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Why is my pressure tank not filling up with water?

4 min read

Asked by: Karen Johnson

Bladder tanksBladder tanksA bladder tank is a large, flexible container used to store many types of liquids. When maximum capacity is reached, the bladder tank takes the form of a large pillow, hence it is also called a pillow tank.

How do I get water into my pressure tank?

A simple method for recharging the air in a water pressure tank is to turn off the pump, attach a garden hose to the tank drain, open the hose, drain the tank completely, and then let the pump re-fill the tank. Opening a nearby faucet or valve will speed the drain process and may help let air into the water tank.

Why does my new pressure tank feel empty?

The tank will feel empty if the pressure switch is not set to activate the well pump that will supply water. The pressure switch is a component of the pressure tank that signals the pump to start pumping water once the cut-in pressure is reached.

Should a well pressure tank be full of water?

The pressure tank may be full of water



Pressure tanks are generally 70% filled with air, so when you knock on the tank it should sound hollow and empty. If you knock on the side of the tank and it does not sound hollow and empty that is a good indication that it is waterlogged.

How do I know if my pressure tank is bad?

You can check the gauge down at the bottom and if you’re running water of any sort and that pressure is bouncing up to your top, which is 60 PSI (usually), down to a 40, and it’s doing that a lot and its very frequent, then usually that is a bad tank.

Why is my pressure tank not holding pressure?

If the pressure tank doesn’t have the right air pressure in it, it will not send the correct signal to the pressure switch to turn the tank on. To check this, use a tire pressure gauge and locate the air fill valve on top of the tank. Make sure that it is 2 PSI below the point where the pressure switch will shut off.

How do you prime a pressure tank?


One end of the hook-up hose to the tap. And the other end to the inlet port on the guzzler. Close the shutoff valve between the pump and the pressure tank. Open the garden hose tap.

How long should a pressure tank take to fill?

A large pressure tank might give you 30 seconds to many minutes of “draw-down” water volume before pressure drops enough to turn on the pump, but a typical pressure tank will give you about 45-seconds to 2 minutes.

Why would a water tank be empty?

The water tank could be empty simply because the well ran out of water (water was pulled out of the well faster than it could recover), or perhaps because the water pump never came on to replenish the water supply.

How full should a pressure tank be?

So for example in most configurations. You're going to have a pressure switch. So that turns the pump on and off and that pressure switch in a lot of situations is preset to 40 or 60 psi. Or whatever

Why do I suddenly have no water?

If you have access to your pipes, check them for wet patches or stagnant water. A leak can cause your water pressure to drop and the supply of water to be shut off entirely. You should inspect your home’s water supply lines or hot water system for drips or dents to determine if this is the source of your tap issues.

Why is my water pump not pumping?

A leak in your system will cause both of these issues. Replace any leaking or damaged pipes and check the water level to make sure that your pump hasn’t exceeded the well capacity. A faulty pressure switch will also cause the motor stay on or cycle too fast. Double-check the settings, and clean the contacts.

Why do I have no water from my well?

A tank or pump failure can be caused by a number of factors: age, low-quality components, running without water, constant cycling or a clogged intake valve. Water pumps and pressure tanks don’t need much in the way of maintenance, but they do need the right environment to reach their life expectancy.