I have a 60+ gallon pressure tank that isn't working properly anymore. I have a replacement, but I can't get the old tank to drain. I've opened the drain at the bottom, drained the entire house system but the water isn't draining fully. I've inflated and deflated the internal bladder twice but I still have probably 40 gallons in the tank (400+ pounds).

Can I get any advice how to get the water to drain? Is there a vacuum built up that I need to break?

Thanks,

Toogle

When you add air, does it push any water out of the drain, as if the bladder were bad? You may have to diconnect it and use a cart, its heavy, and take it outside. You will have to drill or knock a hole in the tank. Probably on the top, middle and bottom. You may have to lay it on the side.

When the bladder/diaphragm goes bad, water moves to the top side of the tank and becomes entrapped there. You will either have to remove the tank as is from its location, or drill a series of holes (1 1/2" or so) from bottom to top and wet vac the water out of the tank. It will be nasty looking water because it is stagnant.

Thanks for the quick replies. It looks like you were both right on. The tank is completely disconnected and still half full of water. I wrestled it outside on a furniture dolly and I'll drill it and drain it tomorrow.

Thanks.

T

Open a faucet, and leave it open,then put air into the tank. It will push the water out.

That works very well if the bladder is air tight, it doesn't work quite as well when the bladdder is ruptured.

There still has to be a hole in the diaphragm if the water got above it. And injecting air into the tank above the water will push it out through that hole.

FYI: After lugging the waterfilled tank outside I positioned it with the air valve lowered and removed the valve core. HTH

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FYI: Tank emptied per the above. Righted it and the reset came out the bottom connection...no hole drilling needed.



Edited 4 times.

If the hole is small, though, it doesn't push out. In my case, all the water seemed to be above the diaphram (I think). It's draing now per the pic:

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