Signs your pressure tank is going bad

Your pressure tank stores water so the pump doesn't have to start every time you open a faucet. When the tank fails, the pump does all the work, and it wears out years early.

Signs the tank is failing

• The pump clicks on and off every few seconds while water runs
• Pressure at the faucet surges and drops
• The pressure gauge needle jumps quickly up and down
• The tank sounds full of water when you tap the top

Why it matters

That rapid on and off is called short cycling. Every start heats the pump motor, and a pump that short cycles can fail in months instead of years. A new tank costs far less than a new pump.

What we do

We check the tank's air charge first. Sometimes it only needs air. If the bladder inside has failed, we replace the tank, usually the same day.