Bladder Tanks Pricing and Costs

Consider bladder tanks as economical liquid storage devices

By Talia Maze
Bladder tanks are typically made of flexible rubber or rubber-like materials and are used to store or transport liquids such as water, chemicals, oil and fuel. Those who work in the agricultural industry or the emergency response field may use bladder tanks to store water, whether drinkable for disaster relief situations or non-drinkable for watering purposes. Those who run chemical plants may need bladder tanks to store hazardous substances, and bladders often serve as fuel reservoirs on small, high-performance aircraft.

If your business requires the storage of liquids, a close look at bladder tanks' pricing and costs will show you that they can be an economical option. Not only are they relatively inexpensive, bladder tanks can be folded up, often to the size of a pizza box, making them easy to store when not in use. Plus, they can last for as long as 50 years, depending on the manufacturer. When considering investing in a bladder tank, think about what kind you need and how you will maintain it. For example, you may need:

1. Regular bladder tanks for storing liquids.

2. Specialized bladder tanks for operating a water system.

3. A service company to repair existing bladder tanks.

 

Purchase collapsible liquid storage bladder tanks

Liquid storage bladders come in a range of sizes and are designed to hold a variety of substances. Some storage bladders are made with FDA-approved materials for holding healthy drinking water, while others are suited for rainwater collection for agricultural purposes. There are also storage bladders made specifically for holding fuel, typically used aboard aircraft and boats.
Try: To prepare for an emergency situation, business owners can purchase 60-, 150- or 300-gallon collapsible drinkable water storage bladders from Promolife for prices ranging from roughly $170 to $350. For those in the farming business, Northern Tool + Equipment offers a 1000-gallon, non-drinkable water storage water bladder for about $900. Cyber Bridge Marine sells fuel bladders suitable for boats; a 200-gallon model sells for just over $1000, while a smaller, 50-gallon model goes for just under $700.

Price out hydropneumatic bladder tanks for well and irrigation systems

In addition to serving as storage devices on their own, bladders are used as components within hydropneumatic tanks, or tanks designed to hold both liquid and gas. A hydropneumatic tank typically consists of a butyl rubber bladder within a larger steel case. Pressurized air surrounds the water-filled bladder, which allows the water to be pumped out by the pressure. Hydropneumatic tanks can be used in commercial wells and other water systems.
Try: Bladder Tank Wholesale offers a number of hydropneumatic bladder tanks in 158- to 528-gallon sizes for between approximately $3,000 to $8,000. Hanson Tank carries similar tanks in 264-gallon to 660-gallon sizes for between $5,000 and $8,450.

Consider repairing, rather than replacing, bladder tanks

Bladder tanks are by no means indestructible. Those used to store fuel are especially prone to damage because of chemical additives in fuel, which tend to break down the bladder's rubber. Rather than spending a lot of money on replacing leaking bladders, business owners can save cash by having them repaired instead.
Try: Goliath has an informative article on the benefits of repairing versus replacing aircraft fuel bladders. Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair will fix leaking fuel bladders for $40 an hour, plus material costs.