To get water out of a well tank, you typically open a designated valve that allows the water to drain from the tank. This process is often done for maintenance, troubleshooting, or preparing the tank for service.
Getting water out of a well pressure tank usually involves finding and opening a drain valve, often located near the bottom of the tank or connected to the plumbing manifold.
Steps to Drain a Well Tank
Draining a well tank, like a pressure tank, is a common task for maintenance or repair. Based on the provided reference, a key step is opening a specific valve.
Here's a general overview of the process:
- Turn Off Power: Crucially, before doing anything, you must turn off the power to the well pump. This prevents the pump from turning on while you are draining the system and potentially running dry, which can damage it. Find the breaker switch or disconnect for the well pump and turn it off.
- Reduce System Pressure: Open a faucet in the house (preferably one on a lower level, like a basement sink or outdoor spigot) to relieve pressure in the system. Let the water run until it stops or slows to a trickle.
- Locate the Drain Valve: Identify the drain valve on or near the well tank. This is often a standard spigot-type valve or ball valve located at the base of the tank or part of the plumbing assembly connected to it.
- Open the Drain Valve: As indicated in the reference, "Off from there you can open the valve. And it will drain all of the water from the tank." Place a bucket or connect a hose to the valve to direct the draining water away from the tank and foundation. Slowly open the drain valve.
- Allow Water to Drain: Let the water drain completely from the tank. This may take some time depending on the tank's size.
- Verify Draining (Optional): The reference mentions, "And then you can go ahead. And just double check that. Everything is is good to go inside of the switch." While the reference specifically mentions checking the switch, once the tank is drained, you might also check the tank pressure (when the tank is empty) or prepare it for whatever maintenance is needed.
Why Drain a Well Tank?
There are several reasons why you might need to drain a well pressure tank:
- Adding Air: Pressure tanks require a specific air charge when empty to function correctly. Draining the water allows you to add air to the tank to the correct pressure.
- Troubleshooting: Draining can help diagnose issues like waterlogged tanks (tanks that have lost their air charge).
- Maintenance or Replacement: If you need to replace the tank, work on the plumbing connected to it, or perform other system maintenance, draining is necessary.
- Winterization: In some cases, draining components might be part of preparing a system for freezing temperatures.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Turn off power | Locate well pump breaker/disconnect. | Safety, prevent pump damage. |
| 2. Reduce Pressure | Open a faucet. | Release system pressure, allow draining. |
| 3. Locate Valve | Find drain valve on/near tank. | Identify point of exit for water. |
| 4. Open Valve | Open the drain valve (reference instruction). | Allow water to exit the tank. |
| 5. Drain | Let water flow out completely. | Empty the tank of water. |
Following these steps, particularly opening the drain valve as mentioned in the reference, is the standard way to remove water from a well tank.
