OTQ - How do you charge a pressure tank?

Thanks guys.

The pressure on your system will be whatever your cut-off pressure is on the pump.
To change this you must change the setting on the pressure switch.
This pressure should not be much over 45lbs.
You can get it too high for your commode valve to work properly.

If it is water logged, just cut off power, open drain valve and pull one of the plugs close too the top, so it does not create a vaccume. After tank is drained, close valve, put plug back in, and turn on power.
You can also add air to tank, with it full if you have a valve stem installed were one of the top plugs are. Try to stay under 70lbs. and drain off water to get the pressure down to cut-off pressure. This way you can force the level of water down to the proper level. May take more than a few times of airing up.
Water level should be about the lower 1/3, as long as it is above the inlet point.

You can tell the water level by running your hand up and down the side of the tank. There will be a differance in the temp. of the tank, at the water level.

If you have a submerged pump, there is a valve (2) that goes about 12-15 ft. down the pipe, that drains the water out of the pipe when the pump is off, so that every time the pump comes on, it will force air in the tank, and keep it from water-logging. There is a check valve in the tank on this system.

Hope this will help.

UG!

Sta-Rite Industries manufactures water pressure tanks for residential use. Here is an owners manual for one of their bladder type tanks and one of their air over water tanks. The modern air over water tanks regulate the volume of air in the tank using an "air volume control" or AVC (I don't have any knowledge of older tanks). The manual for the bladder type tank explains how to check the pressure switch and how to charge the tank.

I've no connection with Sta-Rite(other than the pressure tank in my basement). I've done this with my own tank (after the bladder failed) -- it's not hard to do. They'll sell parts directly to you by mail, too.

I'm sure there are better, more correct, ways to do this and you will hear them here.

At any rate, do not over-pressurize the tank, think about what you are doing!

--->Paul