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Repairing a crack in a water tank? Easy / Not easy / Dreadful? Advice needed

Kara Ann

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posted 2 months ago

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Hi Permies,

There is a water tank / used / available near me, and I am in need of a water tank! But the words: 'Has small crack on bottom can be fixed with using melting and binders' as part of the listing are giving me pause.

Is this kind of repair one of those types of things that permies commonly do? Repairing crack in the bottom of a 200 lb water tank no big deal? Or is this one of those really awful things that only the uninformed and clueless might take on?? How to even assess the problem? Guidance on how repair could be made if it were a good idea?

All wisdom and experience welcome please...
Thanks!

WaterTank_Cracked.jpg

“Not everyone can be a truffle. Most of us are potatoes. And a potato is a very good thing to be.” Massimo Bottura, Never Trust A Skinny Italian Chef

randal cranor

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posted 2 months ago

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Howdy,
I am NOT an "expert".
I do have a 1200 gal. fiberglass water tank, outlet 2" pipe at bottom. This tank has been in place for almost 50 years. Tank is at an elev. level that is 80-100 feet above the house. Water pressure here at the house is something like 80 psi. There have been No Problems with water storage, not even any freezing issues. Tank is tapered, smaller at bottom, etc.My tank has a top cover, top is open, not like the one in the picture.
If my tank developed a crack, I would probably use a fiberglass cloth, resin kit, like for auto/boat repair. If the tank is cracked around the bottom outlet, it may be hard to repair. I do drink the water from the tank, and my water source is a year round creek thru property, no one above me.
There was a group of us that went in on buying more than 10 of these and got a "discount", but I seem to remember "$1.00 a gal" price/NEW.

Inmate, Natures Asylum, Siskiyou Ward

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Kara Ann

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Thanks, Randal - ahhh you are in Siskiyou country - a beautiful place to be!
It is encouraging to hear how long your fiberglass tank has been in place and working well.

This tank in quest appears to be polyethelene. I found this repair kit: https://www.rainharvest.com/poly-welder-pro-plastic-repair-kit.asp
Potentially reinforced with this this stainless steel mesh: https://www.amazon.com/10-pack-of-Reinforcing-Mesh/dp/B0007LTXMS
Anybody used either of these, with some comment on how easy / hard / succesfsul or not it was?

Thanks!

“Not everyone can be a truffle. Most of us are potatoes. And a potato is a very good thing to be.” Massimo Bottura, Never Trust A Skinny Italian Chef

John F Dean

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Without seeing the tank, if I were to repair it, it would drill a small hole at either end of the crack, fefore I patched it, to discourage it from spreading.

If I was thinking of buying the tank, I would ask myself why the seller didn’t repair it. I would assume a tank without a crack is worth more than a tank with one.

Finally, what are you planning on using tank for? Humans, animals, garden, or something else?

I am finding the price for a new black water tank that looks similar to be in the $2000.00 range.

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randal cranor

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Howdy,
I am a BIG re use it DIY guy.
If I was using the repair kit you posted, I would want to patch on the INSIDE as well as the Outside, pressure on inside force Against the crack.
I also have been a white water rafter and there are some good patch kits for all kinds of watercraft material.

Inmate, Natures Asylum, Siskiyou Ward

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Nancy Reading

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It does look like repairing these is fairly straightforwards. I found a video from a homesteader - so independant of the welder manufacturer - and they
got on well with their repair. You can get the welder separately for slightly cheaper, and buy the filler plastic and patches to suit.

If I were you I'd ask for a picture of the damage. That will give you a better idea of the job you're looking at. The vendor says they will take offers, which is probably worth a thought.

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Kara Ann

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Thanks everyone for the helpful comments and suggestions.
Thanks for the video, Nancy, and also for the inside AND outside repair strategy, Randal - that makes sense. It is a little bit encouraging to know that this is a DIY with a known solution, not an impossible-to-solve problem!

The seller says the tank is too big for their location, so presumably that is why it is being sold rather than repaired.
I want to use it for rainwater catchment, irrigation, and livestock watering, so this would be used for potable water storage. To get a new tank like this onsite at my farm is realistically $2000-$2200, so even at $500, this would be a good deal if it can be repaired.

I have asked the seller to provide pics of the embossed date stamp so I can see how old the tank is, and pics of the crack, and about how it got cracked, confirmation of what the tank has held in the past... will see where this goes, and I will let you know what I hear!

“Not everyone can be a truffle. Most of us are potatoes. And a potato is a very good thing to be.” Massimo Bottura, Never Trust A Skinny Italian Chef

Kara Ann

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if I were to repair it, it would drill a small hole at either end of the crack, fefore I patched it, to discourage it from spreading.

Thanks, John, can you say more about this?

“Not everyone can be a truffle. Most of us are potatoes. And a potato is a very good thing to be.” Massimo Bottura, Never Trust A Skinny Italian Chef

John F Dean

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Kara,

A few posts have already been made that addresses the actual patch. One problem with repairing cracks is that they tend to spread. Drilling small round holes at the extreme ends of the crack tends to limit the growth of the crack.

The First Axiom of Life: Don’t do dumb things.

John F Dean

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A thought …which is always dangerous for me. If the crack is on the bottom, what measures would you take to determine if the patch is holding? It seems that sitting it directly on the ground might hide a leak.

Edit: of course, having it sit elevated might add stress points ….depending upon how it is supported.

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Mark Mittner

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posted 2 months ago

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It looks from the listing like it is a poly tank, so depending on the nature of the crack, drilling may or may not help. (It is a standard practice to stop a crack in metal, alleviates tip stress concentrations, so no argument on the method, just the particular case.)
I once received a similar tank from the manufacturer with an offset in the joint where the two halves join, and a leak developed in a thin spot there. The heating iron, binder mesh, and filler sticks worked well enough, though it is not pretty once repaired.
Good call asking for the date stamp. On the plus side, a bottom crack isn't in the sun. I would ask for photos, if they are willing to provide them, and assess from there. The repair method is pretty easy, and the tool is pretty cheap, so it may be a bargain.

Best,
Mark

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John C Daley

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All the advise given is perfect, the video is fantastic.
I would add, put the tank down on a levelled bed of sand 4 inches deep.
This is standard practise in Australia, if ensures you dont get a small rock puncture.

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
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Douglas Alpenstock

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Good comments above.

If the tank was dirt cheap, I would consider it even if a perfect repair was not possible or guaranteed.

One trick is to add a few inches of pure clay at the bottom. The leak may not be sealed, but the leakage rate through the clay will be miniscule.

Kara Ann

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I really appreciate all the suggestions and comments in this thread - thanks!
I have messaged the seller a few days ago with questions, and heard nothing back, so it may be going nowhere for this specific tank, but really good to know for the future.

“Not everyone can be a truffle. Most of us are potatoes. And a potato is a very good thing to be.” Massimo Bottura, Never Trust A Skinny Italian Chef

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