How long should an expansion tank last

If the valves aren't in tip-top shape, then this water buildup has no way to exit the expansion tank. You're risking dangerous annoyances, like home and electrical damage or even explosion, by ignoring excess water signs in expansion tanks. Why does expansion vessel lose pressure?

Pressure loss may be caused from a leak in the pressure relief valve, an issue in the expansion vessel, air in your system, or a leak in the heating pipework itself.

Why must the expansion tank always be located higher than the boiler? When you increase the head, you increase the pressure. This results in the ability to heat water at a significantly higher temperature without generating steam. The more heat that is supplied to the heat-emitting units, the better.

That is why you will always see an expansion tank over the boiler. Why put an expansion tank on a water heater? The expansion tank is designed to handle the thermal expansion of water as it heats up in the water heater, preventing excessive water pressure. If water pressure gets to high it can damage valves in plumbing fixtures, joints in supply pipes and the water heater itself.

What is the Fourth Amendment exception as it pertains to border searches? What are the names of Santa's 12 reindeers? Co-authors 6. An expansion tank only contains overflowing water. It does not store water on a permanent basis. Going without a water heater expansion tank is risky.

Although, many water heaters don't have an expansion tank, we highly recommend adding one. It'll protect your plumbing, appliances and your water heater. Overflowing hot water can cause the pressure in the water tank to rise to dangerous levels, which may result in the components breaking. Even when components don't break outright and no leaks develop, there can still be negative consequences for going without an expansion tank. The increased strain caused by an overly full tank of hot water can shorten the service life of the heater, not to mention that the components may wear out sooner than expected.

Installing an expansion tank to your hot water heater is not only a good idea, its also a requirement in most areas, and determining the right size for your system is important.

Unfortunately, when it comes to thermal expansion tanks there isn't a one-size-fits all option. Selecting the correct size is relatively easy. There are two primary factors that need to be taken into account:. Keep in mind, you should install a pressure reducing valve if your water pressure is above 80 psi. The ideal water pressure is between 50 to 60 psi. This water pressure gauge comes with adapters that allow you to measure the water pressure in multiple locations. This chart will help you properly size an expansion tank to your residential water heater.

It assumes that the temperature is set to degrees. Source: Pexuniverse. If your water heater falls outside of these static supply pressure readings or capacities, it's best to contact a professional. They can come out and make the necessary calculations and even install the expansion tank for you. Amtrol manufacturers an excellent 2-gallon water heater expansion tank.

Purchasing the right sized thermal expansion tank is important, but if you're in doubt, it's best to error on the side of larger than smaller. An expansion tank that is too large for your system will still be able to safely handle the extra water.

However, a tank that's too small can trigger the temperature and pressure relief valve to open so the excess pressure is relieved. If you have a bit of mechanical skill and enjoy taking on DIY tasks, you should be able to install an expansion tank yourself.

When the pressure supplied to your home is at the proper level between 40 and 80 P. It protects against the constant fluctuation of high pressure caused by thermal expansion upon a closed-loop system.

Depending on where you live, an expansion tank might be required by the city regardless of the water pressure in order to pass plumbing inspections — such as you would get upon the installation of a new water heater. Also, at the time of writing this, an expansion tank is required on all water heaters installed or replaced in Little Elm, TX. This is because the water meters come with check valves which create a closed-loop system.

Do I need more than one if I have multiple water heaters? You need a thermal expansion solution that is adequately sized for your plumbing system. One gallon water heater, for instance, can be served by a 2-gallon expansion tank. If you have more than one heater on the same or connected system you can either have an expansion tank for each heater or a single, larger expansion tank. What is the life expectancy of an expansion tank?

The life expectancy of an expansion tank is very unpredictable. There are many variables that can factor into how long one lasts, such as quality of the tank installed, water quality, and proper inflation of the tank - to name a few. We have seen some tanks fail in as little as two years that have caused major water damage and some that have lasted eight years or longer. As a precaution, we would recommend replacing them no more than a year after the manufacturer warranty expires.

The tanks installed in this area normally have a one- or five-year warranty, so replacement should be every two to six years. Can my expansion tank leak? They normally fail in two ways. First, the rubber bladder inside them wears out and the tank ceases to function as a way to mitigate thermal expansion. Second, the point of connection between the water piping and the tank can corrode and begin to leak.

One thing you can do to ensure damage is not caused by the expansion tank is to have it properly installed by a skilled, licensed plumber. A good plumber will install the tank, making sure it is properly supported and has a good connection. He will also position it when possible over the water heater pan or somewhere it will minimize the risk of damage if it leaks. Another thing you can do to boost the longevity of your thermal expansion solution is to purchase a quality tank with a five-year manufacturer warranty.

Good tanks have a stainless steel threaded connection and are made with high-quality materials: thick butyl rubber, polypropylene, heavy gauge carbon steel, etc. Most manufacturers recommend checking expansion tanks yearly when new and more often as the tank gets older. How can I test if my thermal expansion tank is working? NOTE: Before you begin testing, confirm that there is a functioning shut off valve prior to the expansion tank.

If a catastrophic failure happens while you are testing, it could cause severe damage. We recommend a licensed professional do any testing. If you see any signs of corrosion on the expansion tank connection see pictures then shut off the water supply and call a licensed professional. Legacy Plumbing does not accept any responsibility for damages caused by improper testing or failure of fittings during testing.

Some tanks fail when a leak develops in the diaphragm. If a stream of liquid comes out the tank is toast. Tanks can also develop leaks in their thin steel shell. The only option is a new tank. This is when you will appreciate having a ball valve that can isolate the tank from the remainder of the system. Without this valve you might have to drain several gallons of fluid from the system just to unscrew the failed tank and screw in a new one.

Do consider oversizing: The typical calculations for sizing a diaphragm expansion tank determine the minimum tank volume. Using a larger tank, although likely more expensive, is fine. Doing so reduces changes in system pressure as the fluid temperature varies. Do plan for lowest fluid temperatures: In most hydronic heating systems expansion tank size and air side pressurization is based the assumption that the cold fluid used to fill the system in the temperature range of 45F to 60F.

That is fine. However, when an expansion tank is used in a solar collector circuit, or a snowmelting system, the antifreeze solution will, at times, be much colder, perhaps even below 0F.

Reference 2 below explains how to correct for this possibility. The concept is to add sufficient fluid to the tank during loop pressurization so that the diaphragm is not completely expanded against the inside of the tank until all fluid in the system is at the lowest possible temperature.

Do adjust for antifreeze solutions: Solutions of propylene or ethylene glycol have higher coefficients of expansion compared to water. The higher the concentration of antifreeze the greater the expansion volume required.

The increase in volume for water heated from 60F to F is about three per cent. The increase in volume for a 50 per cent solution of propylene glycol heated from 60F to F is about 4. This should be accounted for when sizing tanks for systems such as snowmelting, solar thermal, or other applications where glycol-based antifreeze solutions are used.

Again, the methods in Reference 1 can adjust for this. Do not combine steel and oxygen: Do not use a standard expansion tank with a carbon steel shell in any type of open loop application, such as a system that uses potable water to carry heat to hydronic heat emitters, which is a bad idea for a number of other reasons.

The elevated dissolved oxygen content of the water in an open loop system, relative to that in a closed-loop system, will accelerate corrosion of the thin carbon steel shell of the tank. This limitation also applies to closed-loop systems using non-barrier PEX tubing or other materials that may allow oxygen diffusion in the system.

Expansion tanks with internal polymer linings should be used in any application where higher levels of dissolved oxygen could be present. Figure 5 Expansion tank installed near hydraulic separator. Do not fill it with dirt: Do not install expansion tanks directly below hydraulic separators.