Your pressure tank is the number one cause of premature well pump failure when it is not working correctly. A failed pressure tank does not just mean low water pressure — it means your pump is short-cycling, overheating, and burning itself out months or years ahead of schedule. Legacy Water Well replaces more pressure tanks than any other single component, and in most cases, the homeowner had no idea the tank was the problem.

Here is how it works: the pressure tank stores pressurized water between pump cycles. When you turn on a faucet, water flows from the tank — not directly from the pump. The pump only kicks on when tank pressure drops to the cut-in point (usually 30 or 40 PSI). A healthy tank holds enough reserve to supply water for 30–60 seconds before the pump needs to cycle.

When the bladder inside the tank fails, the tank fills with water and loses its air cushion. Now the pump has to run every time you open a faucet, even for a few seconds. That is called short-cycling, and it will kill a submersible pump in 1–3 years instead of the normal 8–15.

These are the symptoms we see on almost every pressure tank service call in the Fort Worth–Weatherford area:

• Pump cycling rapidly — You can hear or see the pump kicking on and off every 5–15 seconds when water is running. This is the classic sign of a waterlogged tank.
• Tank feels heavy at the top — A healthy tank should feel light and hollow in the upper half (that is where the air is). If the top feels heavy and full of water, the bladder has failed.
• Water spitting from the air valve — Press the Schrader valve on top of the tank. If water comes out instead of air, the bladder is ruptured.
• Pressure gauge bouncing — The pressure gauge swings wildly between cut-in and cut-out instead of holding steady. This indicates the air charge is gone.
• Rust or corrosion at the base — Tanks corrode from the inside out in areas with aggressive water chemistry. Once you see rust weeping at the seams, replacement is the only option.

If you are seeing any of these signs, do not wait. Every day of short-cycling is taking time off your pump's life. Request a quote for pressure tank replacement and protect the expensive equipment downhole.

Legacy Water Well installs premium bladder-style pressure tanks from the leading manufacturers. We stock the most common sizes on our trucks for same-day replacement:

• 20-gallon tanks — Suitable for small cabins, guest houses, or very low-demand applications.
• 30–50 gallon tanks — The standard residential range. Pairs well with 1/2 HP to 3/4 HP pumps serving 2–3 bathroom homes.
• 50–85 gallon tanks — For larger homes, higher-output pumps, or properties that want longer draw-down between pump cycles.
• 85–119 gallon tanks — For large homes, multi-building properties, and systems with 1+ HP pumps. Reduces cycling significantly.

Bigger is almost always better when it comes to pressure tanks. A larger tank means fewer pump cycles per day, less wear on the pump and pressure switch, and more reserve water during peak usage. The cost difference between a 50-gallon and an 85-gallon tank is usually $150–$250 — a small price to pay for years of additional pump life.

After installation, we set the pre-charge to 2 PSI below your cut-in pressure, verify the pressure switch settings, and test the system through multiple cycles to make sure everything is dialed in.

We cannot overstate this: a bad pressure tank is the fastest way to destroy a good pump. Here is the math that most well owners never see:

A healthy 50-gallon pressure tank with proper pre-charge provides about 14 gallons of drawdown between cycles. At a typical household flow rate of 5 GPM, that is nearly 3 minutes between pump cycles. The pump runs for about 2 minutes to refill the tank, then rests. That is roughly 10 cycles per hour during heavy use — well within normal operating range.

A waterlogged 50-gallon tank provides almost zero drawdown. The pump cycles every 5–10 seconds. That is 360+ cycles per hour. Every start draws 3–5x the running amperage, generating heat in the motor windings. After months of this abuse, the motor fails.

A $300–$500 pressure tank replacement prevents a $2,000–$4,000 pump replacement. It is the single best return on investment in your entire well system.