Accumulator - another pressure question

[Marv_Hoag]

My 2000 Monaco has a accumulator tank in the water system. Does the tank control or regulate the pressure when using the pump, or is it a pass through that delivers whatever pressure the pump delivers.

I want to install a 55 psi pump but have no idea if the accumulator tank can stay or has to be removed to achieve the higher pressure.

[adondo]

It depends... there's two types of accumulators.

The cheap ones are just an air chamber, and can become saturated and lose their air.

The better ones have a rubber bladder. Those have a Schrader valve on top. (Like a bike tire) You can adjust the pressure in the bladder to work like you want. Just raise it to match the pump's output. Those are in fact, just a miniature version of what's used in a typical well system. The pump feeds water into the system, the bladder compresses and holds pressure in the piping system. The pump now only runs to fill the volume of the bladder/tank area, and cycles much less, and also smooths out the water flow. It's especially effective for low flows, (barely open faucet) where the pump would normally fast-cycle.

[jbbrick]

The accumulator tank just allows you to use a little water without the pump cycling on and off constantly. It gives you some cushion in the system so you can usually flush a toilet in the middle of the night without the pump going on, then when the pump does run, it stays on a bit longer to build up to its balance point. They really are handy.

[RE-TE]

Suggest you check your water lines 55 pounds of pressure is a lot.
Careful you dont blow line where you cannot get to it.
Accumulator tanks are great you will have contant water no
"high/low" points, bad when you are taking a shower.
I have one and would not be without it.

[Dutch_12078]

The accumulator does not control the pressure, that's controlled by the pump. The accumulator does help maintain a more stable pressure though, along with minimizing the pump cycling. Changing to a higher pressure pump will work fine with the accumulator, although the air pressure will need to adjusted for optimum effectiveness and drawn down capacity.