My Water Tank: I mentioned last month that I had to replace the pressure tank for my well. That worked out okay. The problem now is getting the old tank out of the house. Using rough...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I mentioned last month that I had to replace the pressure tank for my well. That worked out okay. The problem now is getting the old tank out of the house. Using rough measurements, I figure it has a volume of about 24 cu ft. It is lying on its side, and the water level is a bit above the half-way point. That would be about 13 cu ft of water @ 62 lb/cu ft = 804 lbs. That's why it is still in the hall a month later.

I removed the pipes, and I thought I could syphon the water out, but the hose can't make that 90° turn to get into the tank. My next plan is to raise the top of the tank (somehow) bit-by-bit and catch the water as it runs out. I also thought about drilling a hole in the side of the tank to drain the water. When I've seen people on YouTube with this problem - it is a problem! Actually, I'm surprised that my son and I were able to get it out of the closet.

BebuLamar

And I guess you and your son now can't even take it outside? Otherwise you would want to bring it outside before drilling it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BebuLamar wrote:

And I guess you and your son now can't even take it outside? Otherwise you would want to bring it outside before drilling it.

Drilling would be tricky. If I drill too high, I get no water. If I drill too low, I get too much water. I'm going to try levering it up from the top to get the water flowing.

After I got the tank replaced, I went directly to working on the chimney liner, and now I am working on the woodstove. Obviously, the tank in the hall isn't a design feature, but I want to get the woodstove working.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I had that problem in my home - a basement with no drain. Got adapter connectors for a garden hose - ran it outside and connected a small transfer pump - stood the tank upright and drilled holes in the top and side for air and drained it. Once empty, I could move it out. I had a sump pump put in and can now drain tanks if needed...

SparkyNYC Loc: NYC & Coconut Creek,Fl

Get some 1/2" or 3/4" rigid electrical conduit.
Cut it into lengths a bit wider than the tank.
Using the hand truck, elevate the tank and slip the conduit underneath as rollers.
Shower curtain liners work when moving gear.
Good luck

dougbev3 Loc: Pueblo, Colorado

Drill a 3/4 " hole on top. Go to Harbor freight and they have a device for bleeding brakes - it hooks up to a drill and has a plastic tube that goes into the water. It will suck out the water - pour it into a bucket and then it is taken care of. I use my sons each fall to suck my used oil out of the mower.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…put it up for sale and have someone else come get it out of the house…they make great BBQ smokers…
https://youtu.be/aNc4dVtM_0A?feature=shared

Texas George Loc: Stamford, Texas

I would go to Harbor freight and get a small movers dolly that all four wheels spin freely. Tip the tank up on one end, slide the dolly in crossways, and roll it out. Be sure to get the small dolly that will fit through the doors. I moved many a piano with those dollies.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

dougbev3 wrote:

Drill a 3/4 " hole on top. Go to Harbor freight and they have a device for bleeding brakes - it hooks up to a drill and has a plastic tube that goes into the water. It will suck out the water - pour it into a bucket and then it is taken care of. I use my sons each fall to suck my used oil out of the mower.

They also have a battery powered fluid transfer pump for about $20. Pumps a gallon in about 30 seconds. Lacking that, I’d just drill a 3/4 - 1” hole in the top and siphon it out with a hose

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Texas George wrote:

I would go to Harbor freight and get a small movers dolly that all four wheels spin freely. Tip the tank up on one end, slide the dolly in crossways, and roll it out. Be sure to get the small dolly that will fit through the doors. I moved many a piano with those dollies.

I have a couple of dollies in the garage. The problem is lifting the tank onto the dolly. I suspect it's too wide to fit past the stairs and out the door. I brought it in through a different door, but I had to lift it over the fireplace hearth. It will have to be empty to get it out of the house.

The piano. Ah, yes. Someone gave me a piano, and it's been in the garage for two months. Boy, is that heavy!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

TriX wrote:

They also have a battery powered fluid transfer pump for about $20. Pumps a gallon in about 30 seconds. Lacking that, I’d just drill a 3/4 - 1” hole in the top and siphon it out with a hose

I think drilling a hole in the top and using the syphon will be the way to go. Right now, I'm working on projects with a deadline. Winter is coming!

It's amazing how much you can get away with when there's no woman in the house to keep prodding. My son never complains! 🤣

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SkyKing wrote:

…put it up for sale and have someone else come get it out of the house…they make great BBQ smokers…
https://youtu.be/aNc4dVtM_0A?feature=shared

"Garbage for Sale - Cheap!" I doubt many people would fall for that, especially when they tried to lift it. Not much call for BBQ this time of year.

johnnievegas

jerryc41 wrote:

I mentioned last month that I had to replace the p... (show quote)

Why didn't they run an air pressure hose to it and drain the water out?

johnnievegas

Why didn't they run an air hose to it and blow the water out?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

johnnievegas wrote:

Why didn't they run an air hose to it and blow the water out?

I'm "they." I suspect the broken bladder inside is what's holding the water back. Before I removed it, I opened the drain valve and supposedly drained out all the water. When these tanks go bad, it's generally the bladder that separates the water from the pressurized air that goes bad. The broken bladder can drop down and block the outlet. If the bladder is broken, the whole tank can fill with water, but it has very little pressure.