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Pressure tank leak

| Posted in General Discussion on April 16, 2009 03:43am

Good morning,Deb,here over from Cook’s Talk.

Is there an easy and cheap way to fix a hole ,pin sized in the pressure tank for the water pump,preferably without dismantling etc.?

Thanks in advance,Deb

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Replies

  1. florida | Apr 16, 2009 03:51pm | #1

    If there is a pinhole rusted through on the outside there is usually a larger rusted area on the inside. Anything you do will only be temporary. Something like JB Weld might hold it for a short while.

  2. Griffin12 | Apr 16, 2009 03:53pm | #2

     It may depend on exactly where the hole is. These tanks have an internal diaphram and also special protective linings. As far as patching the hole, I do not have any good suggestions. My point is that if you patch it, it may not solve the problem.

  3. john7g | Apr 16, 2009 03:57pm | #3

    ditto what FL said.  It's rusted through in one spot odds are the rest isn't too far behind it.  Time for a replacement. 

    1. debe5t | Apr 16, 2009 04:09pm | #5

      Thanks all.I was afraid of that.The tank is over 30yrs. old and I do not think it is even the type that has an internal bladder.The house itself is over 150yrs. and crumbling around us.

      Deb

      1. HammerHarry | Apr 16, 2009 04:16pm | #7

        Used at summer cottage and old (200 yr old) house when I grew up, you can sometimes buy yourself some time with a self-tapping screw and a rubber washer...used to find these in kits, usually in cottage country.

        If you're hoping to get by for a short period of time, give it a try.  Put a metal washer on top of the rubber washer for 'better performance'.

         

        1. debe5t | Apr 16, 2009 04:27pm | #9

          Thanks Harry,will pass the info along to DH.

          Deb

          1. junkhound | Apr 16, 2009 06:39pm | #11

            2nd what HH said also.  My pressure water tank often have 10-15 'plugs' in them plus 'other fixes' till I replace it.

            Some 'pinholes' have a large weak area around them though, and don't hold a sheet metal screw well, which brings us to 'other fixes'. 

            I'm not joking on the 'other fixes' for those as a couple of my tanks still have this fix.  --  Sharpen a scrap of wood (maple works best by far from my experience) with your penknife, a taper for a point to about 1/2" diameter and 2-3" long.  Drive that into the 'pinhole' with a hammer.  My original 80 gal tank lasted 10 more years with 7 or 8 wooden taper pins driven into it, every time I drove one in it held so well i figured why bother buying a new tank??. 

          2. debe5t | Apr 17, 2009 10:30pm | #15

            Thanks junk.I'll pass this thread onto my DH.anything that'll avoid another huge expense at this point in time is welcomed.

            We had a very cold and nasty winter here in Eastern Canada and ran out of wood.We just received the electric bill for the month we had to use the electric back-up funace...........$980....yep.DH is the manager of a not for profit woodlot owners' assoc. and the wood business is terrible now.He used to have 5 people working with him,now it is just him.He is working literally week to week.He has aged before my eyes this last year while we have lost our health insurance (I have HepC) and his job demands increase.

            Since there are a lot of men here in this forum how can I help my DH? My health limits what I can do but most days I manage to make him a good,tasty dinner.Any advice??

            Deb

          3. HammerHarry | Apr 18, 2009 04:17am | #20

            You can't be too far away from me.  Where in southern nb are you?

          4. debe5t | Apr 18, 2009 04:24am | #23

            Hey, Harry are you Canjun too? We live about an hour north of Saint John on Belleisle Bay,also about an hour+ south of Fredericton and an hour+half from Moncton.The area is called Lower Kars,Kings co.

            Deb

          5. HammerHarry | Apr 18, 2009 03:21pm | #27

            If you ever need to replace the pump, go for a submersible, but that's not the issue here anyway.

            Tank would be cheap enough to replace when you have the time / desire, but you'll probably be able to find a washer/screw temp repair, I'd go to Snows in Hampton if you go that way, or the Home Hardware in GB if you go that way.  (I used to live in Hampton, now I'm in near the McMansions in Millidgeville).

            As for your DH, no, I don't have any useful advice.   Sing O Canada every morning?  (bad joke, based on your location...)

             

          6. debe5t | Apr 19, 2009 07:11am | #28

            Harry, we are too busy trying to save the Belleisle ferry to sing.........  ;-)

            Thanks for the smile!

            Deb

             

      2. john7g | Apr 16, 2009 04:55pm | #10

        Are you on a well? (probably a good assumption since you have a press. tank)

        If so there might a little extra work involved after the tank change. 

        When Dad switched over to a bladder tank there was a small whole in the pipe in the well shaft that had to be plugged, something about it adding air charge to the bladderless tank or somesuch.  Wasn't a difficult process but took the local well company to fix/plug. 

        It's been something like 30yrs and I was pretty much a kid then so my memory is very vague on any of the details other than the whole in the supply pipe had a reason that was invalidated by the bladder tank. 

        1. Griffin12 | Apr 16, 2009 07:49pm | #12

           Usually if you have even a small hole in the pipe in the well it will prevent the system from "priming". Unfortunately in my years I have had extensive experience in repairing wells. About a year ago I replaced my jet pump with a submersible pump. Best thing I ever did.

          1. john7g | Apr 16, 2009 09:47pm | #13

            in this case it was a design feature for the old tank.  only submersible pumps in that area.  don't remember any more of the details though. 

          2. debe5t | Apr 17, 2009 10:33pm | #16

            What are the advantages of the submersible pump? I keep thinking if something goes wrong you have to dig it up?

            Deb

          3. junkhound | Apr 17, 2009 10:56pm | #18

            advantages of the submersible pump  - all I can think of is if you well is over 100 ft deep it is much more efficient.

            I've used a jet pump for nearly 40 years.  My Jet is 60 ft down, 2 pipes going down, one drives the jet, the other brings water to the surface. A good screen is a must cause if a pebble gets into the foot valve you get the 'lost prime' syndrome Griff refered to. A hole in hte pressure tank will not lose the prime, only a hole in the bigger pipe going down the well will cause that (or leaky/stuck foot valve)

            Submersibles are much more $$ than jets.  Plus on a jet, you can easily replace the bearings on the above ground motor without pulling the pump out of the well (attached to a rope, you dont dig it up, you pull it up) - my pumps need the bearings replaced every 6 or so years, you can hear them starting to make noise before they are so work the pump seal gets damaged.  

            RE: health insurance - thought the beneficent gov. of Canada covered all health care at 'no cost', at least what the socialists in the US tell us?

          4. debe5t | Apr 18, 2009 04:09am | #19

            Thanks for the clarification on the pumps.Our well is only about 40ft,so does that mean you would not recommend a submersible for such a shallow well?

            Re: Canadian health care: It costs nothing to see a medical Dr.(if you can find one) but said Dr.has to refer you to a specialist again no charge.Right now I am waiting to see a gastroentologist re: hepC asked the specialist's office person' any idea on time?' I was told ...."could be a day,could be a week,could be a year or years".That was about 3 months ago I was told that.

            Any other thing like drugs,ambulance,dentist,eye Dr. etc.costs.Our big problem is the cost of drugs due to my health problems and of course both DH & I are at the top end of 50+ so drugs for that stuff too.

            Deb

            Edited to add: if I still lived in CA I would be living on the streets since 1994 as that was the last time I was able to work.So,do not get me wrong there is a million things about our system that is good.

            Edited 4/17/2009 9:12 pm ET by debe5t

          5. john7g | Apr 18, 2009 04:18am | #21

            how cold does it get at your well-head there in New Brunswick?  Too cold and the jet pump may freeze up.

            To do a submersible pump the pump is hung on the pipe that it delivers the water through.  Electrical feed is taped to it as it's let down into the well.  There are spacers to keep the pipe & pump centered in the casing to prevent rubbing/wear as the pump torques during it's cycles.  Proper immersion in the water column is important.  if you haven't seen it done, it's best to hire a well company to do it for you.  Things go bad fast if you were to drop things...

            Edited 4/17/2009 9:19 pm ET by john7g

          6. Griffin12 | Apr 18, 2009 06:37am | #24

            Deb,

             

             My experiences with the submersible well have been only positive. I had a jet pump in my well for many years. The well is actually only about 60 feet deep but the foot valve went down to about 45 feet. My well was never 'strong" so when I used the water extensively the pump would become "air locked". Because very small leaks in the footvalve were a regular occurance, when the power was out the pump would lose it's prime. I cannot count the times over the years that I have had to work on that pump.

             About 8 months ago I was having pump problems and was never able to get the prime back even after replacing the footvalve and piping. So I just ripped it all out and put in a submersable. Now it is good bye to airlocks, priming, and sputtering water flow. I have yet to press the well hard (old habits die hard) but I have never lacked for water.

             My Dad has had a submersible for over fifteen years that he got when he drilled a new well and replaced an old jet system. He has yet to have one minute of problem. Compared to pulling up the lines in a jet pump system, I think pullling a submersible out of the well is a fairly easy task.

          7. debe5t | Apr 19, 2009 07:19am | #29

            Thanks for the info.I am sure there is much to be done ahead.I mis-spoke when I said our place was 150yrs.old actually it is closer to 240+.I think if we were ever to bring this place up to the standard we would like it would be cheaper to build a whole sub-divison of new places.I keep telling myself it has history but that does not warm me up much.We have been here 30yrs. now and still dreaming.

            Deb

          8. debe5t | Apr 18, 2009 04:19am | #22

            No advice on how to make DH feel better or to be more supportive to him???

            What would you need/want from your partner in a similar situation?

            Deb

        2. debe5t | Apr 17, 2009 10:21pm | #14

          Thank you for the additional info.It just never seems to end,oh,the joys of being a grown-up and owning a home!

          Deb

  4. peteshlagor | Apr 16, 2009 04:06pm | #4

    Despite what these guys are saying,

    NO.

    New tank is in order.  But have the DH do it rather than a thievin' plumber.

    1. debe5t | Apr 16, 2009 04:15pm | #6

      Hi Pete,Any work that gets done on the house has to be done by DH.He is pretty handy but time is a constraint for him and also money (lack of).

      The troubles with our home and property this last year would fill a soap opera.

      In an old house nothing is a simple project!

      Deb

  5. jayzog | Apr 16, 2009 04:21pm | #8

    Propably should be replaced. If it is a galvanized tank sometimes you can get by with a self tapping plug for a little while.

    http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/ace-repair-plugsself-tapping-p-37080.html?ref=42

    1. debe5t | Apr 17, 2009 10:37pm | #17

      Thanks for the link,jayzog.

      Deb

  6. Pelipeth | Apr 18, 2009 01:56pm | #25

    Boiler plug

    1. debe5t | Apr 19, 2009 07:19am | #30

      Thanks.

      Deb

  7. User avater
    Dam_inspector | Apr 18, 2009 03:05pm | #26

    I think a 20 gallon tank is about $150. My granny patched hers with a bits of innertube and screws. The taste of her well water improved greatly when she got a new tank. Rusty water tastes BAAAAD!
    Check at Tractor supply if they are near you.



    Edited 4/18/2009 8:10 am ET by Dam_inspector

    1. debe5t | Apr 19, 2009 07:22am | #31

      Actually our tank cannot be too rusty yet as the water still tastes great.I think I would love your Granny!

      Lots of small hardware and tractor supply places around,thanks.

      Deb

      1. User avater
        Dam_inspector | Apr 19, 2009 03:24pm | #32

        I loved Granny. Everybody called her that, partly because her turned gray early on. She was born deep in the the appalachian mountains on the border of virginia and Kentucky, the oldest of 5 sisters. Her dad was a coal miner. She was in 4th grade when my great grandad broke his leg cutting down a tree, and died shortly thereafter from a blood clot. So Granny ended her schooling and tended to her sisters while my great grandmother went to work doing whatever, like cleaning houses in town, hoeing fields etc. It was a meager living. She met my granddad early on, and married young. He was quite a character. His name was Silas, but everyone called him Spyder. He didn't like work too much, but had some skills, especially stone masonry taught to him by a local legend Frank Majority, an immigrant from Italy. Silas did a lot of stonework and made gravestones from the local sandstone. Silas was also involved in moonshine, and drinking, but the drinking part had to be done in secret and he was in a world of hurt when granny caught him. He and my uncle bought a coal mine and worked that a few years with a little horse. I think Silas spent a lot more time in there than Mack did, as mack is very healthy to this day, and is over 80, while Silas died in 1958 from black lung, when I was a baby. Mack owned the lease for years and sold it a while back. The new owner found a large vein of coal and has taken out millions of dollars in coal. Mack could have become a millionaire just on royalties. He didn't think there was much coal left there.Silas also built their house, which is a story itself. Mom said when they moved in, there were hand split shakes on the roof, and no ceiling, no tarpaper either. So the wind blew right through the house and they almost froze to death as the only heat was a fireplace. Eventually it was covered with "brick siding" which was a thin asphalt product that had a brick pattern on it. It got a ceiling and wall paper inside which helped a lot, and a warm morning coal heater.Granny was not well educated, but she was very intelligent with an amazing memory, and great judge of character. She was a midwife and even bore all 13 of her own children at home. She was also a sort of doctor and made her own curing salves and herbal medicines. Some of her cures were worse than the symptoms though. All her children were close, and several became very successful. Mom has alzheimer's now, but her childhood stories are easily recalled, and she talks about them to me a lot. She sometimes calls me Mack now. That's a devastating disease. Granny seemed to be slipping in her final days, but she had multiple cancers and the bone cancer was so painful she was highly medicated. I think her mind was still very sound.The old homestead is still standing, but not well. My uncle Roger bought the property and built a nice house there next to Granny. He and his wife watched after her. She loved her old house such as it was, and would have no part of moving into a new mobile home placed there, which was what my uncle wanted to do. She did get a stoker coal heater which burns pulverized coal, and would head out to the coal house with a little bucket multiple times to refill the hopper if she had to, but most times someone would do it for her.I do miss her.

        1. debe5t | Apr 21, 2009 08:36pm | #33

          Your Granny sounds awesome,tough and smart.My Gram was a midwife also in a rural area and made many of her own salves/potions.My Gramp was more of a gentleman farmer so you know who did the work plus raised 7 kids. ;-)

          thanks for sharing your story.I love people stories and we all have one.

          Deb

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