to use, having the air sealed inside them and pressurized when they are manufactured in the factory using the diaphragm or bladder technique.
Basic tank features
I am enlisting below a few of the basic features which you should be aware of before you choose a well pressure tank:
Air Valve
All tanks come with an air valve to regulate the air pressure and come equipped with a pressure gauge. Some manufacturers include this pressure gauge in their product, while for others, you would have to buy it extra and get it installed.
Here’s a video that you can check out for more.
Drawdown Capacity
It is very important to know the drawdown capacity of the tank. A tank will never be able to fully contain water at its rated capacity. This is because it needs to maintain the optimum air pressure inside.
This is the reason that the actual amount of water a tank can contain will always be lesser than its rated volume capacity.
Drawdown capacity indicates the amount of water the pressure well tank can hold and subsequently provide before the well pump has to start pumping in water.
Higher drawdown to rated capacity ratio implies a more efficient pressure tank.
Materials
You will find that the majority of available tanks in the market are made of steel that has a risk of reacting with the water.
Carbon-fiber alternatives are also being used by many manufacturers which comply with national regulations to provide safe and drinkable water.
What is the correct size of the pressure tank for you?
The primary purpose of a pressure tank is to support the well pump and increase its longevity. Hence, the basic information you should employ while choosing the pressure tank is the requisite water demand.
If the pressure tank is smaller for the water demand, then the pump will be under stress. It is always advised that you house a higher capacity pressure tank to avoid putting the well pump under stress.
First, determine the water demand; second, determine the well pump capacity and then find out its flow rate; third, calculate the drawdown capacity of the pressure tank.
I am giving you a few thumb rules to do so:
- If a pump has a flow rate < 10 GPM, then you will have to choose a pressure tank having a drawdown capacity equal to the flow rate multiplied by 1.
- If a pump has a flow rate between 10 and 20 GPM, then you will have to choose a pressure tank having a drawdown capacity equal to the flow rate multiplied by 1.5
- If a pump has a flow rate > 20 GPM, then you will have to choose a pressure tank having a drawdown capacity equal to the flow rate multiplied by 2.
Now that you know the basic features that you should look for in a well pressure tank, we will talk about the commonly asked questions in the next section. They will provide you with a better understanding and help you make an educated decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I check the pressure in the tank?
You should always check the pressure every 2 months. You need to first turn off the pump and then drain the tank. Next, remove the cap over the air valve.
If there is water leakage at this stage from the valve, then the tank needs to be replaced. You can then check the pressure using the pressure gauge.
Q. What is the average lifespan of a pressure tank?
Depending on the quality of the materials used during manufacturing and if regular maintenance is done, then a pressure tank should last at least 10-15 years.
Q. Can I install the wall pressure tank outside?
Not all components of a pressure tank are built to withstand extreme weather or high-temperature variations, it is always suggested to have the pressure tanks installed indoors.
Q. How do I change the pressure?
You can use an air compression system or a bicycle pump to add air, if necessary. To release air pressure, you can use the air valve cap.
The pressure should be maintained at 2 psi lower than the pressure switch pump cut-in setting.
Q. What is the ideal size of a well pressure tank?
A large pressure tank implies large storage capacity, which is better for increased longevity of the well pump.
A larger pressure tank also implies a higher cost of purchase. Hence, choose what is optimal for you.
Q. Can I link multiple well pressure tanks together?
Yes, fitting accessories are available with which you can link together multiple tanks. With each linked tank, the overall drawdown capacity of the tank system is increased.
Wrapping Up
So when it comes to choosing the best well pressure tank, Wellmate WM-9 pressure tank stands out from the rest. It is an early adopter of the fiberglass technology and is metal-free.
It provides a very light and corrosion-free alternative, and the water has no risk of being contaminated by the metal. The tank is made of finest material, and is durable enough to last for the years to come.
While choosing a well pressure tank, we will highly recommend you check the water demands in your house, the flow rate of the pump and then determine the capacity and model that will suit you the best.
What are your views on this? Did we miss anything that you think deserves a mention here? Do share your views and experience with us in the comment section below.