Well Pressure Tank Replacement
The pressure tank is the unsung part of your well system: a steel tank with an air cushion inside that keeps water pressure steady and, more importantly, keeps the pump from starting every time somebody runs a faucet. When the air cushion fails, the tank fills with water — waterlogged — and the pump starts short-cycling.
Short-cycling is the sound of a pump dying early. Clicks on, clicks off, every few minutes. If that's your basement soundtrack, the tank is the first suspect, and replacing it is a few hundred dollars against a few thousand for the pump it'll kill.
Tanks price by size: small runs $400–$900 installed, standard $800–$1,500, large $1,500–$2,500. Size follows the house — more bathrooms and a bigger family want a bigger tank, because a bigger tank means the pump rests longer between runs.
The swap itself is straightforward: drain down, pull the old tank, set the new one, charge it with air to match your pressure switch — two pounds below cut-in, the detail that makes the whole system behave — and verify pressure at the farthest faucet.
A tank call often starts as a well pump repair call, because the symptoms point at the pump. We check the tank's air charge on every repair visit for exactly that reason.
Signs your tank is done
Pump clicking on and off in short bursts. Pressure that surges and fades in the shower. A tank that sounds full of water when you knock on it, top to bottom, instead of hollow up top. Rust weeping at the base. Any one of those earns a look; two together, it's time.
What size tank do you need?
The rule is drawdown: the tank should hold enough water between pump cycles that the pump rests at least a minute or two per run. For most three-bedroom homes around Rochester, that's the standard size. Bigger houses, irrigation, or a home that sleeps twelve on weekends push you to the large — we'll size it from your pump's output, not from a chart on a wall.
How long does a pressure tank last?
Ten to fifteen years is common, less with hard water or a pump that was oversized to begin with. The bladder inside is what gives up.
Can I just add air to my old tank?
If the bladder is intact and it just lost charge, yes — that's a service call, not a replacement. If the bladder has failed, air won't stay, and we'll show you the water coming out of the air valve as proof.
How long does the swap take?
Half a day at most, usually a couple of hours. Water's off during the swap and back on before we leave.
Call (612) 260-8779 — we answer around the clock — or send the form and we'll call you back.