Water Heater Thermal Expansion Tank

The water heater expansion tank serves as an overflow receptacle by absorbing excess water volume that occurs when water is heated as well as absorbing fluctuations in the incoming water supply pressure.

Water heater thermal expansion tank.

Common residential expansion tank looks like a small propane tank. The expansion tank serves as a backup system to prevent overworking your plumbing. A thermal expansion tank is designed to help protect potable drinkable hot water systems helping to maintain them and keep them working efficiently. Usually they are the same size as basketball depending more or less on the size of the water heater they serve.

Expansion tanks when water is heated it expands due to a phenomenon known as thermal expansion. Since water expands when it is heated due to thermal expansion the water heater creates extra water volume every time it heats water. With a properly installed tank the system pressure will be maintained and will help prevent added stress to various components saving you headaches and money down the road. We offer a range of expansion tanks for potable and non potable applications.

Water heater thermal expansion tanks. At the top it has an air valve like the one seen on most tires called schrader. At the bottom there is a threaded pipe connection. Thermal expansion tanks eliminate this wasteful costly and dangerous practice.

What is a thermal expansion tank like. Do not use a standard tank. The expansion tank is designed to handle the thermal expansion of water as it heats up in the water heater preventing excessive water pressure. The tank has two sections that are separated by a rubber valve.

Expansion tanks are designed to safely absorb the excess water created and prevent relief valves from triggering. A water pressure gauge sizing expansion tanks for water heaters can be a complex engineering challenge but residential expansion tank sizing has been simplified through the use of calculators. You install the expansion tank down the line from the inlet valve that sends hot water into your home. They are used to absorb excess water pressure which can be caused by thermal expansion as water is heated.

The excess water volume instead of causing too much pressure on the plumbing rushes into the expansion tank and lowers the pressure in the water heater to safer levels. Water expands by roughly 2 as it heats up from 50 f to 120 f. This water heater expansion tank stops hot water from backflowing into the cold water line and prevents hot water from escaping through the pressure relief valve and onto the floor. This ultimately protects it from damage.

Constant fluctuations in water pressure can be dangerous and they can damage the water heater properly installing a thermal expansion tank can solve all these issues. The thermal expansion tank is certified to nsf ansi 61 dhot 140 f and pressures to 150 psi. When your water thermally expands a water heater expansion tank prevents unwanted increases in pressure.