What Is An Expansion Tank?
Expansion tanks are an important part of a plumbing system’s safety features. Basically, when water is heated, it expands and can expand up to one-half gallon or even more for a bigger water heater.
- The effects on your water heater and plumbing in general may range from minimal to major depending on the specific situation. Typically, the thermal expansion of water occurs in a closed loop plumbing system. This is a system in which there is a back flow device installed such as a pressure regulator or a check valve. This causes the water to only flow into the home and not go back out to the main water line that feeds the home or apartment. Once thermal expansion occurs, it can cause the buildup of unusually high pressure in the system, pressure surges and even be responsible for a constantly dripping pressure relief valve on your water heater or even leaking from the faucets in your home. This pressure can then get so bad that it can damage some of the internal parts of your water heater.
- The expansion bottles are designed to hold the hot water and then, when the water is cooled and the pressure in the system has gone down, the water will go back into the water heater. Most expansion bottles have a diaphragm in them and there is pre-charged air inside. The hot water goes into the expansion bottle and there will be room for it because air can be compressed.
- Typical expansion tanks used for a residential application are 2 gallons and 4.4 gallons for commercial applications, though they can go up to 20 gallons in size.
For more information about expansion tanks, check out these websites:
Amtrol Thermal Expansion Tanks
Water Heaters Only, Inc. makes sure that all of our repairs and installations are done in accordance with the California Plumbing Code requirements. According to the code, an expansion bottle is required for all “closed loop plumbing systems”, which typically have a backflow preventer and a pressure regulator located between the house and the water main. However, each city and municipality can enforce some or even all of the California Plumbing Code. If you have any questions, you can always contact your local building or planning department.
To schedule a water heater repair or replacement or to speak with an expert about water heaters and expansion tanks, call 1-916-238-6500 . We answer the phone 24/7/365.