Guide · Home care
Well Pressure Tanks
What a well pressure tank does, who takes care of it, and the signs to watch for and report in a home with a private well.
Where to start
- No water at all?
Please don't keep turning faucets on and off to test it. Call the owner and share what you noticed and when it started. See signs to report.
- Pump clicking every few seconds?
That is a sign to report right away. See signs to watch for.
- Storm on the way?
Store some drinking and flushing water. See when the power goes out.
The short version
In a home with a private well, there is no city water main pushing water to the faucets. Instead, a pump brings water up from the ground, and a pressure tank keeps it ready for you.
When that tank is working well, nobody gives it a second thought. When it is not, the pump starts working far too hard, and small signs show up in the kitchen and the shower. If you ever notice something odd with the water, please tell the owner. Early reports make for easy fixes.
What the pressure tank does
The pressure tank holds water and a cushion of air, usually kept apart by a rubber bladder inside. The air pushes water out to the faucets and lets the well pump rest between runs.
A pressure switch near the tank turns the pump on when pressure drops and off when it rises. Common settings turn the pump on around 30 or 40 PSI and off around 50 or 60 PSI.
Who does what
The pressure tank, pressure switch, pump and wiring are well equipment, so they are always a job for the owner or a licensed well or pump professional, never a resident. These are examples.
Residents can often
- Knowing where the pressure tank and pressure switch are
- Reporting rapid clicking, pulsing pressure or sputtering right away
- Reporting water around the tank or changes in color, smell or taste
- Keeping some drinking and flushing water stored for outages
Leave to the owner or a pro
- Opening the pressure switch
- Draining the tank, or adding or letting out air
- Turning the pump breaker off and on
- Adjusting anything on the system
For owners
A pro usually checks the air charge with the tank drained and the pump off, and many makers call for an air charge about 2 PSI below the pump's turn on setting. If water comes out of the air valve instead of air, the bladder has likely failed, and the owner's pro will repair or replace the tank.
The pressure switch carries electricity and should never be opened by a resident.
Signs to watch for and report
Here are some common examples. This is not a complete list.
- The pump clicks on and off every few seconds while a faucet is running.
- Water pressure pulses, surges or drops suddenly.
- Faucets sputter or spit air.
- The pump seems to run all the time, even when nobody is using water.
- Water on the floor around the tank or the pipes.
- No water at all.
If the water stops completely, please don't keep turning faucets on and off to test it. Call the owner and let them know what you noticed and when it started.
Water quality matters too
Private wells are not tested by a city water system, so owners are responsible for testing. The CDC suggests testing private well water at least once a year. Let the owner know right away if the water changes color, smell or taste, or if anyone in the home gets sick and you wonder about the water.
When the power goes out
A well pump runs on electricity, so most homes on a well have no running water during a power outage, beyond what is left in the tank. Keeping some water stored for drinking and flushing is a smart habit.
Your well pressure tank checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Thanks so much for taking care of your home!
An everyday example
A resident in a country home noticed that the basement pump clicked on and off every few seconds whenever the kitchen faucet ran. They recorded a short video of the sound and sent it to the owner. The owner's well pro found that the tank's air charge had dropped very low. The pro drained the tank, set the air charge to match the pressure switch, and checked the bladder. The clicking stopped, the pressure smoothed out, and the pump got its rest back.
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This guide shares general educational information to help you, and is not legal advice or a substitute for a licensed professional. Bunklow does not inspect, repair or service wells or water systems. Well rules differ from state to state and county to county, so please check your state and local law, follow the maker's instructions, and get local help from a licensed well or pump professional for any work on the system.