I wanted to get a feel for opinions of water heater expansion tanks. We’ve been seeing water heaters failing at 4-6 years at an alarming rate. They are being covered under warranty but I just think it’s not right. Most plumbers around here do not use them.
Most heaters were A.O. Smith but recently started seeing Bradford Whites doing the same but just not as often. Would an expansion tank cure this? These are all city water jobs and have not put a gauge on to check pressures. We have not seen this problem with well water jobs.
Any opinions (good ones) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Replies
I saw an 84 yr. old lady have a new hot water heater installed. The old son-in-law that did it and charged her the same commercial rate that Lowes does that also included store mileage that's 50 miles away. No expansion tank....When I saw it, I'm already thinking there should have been at least a 1 or 2-gallon size installed. Had to laugh when I saw the new 3" deep drip pan under the new Water heater but the hole in the side was never plumbed anywhere.....
Not 6 months later the solder connection in the wall where the city water comes into the house started leaking one night. The next morning a bedroom- carpet was soaked all the way across and into the hallway where the little old lady's feet found it...
There is a city check valve to prevent back flow and there is no place for the pressure on the pipes to go except the hot water heater's pressure/temp valve or backed into the house pipes. Ho-hime Insurance company hardly covered any damage.
Son-in-law made money on the cleanup, drying fans, and installing new padding under the old carpet.....
Expansion tank might have prevented all the trouble and wasted money,
Bill
I understand, but what I cannot understand is why for years and years I never even saw an expansion tank and see 20 year old plus water heaters and now the newer heaters won't hold up. Is it just that they don't build anything like they used to or what? I'm not trying to avoid doing it, but I guess I want to understand why.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
I don't know the details, but there are new federal rules that are requiring water companies to put check valves or other kinds of backflow preventers. But you should also have reports of PRV drippling water.Water is non-compressible and when large amounts of water are used and replaced with cold water. Then when the burner heats it up and no more water is being used the water will try and expansion and with no place to go the pressure will build.Check with the water company and see if they are installing backflow preventers. Also use a pressure guage. First if the nominal pressure is more than 80 PSI you need a pressure regulator.And whenever you install a pressure regulator you need an expansion tank.Most pressure regulators also act as checkvalves and won't let excessive pressure backup into the main.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
So basically, I just need to bite the bullet and tell my plumber to start installing them on all city water jobs.
That could be the difference that the old meters did not have check valves and the new ones may. I'll have to check into that. In fact, I should know that because I install the meters and pits.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
An expansion tank on a well water sytem is a waste of money.... But it is code here.
i'm on well water and have been thinking of installing one to help cure water hammer at the hw tank when the well shuts off,do you think it would help any?larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
That is stupid.Tell them that you have one. A BIG ONE.It is the pressure tank..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I know it's stupid... you know it's stupid....
But it is code.
Go figure.
Edited 8/11/2008 9:59 pm ET by sledgehammer
You need an expansion tank if there is a backflow preventer or a pressure reducing valve downstream of the water heater.
uhhh assuming that downstream is after the water heater, you wouldn't need one.
Upstream being before the heater, then you would need one.
Right you are. I had it backwards. The valve "captures" the water in the system, preventing the flow of expanding water back into the main.
It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way. --Rollo May