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73ANDY · 04-10-2003, 08:29 PM

Hey, has anyone ever added a small Bladder tank to their water supply system? It seems like it would help reduce the click click click as the system is getting up to pressure. Or will this defeat the whole "on demand" pressure switch senario????

Any ideas on this?

john hd · 04-10-2003, 08:40 PM

73andy,

my trailer has one, original equipment.

works well!

john

73ANDY · 04-10-2003, 08:53 PM

Is your pump a PAR pump?

What size of Bladder tank is installed?

pap · 04-10-2003, 09:43 PM

Ok guys i'll set the table, what exactly is a bladder tank?

uwe · 04-10-2003, 10:04 PM

Pap,
It's also referred to as an accumulator, but it's main purpose is to dampen water pressure shock to avoind pipe rattle, and to supply instant pressure when you turn the water on. It makes it so the pump runs a bit less often as it delivers water the moment you turn on the faucet.

87MH · 04-11-2003, 08:58 PM

We had a houseboat that had a pretty typical RV type of water system.

Pipe hammer, while not a problem per se, was evident. Also the water flow varied quite a bit when the pump cycled on and off.

Note that neither of the above was a really serious problem. (In my opinion.)

Installed a 12" diameter SS globe mounted with the inlet down, system was running at about 30 lbs, so we figured that the globe was running about 1/2 full.

The volume tank helped with both the pipe hammer and evening out the water flow, but cost effective? I think not.

I would have to say, though, that if a "micro-leak" was causing the pump to cycle during the night and disrupt sleep, that a significant expense might be warranted, but you could always turn the pump switch in the off position during the night.

wb13798 · 04-12-2003, 01:46 PM

i have the bladder system and my wife loves it . constant water pressure when in the shower makes a big difference. if you have to justify the cost you wont. just preference. lol
al

73ANDY · 04-15-2003, 06:46 PM

Well, I installed a bladder tank(accumulator tank) over the weekend.

The pump cycled perfectly the first time and filled the tank and the lines up and shut off, however the next time it cycled, after I turned on the faucets and let them run for a while, it shut off, but then about every 20-30 seconds it acted like it was going to cycle again. I had lowered the air pressure in the air side of the bladder tank down to about 12 psi(because the pump cycles on at about 18 psi(+/- 4 psi)) so I don't think that would be the problem. I have been gone for the last few days and I haven't checked it again since that second cycle. Maybe it will run just right the next time I try it!?