Installing tanks

If your tank is being placed underground, you will need to install risers to elevate the inlet and gaskets to an aboveground access point.

This is where water directed from a well or collection source will be directed. Once the risers are attached you can fill in the excavated land with backfill.

As storage tanks are vulnerable to warping under pressure, the hole must be filled in evenly and in layers of compacted material. This is another complicated step that may require a professional. Any sort of pressurized plumbing system will require extra hardware. In most cases, you will need, at the very least, a check valve, a pressure tank, a relief valve, a pressure switch, and a boiler drain.

These tools help regulate the amount of pressure applied to the water line that runs from the well or other source to the storage tank inlet. Pressure systems are complicated as is, and those fixed to underground water storage tanks will only require greater professional expertise to install.

Our tanks are made from a resilient polyethylene plastic and come in several colors and sizes. Wherever water is needed, a storage tank is sure to come in handy Even if your property is supplied by a well or municipal water system, storage tanks can still help harvest rainwater and save you money on your utility bills.

Aboveground or Underground: Pros and Cons Before you decide on a tank you should decide whether you want to install it above or below ground. For aboveground tanks there are a few advantages: Cheaper to install — Tanks installed aboveground are a lot cheaper and easier to install than underground tanks.

Easier to maintain — Compared to underground tanks, aboveground tanks are easier to monitor for scratches and breaches. That said, aboveground tanks are more vulnerable to extreme weather that could create cracks or holes—not to mention theft or vandalism. Smart use of space — Tanks buried below ground are better concealed and, in some cases, provide more room for aboveground development, like lawns, roads, and access shelters.

Even if the tank is only partially buried it can dramatically improve views and save space for other structures and equipment. Steadier temperatures — Underground tanks are less vulnerable to ambient temperature swings. Thus, they hold more even and consistent temperatures. In warm climates, underground tanks can also keep temperatures cooler, which in turn help limit microbial growth. However, underground tanks are difficult and expensive to install, as owners will have to dig a large hole and, in some cases, reinforce the tank to protect it from ground shift.

Chemical Storage Tank Precautions You should always perform a hydro test by filling your tank with water prior to use for chemical storage. This is to ensure you that your tank will not cause material loss through improperly secured fittings, manufacturing defects or damage that occurred during transport.

Excessive tightening of fittings can cause your tank to leak. If you do notice that a fitting is leaking you should disassemble the fitting and make sure there is no foreign material between the gasket surfaces which is causing the fitting not to have a proper seal.

Rectangular tanks should have supported sides. However in certain circumstances and specific situations tanks that have a smaller height may contain material with a high specific gravity or may have elevated temperatures and these tanks should also have side supports.

Heavy equipment should never be mounted on the sides of your tank. Keep fittings free of any additional weight as this may damage them and cause them to leak. All pipes and valves should be fully supported. Expansion joints should be used to prevent damage from occurring due to the natural expansions and contractions of tank piping and the tanks themselves. Polyethylene tanks are not designed for vacuum or pressurized applications. Polyethylene tanks should only be used for atmospheric storage of chemicals.

When and if you are using an immersion or insertion heater you should make sure they never come into contact with the walls of the tank. Do not generate heat close to the tank wall and use liquid circulation for heat dispersion.

Make sure that your tank, its fittings, and fitting gasket material is the appropriate and compatible material for your chemical storage application. Contact our staff if you have any questions about chemical storage or for specific chemical compatibility not referenced in the chemical resistance charts.

Compound chemicals, varying temperatures as well as chemical concentrations may affect polyethylene tanks differently. Flat bottom and sloped bottom vertical tanks must be installed on a foundation, which provides full and uniform support over the entire bottom area.

The foundation must be designed to prevent settling or deflection under maximum design loads. The foundation surface should be non-porous and free of cracks, depressions and vertical projections. Sweep the foundation before applying the cushioning, and take care to prevent gravel or foreign objects from getting into the tank foundation when applying the cushioning. Also inspect the bottom prior to setting it on the cushioning to make certain that no gravel or foreign object is accidentally adhering to the tank bottom.

Where openings must be provided in the foundation to accommodate bottom projecting fittings, keep the unsupported area around the fittings to a minimum, and round all corners of the foundation opening. Carry the foundation cushioning over the rounded corners of these openings.

With 1 to 2 feet of liquid in the tank fill any foundation opening with suitable grout packed around the fitting so that no area of the tank bottom remains unsupported. Install dished bottom and conical bottom tanks so that their weight is supported uniformly on all provided legs or mounting lugs. Use shims or grouting as necessary. Install horizontal tanks so that the saddles will support the tank without deflection on the shell.

Use a grout mix beneath the saddles where necessary to insure that each saddle is set evenly and will uniformly support the loaded weight of the tank. Do not fill the tank saddles until the grout has hardened.

Anchors, when used, should be preset in the foundation and allowed to protrude into the holes provided on the bottom of the saddles. Care must be exercised to ensure that anchors do not contact the tank exterior. Hollow tank support saddles are to be filled with concrete of sufficient strength to accommodate loads. Openings are provided at the top of the hollow saddles to allow. Use a vibrating device to insure void-free filling. Do not fill tank until concrete has cured to full strength.

Piping and Venting Precautions must be taken in piping up to fiberglass reinforced plastic tanks. All valves and piping attached to the tank fittings must be independently supported. Only full flat face flanges may be used to bold up to flanged tank nozzles; raised face flanges cannot be used. An even torque of 35 food pounds should be applied to each of the bolts.

Prefabricated interconnecting piping should have adequate field joint provision to accommodate normal fabrication tolerances of the piping material as well as tolerances for the nozzle placement on the tank. Flexible connections must be used where required to isolate tank nozzles from piping system vibrations or thermal expansion differences between the tank and piping or other attachments.

All tanks must be positively vented to the atmosphere at all times, unless otherwise clearly marked on the vessel. On tanks provided with hinged top man ways, remove the second or locking bolt from the hinge, allowing the manway to open in the event of pressure buildup in the tank.

Extreme caution must be taken when pressure is used to unload from another vessel into an FRP tank. Leave the top entry man way open during the air pressure unloading process since this method of filling the FRP tank will create a venting requirement considerably greater than normal venting practice would dictate.

Cleaning Clean tanks prior to putting them into service. This is absolutely essential for tanks, which are to be used in food grade, or similar service. Tanks manufactured for food grade service have been suitable post-cured prior to shipment. Do not exceed the pressure, temperature or service limitations stated on the tank Identification Label, or change to different chemical service without first consulting Power Pipe and Tank.

Unless specifically designed for such, a tank should not be used for a mixing or reaction tank without first consulting Power, Pipe and Tank.

Customer Service Consult your Power Pipe and Tank sales representative, or call the office directly, to discuss any questions regarding applications, inspection, and installation or tank repairs. Whenever field repairs or alterations become necessary, personnel are available, subject to prior scheduling, to perform such work. Any statement or recommendation made or assistance given by Power Pipe and Tank or its representatives, to the Buyer or its representatives or customers in connection with the use or installation by the Buyer or its customers of any goods sold hereunder shall not constitute a waiver by the Seller of any provision hereof or affect the liability of the Seller as defined herein.

The Buyer acknowledges that it has approved, prior to fabrication, all construction, drawings, designs, construction specifications, material specifications, orientation and dimensions. Open navigation menu. Close suggestions Search Search. User Settings. Skip carousel. Carousel Previous. Carousel Next.