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.

Thermal expansion tanks eliminate this wasteful costly and dangerous practice. Common residential expansion tank looks like a small propane tank. Expansion tanks are designed to safely absorb the excess water created and prevent relief valves from triggering. The expansion tank serves as a backup system to prevent overworking your plumbing.

A water heater expansion tank is another small tank that is attached to the water supply pipe of the water heater. 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. The expansion tank is designed to handle the thermal expansion of water as it heats up in the water heater preventing excessive water pressure. 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. This ultimately protects it from damage. 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. A thermal expansion tank is designed to help protect potable drinkable hot water systems helping to maintain them and keep them working efficiently.

When your water thermally expands a water heater expansion tank prevents unwanted increases in pressure. Water heater thermal expansion tanks. Water expands by roughly 2 as it heats up from 50 f to 120 f. At the bottom there is a threaded pipe connection.

What is a thermal expansion tank like. Since water expands when it is heated due to thermal expansion the water heater creates extra water volume every time it heats water. The thermal expansion tank is certified to nsf ansi 61 dhot 140 f and pressures to 150 psi. Do not use a standard tank.

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. You install the expansion tank down the line from the inlet valve that sends hot water into your home. The sizing chart will allow you to choose the correct size expansion tank for your application. The tank has two sections that are separated by a rubber valve.

They are used to absorb excess water pressure which can be caused by thermal expansion as water is heated. 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. We offer a range of expansion tanks for potable and non potable applications.