If your water pressure has been slowly reducing then the bladder IS shot. It can be TEMPORARILY fixed by pumping air in the top nipple, but this will only last a month or two. Bladders develop pinholes over the years and this happens. Fitting your own tank will save 5-600 bucks -
-Here is how to fit a new one (-If, for instance you find changing the brake pads and shoes on your car difficult, then do NOT do this job. ) Tools needed are 2 14-18 inch pipe wrenches, small crescent wrench, 9/16 open wrench, 3/8 nut-driver. good 0-100 psi gauge, thread compound or silicon tape.
The well pressure tank should have a tank TEE fitted to the base of it. This tee holds the incoming and outgoing pipes. The top of this tee is where the pressure switch is fitted along with the gauge. Outgoing from this Tee is a ball valve connected to the main cold water pipe to the house system. At the other side fit a check valve then the incoming pipe from the well. The tank air pressure mustbe checked and made compatible with the pressure switch. (2 PSI below 'on' setting). Most home pressure switches are pre-set at 30-50 PSI. This pressure switch must then be wired to incoming electrical supply and outgoing wires to pump or control box. The air pressure in your new tank must be 28 PSI for this switch. Many new tanks come pressurised at 40-45 PSI, so some pressure may have to be released from the nipple on top.
If you do not understand everything that I've said here - PLEASE hire a well technician to do it. There are many things to set up here and it's not a job for amateurs - In fact of all the plumbers I know (dozens) only about 3 of them can do it properly.
Water bladder tanks are tanks which contain a rubber bladder that is filled with either water or air. The majority of water bladder tanks have water-filled bladders. When a water faucet is turned on or a toilet is flushed, the water is piped in from the water tank. As the water pressure and air pressure get low, the contacts on the pressure switch click together. The pressure switch sends an electrical current to the water pump which causes the water pump to kick on and pipe water back into the water bladder tank. The amount of time it takes for the pressure switch to click on depends upon the size of the water bladder tank. The larger the water bladder tank, the longer it will be before the pressure switch starts to deliver electrical current to the water pump. Read more: How Does a Water Bladder Tank Work? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5001805_water-bladder-tank-work.html#ixzz2A9TeSAnX found this on www.ehow.com
Water bladder tanks are tanks which contain a rubber bladder that is filled with either water or air. The majority of water bladder tanks have water-filled bladders. When a water faucet is turned on or a toilet is flushed, the water is piped in from the water tank. As the water pressure and air pressure get low, the contacts on the pressure switch click together. The pressure switch sends an electrical current to the water pump which causes the water pump to kick on and pipe water back into the water bladder tank. The amount of time it takes for the pressure switch to click on depends upon the size of the water bladder tank. The larger the water bladder tank, the longer it will be before the pressure switch starts to deliver electrical current to the water pump. Read more: How Does a Water Bladder Tank Work? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5001805_water-bladder-tank-work.html#ixzz2A9TeSAnX found this on www.ehow.com
Switch off the pump and let water out of the tank at nearest tap (preferably the drain tap on tank) When pressure is at zero on water gauge, measure the pressure on the nipple on tank top. It should read above 28 psi on most systems, if so your bladder is good. If pressure at that nipple is very low, or zero, then your bladder is shot. - In theory, any bladder can be changed (and I have done many) -but unless the tank is a large one (over 90 gallons) then it is not economical.
Water expands when it is heated, this expansion increases the pressure. The bladder tank absorbs the extra pressure, protecting the hot water heater.
If tank has rusted through, tank will leak. If bladder goes bad, tank should not leak.
if its a bladder type tank, it will need to be replaced
The "bladder" in a bladder water tank is typically made using a durable, puncture resistant fabric that is made to withstand pressure and prevent the pillow from popping.
The recommended amount of air pressure in a bladder tank is typically around 2 psi below the cut-in pressure of the water pump.
The purpose of a water pressure bladder tank in a residential plumbing system is to maintain consistent water pressure by storing and releasing water as needed, helping to prevent the pump from turning on and off frequently.
Defective bladder / low pressure inside the tank
If the bladder is bad in your expansion tank the tank will fill with water. When this happens the pressure in your furnace will exceed 30lbs and your pressure relief valve will blow off.
Bladder water tanks contain a rubber bladder from which the water is used. As the water pressure goes down it turns on a switch which causes the water bladder to be refilled from the attached well.