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Topics - Elton Noway

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Valve Tech / Pressure Tank Mounting Position
« on: June 24, 2019, 01:42:38 PM »
Sorry... I'm aware similar questions on this subject have been discussed in several ways in various forums but before moving on... I'd appreciate some additional professional insight before proceeding.

Eight years ago I installed a PK1W (Pside-kick Kit) which included the original CSV1W valve.  Per the instructions and in reading numerous forums it became clear the pside-kick pressure tank could be mounted in any position (horizontal, vertical, tank inlet up or tank inlet down. Based on the manifold that came with my kit and the working area I had... I installed the tank vertically with the water inlet at the top and pressure valve fitting at the bottom. Last week I replaced the well pump (18 years old but stopped working due to a break in the electrical wiring going down the well) Because I replaced the pump I also replace the pressure switch. The CSV valve is still working fine but I decided to also replace the pressure tank as well since I was doing an overhaul. At the time I attempted to place my order the Wellxtrol 4.4 gallon (WX-102) it was on back order so I ordered the 7.6 gallon (WX-103) instead. It has the the exact same size fittings and same diameter as the the original 4.4 gallon tank in service now (only difference is its about 10 inches taller) Anyway... I  figured swapping the tanks would be a piece of cake. Unscrew the exiting tank, screw in the new tank, check/adjust the tank pressure as needed and be done. Here's my dilemma... per the Wellxtrol installation instructions that came with the tank it "must be" installed vertically with the water inlet at the bottom :(   

Granted I could make a relatively simple modification to the plumbing and mount the tank as they suggest... but from a physics standpoint (as far as I see it) the air in the tank will still exert pressure on the bladder regardless of how the tank is oriented. I also figured... by installing it the same way as the current pside-kick tank with the pressure valve on the bottom I could easily tell if the bladder failed by the presence of water exiting the valve when depressed ... or even use the valve at the bottom to drain any possible condensation that might form in the air chamber.

NET: Warranty issues aside... is there any valid argument - difference in operation .... or facts behind why I should install it as they require with the water inlet at the bottom and pressure valve at the top? 

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The bladder my 10 year old 125Gal Flotec let go (spraying water from the valve when I attempted to check the air pressure). When I purchased it 10 years ago, from one of those big name home improvement stores, I wasn't able to find much information on the net. Now that I know better and I won't be buying another Flotec.

Anyway, after much research it seems the pside-kick will be a near perfect solution. I say near perfect because it's just my wife and I, with normal water usage, (i.e. showers, toilet, laundry, dishwasher) but no irrigation system of any kind. I only mentioned this because (like others) I'm concerned about the pump kicking in with every gallon of water usage. I know the argument is the elimination of frequent cycles during long use times (showers and laundry) will offset the extra cycles toilet flushes, brushing teeth or shaving etc., but I can't help but think there will be more of these short periods of water usage cycles. Too many in fact, to be offset by the cycles saved during long water use periods. With that thought in mind... I was originally planning on installing a CSV1W with a Flexcon WWT-20... but... I'm 60. Although 60 I'm in great shape and can still easily wrestle the old 125Gal out and a new 20gal tank in under the house. My concern is in the future... (say 20 years from now) of having to change out the 20 gallon tank. While swapping out a 20Gal might be near impossible, I'm hoping I should still be able to replace the little 4 gal on the pside-kick. For this reason I hoping I can get by with just the pside-kick.

Which leads me to the original subject of this thread. If I install the pside-kick... then after a month or so I decide I would be better off with a 20 gal tank... can I simply install the 20Gal tank downstream of the pside-kicks 4gal tank?

In theory I'm thinking the CSV won't care there if there is more than one tank... and it will simply allow the pressure to rise in both tanks until the pressure switch shuts off the pump. NET: Can I use a second tank in conjunction with the pside-kick?

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