Should you repair or replace your well pressure tank?
Updated August 2026
← Every repair-or-replace call
Test the air charge at the Schrader valve first, because a tank that is merely low on air takes 10 minutes and a compressor to fix, while a ruptured bladder is a replacement. Pressure tanks are sealed vessels, so nothing inside can be rebuilt once the diaphragm splits. The tank costs $200–500 on its own and $400–900 installed, and a good one lasts 10–15 years. Do not sit on a waterlogged tank. The moment it loses its air cushion, the well pump starts and stops every few seconds, and that cycling destroys pumps costing several times what the tank does.
The short version
The 50% rule does not apply to a component this cheap; the only question is whether the bladder is intact. Kill the pump breaker, drain the system to zero, put a tire gauge on the Schrader valve, and read what comes out. Air below the target means a slow leak and a recharge, which costs nothing but ten minutes. Water out of that valve means the bladder has split, and since the tank is a welded, sealed vessel the answer is a $400–900 replacement, not a repair. Move fast either way. A waterlogged tank forces the pump to start and stop every few seconds, and that cycling is what burns out a $1,000–2,500 well pump, turning a small tank bill into a large well bill.
Your situation, decided
| Situation | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Water sprays from the Schrader valve during the test | Replace | The bladder has ruptured; sealed tanks cannot be repaired |
| Gauge reads low, only air comes out | Repair (recharge) | Drain the tank, pump it to 2 psi below cut-in, about 28 psi |
| Pump cycles every few seconds under a running tap | Act this week | Waterlogging; short-cycling burns out a $1,000–2,500 pump |
| Rust weeping at the tank seam or base | Replace | A corroded pressure vessel will split; $400–900 installed |
| Old galvanized bladderless tank, waterlogs yearly | Replace with a bladder tank | A modern tank ends the seasonal draining chore |
What each path costs
Repairs typically run $0–150; a replacement is $400–900 installed. A bladder pressure tank lasts 10–15 years. Recharging the air is worthwhile at any age, but once water comes out of the Schrader valve, replace the tank before it takes the pump with it. Price your own number on the home maintenance cost calculator before you commit either way.
The repair-or-replace call is easy when you know the unit's age and service history. OnOtto keeps both, plus the maintenance that delays this decision for years.
Start your home's service log, freeFrequently asked questions
How do I check the air charge in a pressure tank?
Four steps, ten minutes. Shut off the pump breaker, open the nearest faucet and let the system drain to zero pressure, then put a tire gauge on the Schrader valve on top of the tank. The reading should sit 2 psi below the pump cut-in, so 28 psi on a 30/50 switch and 38 psi on a 40/60. Add air with a compressor or bike pump until it matches, close everything up, and restore power. Do it twice a year.
What size pressure tank do I need?
Size it so the pump runs at least a full minute per cycle, which is what protects the motor. Usable drawdown is roughly a quarter to a third of the nominal volume, so a 20-gallon tank gives about 5 to 6 gallons and a 44-gallon tank about 12. Match that drawdown to the pump output in gallons per minute. Prices run $200–300 for a 20-gallon tank, $350–550 for a 44, and $600–900 for an 86, so going one size up is cheap insurance for the pump.
What makes a pressure tank waterlogged?
A split bladder, most of the time. The rubber diaphragm separating air from water fatigues after 10–15 years of flexing, and once it tears the air escapes into the plumbing and the tank fills solid. A leaking Schrader valve does the same thing more slowly. Old galvanized tanks have no bladder at all and waterlog as a matter of course, which is why they need draining every season. Our guide on a waterlogged tank walks through the symptoms.