The main purpose of the accumulator is to reduce the number of on and off of the pump installed in the autonomous water supply system of a private house. Also, its function is to hold a certain amount of water, which is required during the repair of the pumping station or lack of power. Over time, the hydraulic tank wears out and malfunctions. The causes of malfunctions are few.
Accumulator problems
The most common malfunction is a decrease in pressure inside the water supply network. There is only one reason - the pressure between the rubber membrane and the steel walls of the accumulator has dropped. In the factory, nitrogen is pumped into the tank under a pressure of 1.5 atm. It creates a pressure inside the water supply system by pressure on the membrane into which water is pumped from a well or a well by a pump.
Nitrogen pressure decreases for various reasons, but more often due to the weak holding capacity of the nipple. Solving this problem is not difficult on your own. To do this, use a car pressure gauge that checks the pressure by installing it on the nipple. The latter is located on the opposite side of the inlet of the hydraulic tank.
- Remove the protective nipple cover made of plastic.
- Install the pressure gauge, check the pressure inside the tank.
- If the parameter is underestimated, air is pumped to the desired value through the same nipple with a normal automobile pump.
- Close the nipple with a lid.
Usually this operation is carried out on an operated device, therefore there are certain requirements for the procedure. To do this, turn off the pump, open one of the consumers (usually the closest to the hydraulic accumulator) and drain all the water.
Even if after that the pressure in the accumulator used drops rapidly, the cause must be sought elsewhere. More often these are smudges at the joints of the water supply system. Therefore, we must first examine the entire water supply system. Usually they check the joints between pipes, the joints with fittings, with valves, with filters for various purposes, with consumers and other products installed in the plumbing system of a private house. If smudges were identified, they must be eliminated.
There are two more reasons why the accumulator does not hold the required pressure. This also applies to lowering the nitrogen pressure inside the tank.
- Over time, areas of leaks appear at the junction of the flange-nipple joint. Gas leaks through them. To solve this problem, it is necessary to unscrew the nipple, remove the old flange and install a new one instead. Spare parts and parts from hydraulic tanks are sold in all construction stores.
- The same goes for the junction of the flange and the rubber pear-shaped membrane. Sometimes this problem is solved by simply tightening the mounting bolts (there are six of them in the tank structure).
Sometimes in the accumulator, the membrane simply breaks due to wear. To replace the rubber bulb, you need to disassemble the device:
- the pump is disconnected from the power supply;
- one of the consumers opens, water is drained from the water supply network;
- flexible hoses that connect the accumulator to the water supply are unscrewed;
- six bolts connecting the flange to the membrane are unscrewed with a wrench;
- the flange is removed, the pear is pulled out;
- the container is washed and dried;
- a new membrane is installed;
- a flange is mounted, which is tightened by fixing bolts;
- from the nipple side, air is pumped into the tank using a car pump to a pressure of 1.5 atm .;
- the accumulator is connected by flexible hoses to the water supply;
- the pressure switch is configured to turn on and off the pump unit, taking into account the nameplate pressure of the hydraulic tank.
Such a repair process may take several hours. In the service center, this will be done in half an hour. But since the procedures are simple, they can be done with your own hands.
To know exactly whether the rubber membrane is torn or not, one experiment is necessary. You need to take a screwdriver or a match, which you need to press the nipple. If water has poured, then the container is completely full due to rupture of the membrane.
No water enters the hydraulic tank
This reason for the inoperative state of the hydraulic tank is common. It's all about the degree of contamination of the water that sways from a well or well. Before the pump and the entrance to the house, filters are installed that are periodically clogged. This leads to the fact that the accumulator does not collect water.
With the first filter, the pump has the least problems. It is rarely clogged because it has a mesh structure with large cells. Its task is not to let stones and rubbish inside the pump unit.
Filters installed inside the house in the water treatment system are often clogged. The dirtier the water, the faster the blockage. Usually replace cartridges with new ones. The passports of these products set the standards for the life of devices. They must be taken as the basis of prevention.
Another reason why the accumulators are not filled with water is a sharp decrease in the voltage in the network. The pump from this does not work correctly. Its characteristics such as pressure and performance are falling. A decrease in pressure is a drop in pressure of the water stream itself. It cannot withstand the pressure of nitrogen inside the accumulator. The gas pumped into the tank simply does not allow liquid to penetrate the rubber bulb.
The problem is solved by purchasing a step-up transformer, which is installed between the connection point and the pump station.
The third reason is the airing of the water main. This phenomenon is often encountered in autonomous networks, especially if a surface pump is installed in them. At some point, an air congestion forms, which stands still and does not allow water to move further.
To do this, a tee is usually mounted on the suction circuit with a drain valve or valve installed. When this situation occurs, you just need to open the faucet and bleed the water along with the air.
The causes of airing can be different situations:
- deformation of the suction hose, the appearance of through cracks or holes on it, in this case it is better to replace the hose with a new one;
- a decrease in the water level in the well or well, due to which air is drawn into the suction pipe, the problem is solved easily - you need to lower the hose below.
The reasons for the non-filling of the accumulator tank are complex in terms of their correction. This is a repair of the tank or water main. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is always possible to quickly find the source of the problem.
Accumulator maintenance
In order for the water system to work taking into account the responsibilities assigned to it, it is necessary to properly maintain it. In this regard, special attention is paid to the hydraulic tank. Preventive actions:
- check once every six months for compliance with the nitrogen pressure inside the tank;
- once a year to check the tightness of the membrane;
- once a month to inspect the tank for dents, rust and other external flaws;
- once every six months to check the operation of the pressure switch: whether the pump turns on and off correctly, whether it complies with the specified parameters.
If the house is preserved for the winter, the water supply must be prepared. The main task of the owner is to drain the water from the accumulator and pipes. In the spring it is recommended to check all the elements. In the hydraulic tank, the gas pressure is first checked, and then it is filled and checked for leaks.
