jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A month or so ago, I replaced the well pressure tank in my water system, and something puzzles me. The tank has a single 1.25" opening on the bottom where the appropriate pipe is attached. This is how the water from the well gets into the tank. It's also how the water gets out to the house.

Ordinarily, water just flows out as it is being used. When the pressure drops, however, the pump kicks in, and water flows from the well into the tank. Obviously, this is going to happen when the water is being used, and the pressure drops. I have trouble picturing water being pumped into the tank while it is also flowing out to the washing machine through a single pipe. I can understand if there was an inlet and an outlet, but there is just that one opening.

Any ideas?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The "tank" is probably a reservoir with an air bladder in it.
The pump fills the tank with water, compressing the bladder, building pressure. It feeds the house until the line pressure drops below a set value and the pump kicks in to "fill the reservoir" again.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Why do you see a problem. Water is fluid - it can flow in many directions at once.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

I guess I am missing something. I can see that the water coming into your house would be arriving via that l 1/4 inch hole, but wouldn't the water exiting being leaving by way of sinks, tub or shower and the toilet?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The water from the well enters the pressurized tank. From there, it goes to sinks, etc. I can't picture water from the well being pumped into the tank while water to the dishwasher is leaving the tank - both flowing in opposite directions through a 1.25" pipe. Obviously, it works, though.

The first picture shows the old piping, with the new parts below it. In both cases the water from the well enters on the right, enters the tank through the larger pipe, and goes to the house on the left.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I just can't picture the water flowing in opposite directions through that 1.25" pipe. Maybe the water from the pump is flowing to whatever is using the water at the same time it is filling the tank. The pressure would keep the water flowing from the sink while excess went to the tank. Yes, that sounds like a solution.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right, and the bladder in the one I replaced had broken, messing up the flow. I got a few more years than they say these bladders last. Coincidentally, my friend had the same problem at about the same time.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Ah come on Jerry
All the pressure tank does is keep pressure on your system after the pump shuts off , it only need one water line connection.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I think you'd like this YouTube channel - mrpete222. He posts odd tools and asks if anyone can identify them.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

To the right of the gauge is that a check valve?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes. The water can flow in but not flow out.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Keeps the pressure until the tap is turned on, saves the pump cycling.

Red6

Look at it like this - the pipe from the well (the source) splits at the tank into effectively two lines. The well pump can send water to two places, the tank for storage or to the house. I imagine there must be a tee located somewhere close to the tank. In one side of the tee the supply (pump) comes in, and then there is a pipe to the tank and in the third connection, a line to the house.

If you turn on the kitchen faucet when the pump is not running, the water comes from the storage tank and as long as the faucet does not run long enough to trip on the pressure switch, all the water comes from the tank.

However, if the demand from the house exceeds the capacity of the tank the well pump comes on and delivers water to the house and possibly the tank at the same time. Usually, though all the water from the well pump will be feeding into the house and what is left over is going into the tank. In this case the tank is acting more like a pressure regulator.

Remember, much like electrical current, water will always follow the path of least resistance (pressure). When the pump is running and there is no demand from the house the water will flow INTO the tank. If a faucet in the house is opened, this creates a path of less resistance (pressure) and water flows into the house directly from the pump. Depending on the pressure supplied by the pump and the tank pressure it may be possible that both the pump and tank contribute to the flow to the house. Once the demand stops from the house, then the water from the pump will fill the tank until the pressure switch cuts it off.

In this setup, water may flow one way at some times and in the reverse direction at other times depending on demand flow and pressure but never both ways at the same time. Water does not and cannot flow in two directions in the same pipe AT THE SAME TIME.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Sounds good.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Jerry, you must know three important things to be a plumber.

1. Do not look into the end of an open drain pipe.
2. Do not lick your fingers.
3. Friday is payday!😁

By the way, being a union plumber is a very lucrative way to earn a living with great benefits and retirement. Our lives would be quite shitty without plumbers and the health and safety of sanitation depends on them.