Hi all, great forum... I have just taken over a property with a new well system. It services 4 residential properties, just being finished. I have general plumbing knowledge, but never worked on a well system...
I was trying to grasp the well design...I think its improperly controlled and plumbed. Here is the set-up...
Well pump feeds above ground in well house via 2" PVC pipe.... it feeds four 60 gallon pressurized bladder tanks (which are plumbed to act a single unit)....
in addition, this 2" PVC feed goes down into the underground storage tank, about 1700 gallons, it appeared a poly tank when I saw it installed. Surely not metal.
There is an additional water pump, which pulls water up from the under ground storage tank and discharges into the bladder tank loop, which in turn, pressurizes the underground storage tank. The check valves all seem to be in the right place.
A few questions....
1) Assuming I do not run the above ground pump (it could be there for fast fill of water trucks).....the way the system is controlled now, the well pump is controlled by a pressure switch on the bladder tank loop....set at about 50 lbs. However, this well water feed also fills the underground poly storage tank.... so the underground storage tank will have the same pressure as the bladder tank loop. Which forces the underground storage tanks "overflow" to release water by the well house. My initial question is... are underground poly tanks meant to be pressurized ? I would think, NO! ??
2) Assuming I have the above correct.... I would think the most sensible control scheme would be..... the well pump should be controlled by a float switch in the underground storage tank. (there is a wire coming up from the storage tank which must be a float switch) The well pumps sole purpose should be to keep the underground storage tank full, till the float switch engages, but never under pressure. I would have to re plumb to accomplish this.
3) The above ground pump near the bladder tanks should be controlled by a pressure switch on the bladder tank loop. It's sole purpose should be to pressurize the bladder tanks with water up to 50 lbs. of pressure.
In other words, two separate control loops, which function independent of each other. Is this the "ideal" control scenario? Or can a single well pump pressurize the bladder tank, as well as the underground storage tank? As I see no way the underground poly storage tank won't constantly be pressurized every time the well pump comes on. Which is creating a lot of overflow, and some some water percolating up through the earth above the storage tank, as the overflow drain pipe size was undersized vs. the well pumps capacity. I am confused why it was plumbed and controlled by this method, seems bizarre to me... this was an experienced well driller which is why I am thinking I am missing something.
Any input would be greatly appreciated, TYIA
I was trying to grasp the well design...I think its improperly controlled and plumbed. Here is the set-up...
Well pump feeds above ground in well house via 2" PVC pipe.... it feeds four 60 gallon pressurized bladder tanks (which are plumbed to act a single unit)....
in addition, this 2" PVC feed goes down into the underground storage tank, about 1700 gallons, it appeared a poly tank when I saw it installed. Surely not metal.
There is an additional water pump, which pulls water up from the under ground storage tank and discharges into the bladder tank loop, which in turn, pressurizes the underground storage tank. The check valves all seem to be in the right place.
A few questions....
1) Assuming I do not run the above ground pump (it could be there for fast fill of water trucks).....the way the system is controlled now, the well pump is controlled by a pressure switch on the bladder tank loop....set at about 50 lbs. However, this well water feed also fills the underground poly storage tank.... so the underground storage tank will have the same pressure as the bladder tank loop. Which forces the underground storage tanks "overflow" to release water by the well house. My initial question is... are underground poly tanks meant to be pressurized ? I would think, NO! ??
2) Assuming I have the above correct.... I would think the most sensible control scheme would be..... the well pump should be controlled by a float switch in the underground storage tank. (there is a wire coming up from the storage tank which must be a float switch) The well pumps sole purpose should be to keep the underground storage tank full, till the float switch engages, but never under pressure. I would have to re plumb to accomplish this.
3) The above ground pump near the bladder tanks should be controlled by a pressure switch on the bladder tank loop. It's sole purpose should be to pressurize the bladder tanks with water up to 50 lbs. of pressure.
In other words, two separate control loops, which function independent of each other. Is this the "ideal" control scenario? Or can a single well pump pressurize the bladder tank, as well as the underground storage tank? As I see no way the underground poly storage tank won't constantly be pressurized every time the well pump comes on. Which is creating a lot of overflow, and some some water percolating up through the earth above the storage tank, as the overflow drain pipe size was undersized vs. the well pumps capacity. I am confused why it was plumbed and controlled by this method, seems bizarre to me... this was an experienced well driller which is why I am thinking I am missing something.
Any input would be greatly appreciated, TYIA