Water Tank size

[laen64]

What size water tank would you add to your well during home construction?
home will be 5-6 bedrooms with lots of shrubs, and garden plot. Total size is 5acre. All comments welcomed.

 

[heehaw]

are you talking about a storage tank? if so, why would you add one?
heehaw

 

[laen64]

are you talking about a storage tank? if so, why would you add one?
heehaw

I'm thinking that their are choices in the size of tank you purchase with the well installation? So with that said I would like to know others opinions, as I see different sizes. I will especially have mine installed in my garage or storage room as opposed to outside free standing. Please give all thoughts?

 

[schmism]

you still didnt answer the question. are you asking about a storage tank or a pressure tank.

storage tank would be like 1500 gal underground for addtional capacity espeically for low flow wells.

pressure tank size determines how long till the pump kicks on and cycles.

 

[LBrown59]

are you talking about a storage tank? if so, why would you add one?
heehaw

To store more water and lessen risk of running out.
My Guess.

 

[Egon]

Aww, put in a pressure tank of 80 gallons or so.

 

[heehaw]

if your talking about the pressure tank, they can be anywhere from 2 gallons to 80 or more: the purpose is to reduce the number of pump cycles: the larger the tank, the more water you can use before the pump kicks on and refills it an furnishes more water. i haven't ever really seen a big difference in reducing the pump cycles: i have just recently bought a replacement for my well pump, the one being replaced is at least 26 years old, with no problems: i have a 20 gallon tank, which i will replace at the same time i am replacing the pump. the pump i am replacing is a gould, i doubt they are made to last now like they were @ 30 years ago:
heehaw

 

[LBrown59]

if your talking about the pressure tank, they can be anywhere from 2 gallons to 80 or more: the purpose is to reduce the number of pump cycles: the larger the tank, the more water you can use before the pump kicks on and refills it an furnishes more water. i haven't ever really seen a big difference in reducing the pump cycles: i have just recently bought a replacement for my well pump, the one being replaced is at least 26 years old, with no problems: i have a 20 gallon tank, which i will replace at the same time i am replacing the pump. the pump i am replacing is a gould, i doubt they are made to last now like they were @ 30 years ago:
heehaw

When I had well water I had a well on each end of the property with a 42 gallon tank and a pump for each well .
It was plumbed and wired so i could use each seperately or both together as one unit.

 

[laen64]

When I had well water I had a well on each end of the property with a 42 gallon tank and a pump for each well .
It was plumbed and wired so i could use each seperately or both together as one unit.

I appologize for the wait. I'm talking about a pressure tank first of all and maybe a storage tank should I find that to be of need. This is the first for me, so I do solicit and appreciate all comments. I researched lowes last night and plan to use the pressure tank at 50 gal. I haven't had the well drilled and output tested. Please push all your comments.

Thanks in advance

L.N

 

[The Dougster]

Talk to your drilling contractor about this... they know more than you think...

 

[Kays Supply]

When I was an apprentice plumber years ago, Jacuzzi had a deep well system called the Aqua Genie, that required only a one gallon tank, but gave constant even pressure. You might check and see if that or some version of it is available today. No other company had anything even close at that time. Maybe someone has cloned it by now.

 

[heehaw]

storage tanks can sometimes be required to have enough water, but can also be a pain: another pump, tanks etc: plus then you have to worry about the water growing things in it, so you'll have to chlorinate it, clean it out occasionally, an on an on an on: do if your well will furnish enough water without a storage tank, you are much better off.
heehaw

 

[PILOON]

The larger the tank the fewer the cycles therefore easier on the pump.

I'd suggest using a fiberglass tank with the inner bladder.
Some bladder tanks are steel but I found that they tend to corrode due to humidity and the constant pressurisation of the bladder causes abrasion and faster deteriation of the bladder.

Pump fabricators have charts that determine the gallonage and pressures all of wich is dependant on well debth, pipe size etc.
Believe it or not, they even take friction into consideration!
Be sure to use heavy duty waterline and not the hardware store black poly pipe.
The HD line is almost 1/4" thick walled and will take a lot of abuse making back filling the trench a breeze.
Also backfill should be sand by choice.
I also suggest that you insist on all brass fittings if you want a trouble free system.
Put just one steel or galvanized fitting and sure as all getup that one will corrode to the point that it will restrict water flow.

 

[Egon]

Pump fabricators have charts that determine the gallonage and pressures all of wich is dependant on well debth, pipe size etc.
Believe it or not, they even take friction into consideration!

If anyone is interested in how its done look up Reynolds number and Moody diagram on the INTERNET.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ch is dependant on well debth, pipe size etc.

 

[texasjohn]

You haven't listed any needs other than household water. Are there any?

What contingencies are you wishing to prepare for?

Pressure tank works fine as long as you have electricity and pressure switch and pump are working.

Add a storage tank if you want to have water to use to flush potty when problems happen, power out, tornado, etc.

If you are going to have a high flow rate during use (yard watering, filling swimming pool, etc.) then you may need a storage tank sized for that purpose.

If your well is weak, you may need a storage tank to be able to withstand heavy use times... several showers at once, running dishwasher and washing machine at same time, etc...

Myself, I am currently in exceptional drought area, have 80 gal pressure pump at/to house, 250 gallon plastic tank fits in back of pickup for hauling water, 1000 gallon tank on wheels for taking water to the cattle, 4 plastic tanks of 250 gallons each for placing in different pastures and filling with 1000 gallon tank. Am in process of setting up a 3500 gallon storage tank at house for use during power outages and in case well gets weak during drought. Also have generator capable of running pumps when power is out.

 

[jinman]

My well has an 80 gallon tank. If I run one or two 5/8 hoses to water my yard and/or garden, the pump will cycle on and off. If I run three hoses wide open, the pump comes on and runs constantly. This leads me to believe the tank only matters for low flow. At high flow, the size of tank doesn't matter.
If you have a good well that pumps a lot of water, it will surprise you how much water you can pump.

I agree with everyone who suggested that you should check with your well driller, but do it cautiously. The driller wants to sell you what he has in stock or normally uses. Around here, bladder tanks are normally 40-50 gallon and galvanized tanks are 80 gallons.

Just an anectdote to add:
My wife just sold a property with two wells. One well was used constantly and has a 40 gal bladder tank. The other well was working about 9 years ago, but was not used and fell into disrepair as far as the above ground tank, controller, and plumbing. The fellow who just bought the property wired 220 to the Goulds pump, and it fired right off and ran perfectly, pumping nice, clear water at a high rate. He only has to get the controller fixed and do a little plumbing to make the well operational. I think it is amazing that a pump could sit submerged and unused for 9 years and operate perfectly when powered up. I'm not sure a pump from a box store would be that reliable. Who knows?

 

[Kays Supply]

I have been installing Goulds sewage ejector pumps for over 30 years. I have one that I know of, that is 22 years old and used every day. It has been hit by lightning, locked rotor several times and still going.

 

[laen64]

All comments considered. I will contact the installer with caution. thanks for all the comments.

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