Winterizing Accumulator Tank

[Steve Carpman]

This is our second year for our 1991 Legend 37.5. The accumulator tank (pressure tank) is on the fritz. The water pump cycles on every time the water fauct is turned on. I realize these things fail. Fortunately, this one does not look too difficult (or too expensive) to replace. I am wondering, however, if something we did or did not do when winterizing last winter may have caused its demise?Our winterizing procedure is to tie the hot water line into the coal water line, drain the hot water tank and run about 2 gallons of the pink stuff through all of the hot and coal water lines. We did nothing to the accumulator tank. Is there anything that needs to be done to the accumulator tank as part of the winterization process? Our boat spends the winters in northern Michigan - very cold.

 

[Jim]

Accumulator tank

Your tank should be AFTER the water pump. If this is so, the antifreexe fills the tank before it comes out the sink. No further action is required. Perhaps your tank problem is a simple fix. If there is a tire valve on the top, try pumpint it up a couple of times. If memory serves correctly, internal pressure should be 20 pounds. Check it with a tire gauge and fill as necessary. It is either low on pressure, or the diaphram has a hole in it, allowing the entire tank to fill with water, loosing the desired effect. Hope this helps.

 

[Jim Rushing]

Read the Instructions

Get a copy of the instructions for your particular accumulator tank and repressure it. It will tell what the pressure should be when empty and when full. Don't guess, it makes a big difference. Every spring when you start the season, repressurize the tank to the correct value. The only effect that a bad bladder has is that it allows the bladder air to dispurse into the water.