Can A Water Heater Expansion Tank Be Installed Upside Down
AsktheBuilder.com: Water heaters can be fitted with expansion tanks to capture expanded water and prevent water heater malfunction. Sizing water heater expansion tanks is easy for your hot water heater, and adding a hot water expansion tank can be done within 30 minutes. In a situation like this, the expansion tank offers enough space for the hot water to expand and contract without the boiler exploding as the system passes from the heating to the resting cycle. However, problems like a leaking pressure valve or low air pressure in the tank can cause expansion tanks to function poorly.
In response to your excellent explanation on hydronic systems I'd like to pose a question.
Just moved into a 50 year old house. It seems to be a system pretty much like what you describe. However, I do not see a pressure guage on the expansion tank.
Here is my problem. The heating system works fine. There is no knocking or any other problems associated with air in the system.
However, the domestic hot water is a different matter. I can turn on a faucet (all hot) and watch it go from normal flow, to nearly a trickle, normal, trickle..etc.
Showering is NUTS! I turn it on, first comes out of the spiggot normal flow and temp, then turn on the shower head, slows to a COLD trickle for a few minutes, then surges up to normal temp and flow and then varies throughout the whole shower. It seems like something simple and I'd hate to have to spend a fortune if it's something I can fix.
As a side note, I did notice that right off the main hot water output is a valve that supplies the house. It has the normal knob for on and off but then has a small '*****' below. Is this a flow adjust? Never seen anything like this before (not being a plumber). I tried to turn by hand but could not.
Thanks in advance!
Darryl
A standard tank water heater can stress your plumbing pipes by the normal thermal expansion that happens during the heating process. A safety device known as a water heater expansion tank (sometimes called a thermal expansion tank) can help minimize the risk of pressure damage to the plumbing system. (This is normally not a problem on modern on-demand, tankless water heaters--only tank-style heaters are subject to this problem.)
The water heater expansion tank serves as an overflow receptacle by absorbing excess water volume created by the tank water heater when heating water, as well as absorbing fluctuations in the incoming water supply pressure. Since water expands when it is heated due to thermal expansion, the water heater creates extra water volume every time it heats water. It's estimated, for example, that the cold water in a standard 50-gallon water heater expands to 52 gallons when heated to 120 F. This extra water volume can create excess pressure in the plumbing system, and if the increased pressure is enough it may, over time, cause damage to the water heater, plumbing fixtures and the water pipes themselves.
Closed Water Supply Systems
Many water heaters have an expansion tank installed on or over the top of them. This is a secondary safety device that absorbs excess hot water that occurs during the heating process. This tank can leak from any of the following 3 areas. And, when water is heated and expands, if it doesn't have an expansion tank to catch the 'overflow,' it can cause pipes to leak or even burst. Damage to your water heater is also possible. Most areas of the country require that water heaters either have expansion tanks or special valves that release the excess water. The expansion tank should cut into the water system between the cold valve for the water heater and the inlet of the water heater so that protection is maintained even if the valve is shut off. The expansion tank however could be piped to any location you desire.
In an open system where expanding water can push back into the city water supply, there is rarely any problem. However, many homes have a closed water supply system, which is a water system equipped with a one-way valve such as a backflow valve, check valve or pressure-reducing valve. In a closed system, this extra water pressure from thermal expansion can cause the most damage because the extra water pressure cannot push back into the city water supply and therefore has nowhere to go.
Most cities require that residential closed plumbing systems be equipped with expansion tanks. If you have some form of backflow preventer installed on the main water line, you may be required by law to also have a water heater expansion tank installed. Time calculator software free download. Check the local building code or call the building and safety department to find out.
How a Water Heater Expansion Tank Is Installed
Enchiridion symbolorum online. If you do not have a one-way valve installed on the main water line and therefore do not have a closed water system, you may still benefit from a water heater expansion tank. Expansion tanks are normally installed above the water heater on the cold water line before it enters the water heater; however, they can really be installed anywhere on the cold water line prior to entry into the water heater. Having an expansion tank helps prevent dripping faucets and running toilets by keeping the extra built-up pressure in the system from reaching the fixtures and prematurely damaging them.
Water Heater Expansion Tank Problems
Water heater expansion tank prices start at around $40 and range up to nearly $200; pricing is largely dependent on the size of the tank. For most residential installations with 40- or 50-gallon water heaters, a simple 2-gallon tank is fine. The tank is quite easy to install with a normal 3/4” threaded connection. A tee fitting will have to be installed above the water heater if one is not there already.
Water Heater Expansion Tank Code
If you are hiring a plumber to have a water heater installed, it’s a good idea to get a price for the installation of an expansion tank at the same time. It may not be much more than you are already paying if it is done at the same time. If you are installing a water heater yourself, consider installing an expansion tank even if it is not required, since the benefits far outweigh the work and cost involved.