Pressure Tanks and Controls on a Spokane County Well

Pressure tanks hold stored pressure, and pump controls involve electricity. Questions about tanks, pressure switches or wiring belong with a qualified professional, and registration can be checked on the Washington L&I page.

Email us about your well: contact@spokanecountywellpump.com

What pressure tanks and controls are

On a private well, the pressure tank stores water under pressure so the pump does not have to run every time a tap opens. The pressure switch and other controls tell the pump when to start and stop. Together they shape how often a pump cycles and how steady water pressure feels at the tap.

Tanks hold stored pressure, and pump controls involve electricity. That is why this part of a well system belongs with a qualified professional, and why this page covers questions to settle rather than instructions.

Washington State Department of Health publication 331-342 lists a pump motor that cycles on and off rapidly among pressure-tank problems and says "Frequent starts and stops can damage facilities." That publication is written for water systems.

When people look into tanks and controls

A pump cycles on and off often.
Pressure at taps rises and falls.
A tank or switch is old or has been replaced.
Work on the pump is planned and the tank comes up.
A home on a well is changing hands.
A new well or pump is being installed.

What the work usually looks like

Describe the symptoms. Cycling, pressure swings and noises are noted.
Look at the tank and controls. A qualified professional looks them over.
Decide what to check. The professional picks what to test first.
Agree on the work. Scope and price go in writing.
Do the work. Tanks, switches and wiring are handled by the professionals named in the scope.
Check the result. Pressure and cycling are watched afterward.

How to prepare

Before anyone works on a tank or controls:

Note how the system behaves: cycling, pressure swings, noises.
Note when the tank and switch were last replaced.
Gather paperwork on the tank, switch and pump.
Do not open pressure tanks or electrical controls yourself.
Ask which trades the work involves, such as electrical or plumbing.
Check each company's registration on the L&I page.
Get the price in writing, with what it includes.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For tanks and controls, the cost depends on what is replaced and which trades are involved.

What is replaced. A tank, a switch and wiring differ in price.
Trades involved. Electrical and plumbing work can be separate trades.
Access. How easily the tank and controls can be reached.
Time on site. Looking at the system takes time before work starts.
Parts. Replacement parts add cost.
Written scope. Whether the price covers assessment only or replacement too.

Which trades can be involved

Tank and control work can involve more than one trade. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Asking which trades the job involves, and checking each company's registration, keeps the scope clear about who is responsible for which part.

Questions worth writing down

Before any work on a tank or controls, write down what the symptoms are, what has been replaced before and which trades the job involves. Ask each company what is in its price and what is not. A short list of questions, with the answers kept alongside the paperwork for the well, makes the next conversation about the system much easier.

Sources and registration

Trades and registration. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What does a pressure tank do?

On a private well, the pressure tank stores water under pressure so the pump does not run every time a tap opens. The pressure switch tells the pump when to start and stop. Tanks hold stored pressure and controls involve electricity, so work on them belongs with a qualified professional.

Who should work on a pressure tank?

A qualified, registered professional should. Tanks hold stored pressure and pump controls involve electricity. Contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions.

Why does a pump cycle on and off?

Washington State Department of Health publication 331-342 lists a pump motor that cycles on and off rapidly among pressure-tank problems. It is written for water systems, so ask a qualified professional what applies to your own tank, switch and pump after they have looked at them.

How much does a tank or control replacement cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For tanks and controls the cost depends on what is replaced, which trades are involved and how easily the equipment can be reached. Ask for a written scope that lists what is included, so prices from different companies can be compared.

How do I check a company before tank work?

Search the company on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page. Ask which registrations and licenses it holds for the work it will do, since tank and control work can involve electrical and plumbing trades. Get the price in writing.

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