The accumulator very slowly gets saturated and loses performance. Tone of the system gradually changes, and then soon it accepts no pressure. System then runs straight off the pump. Those with accumulators know what I mean.
So about every 6 months, I disconnect the line-in at the base and drain it. Good as new. Not a technically difficult job but a pain to get hose off, little bit of knuckle skin, keep the draining/splashing water directed away from things, make sure reconnected hose doesn't leak, etc.
Well, I just discovered that running the tanks dry does precisely the same thing.
Air in the lines purges the accumulator.
I've run them dry before, but I guess never at a time when the accumulator was nearing service requirement, so didn't notice the change.
So about every 6 months, I disconnect the line-in at the base and drain it. Good as new. Not a technically difficult job but a pain to get hose off, little bit of knuckle skin, keep the draining/splashing water directed away from things, make sure reconnected hose doesn't leak, etc.
Well, I just discovered that running the tanks dry does precisely the same thing.
Air in the lines purges the accumulator.
I've run them dry before, but I guess never at a time when the accumulator was nearing service requirement, so didn't notice the change.
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