where to put a small pressure tank

My water meter is just a couple of feet from the water heater. Where would the ideal spot be for a small pressure tank? Right after the water meter? And from there right to the water heater?
My water meter is just a couple of feet from the water heater. Where would the ideal spot be for a small pressure tank? Right after the water meter? And from there right to the water heater?
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Replies
correct.
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Never heard of a pressure tank on city water. What's it going to do for you?
I " heard that there can be a thermal rise in pressure form the water heater". I could be wayyy off here. I plan on just about re-piping the whole house eventually. I'd like the water system to be top notch. If a pressure tank is unnecessary then It won't go in.
Edited 12/10/2007 8:06 pm ET by popawheelie
Edited 12/10/2007 10:55 pm ET by popawheelie
Are you talking about an expansion tank?
It sure sounds like an expansion tank.
To poppa, if your system is a closed system then an expansion tank is a must.
Goes on the cold supply to the water heater.
If you have a circ system, then make sure that it is inbetween the check valve & the water heater.
"Why do you hurt me when I do bad things to you?" My youngest son to his older brother
I'm not sure if there is a back flow preventer. I can find out. I plan on putting in a re-circulating system and a new water heater. I do have some flow or pressure issues but it's probably due to undersized pipes. From what I've seen of the plumbing it was done poorly.
Well, uh oh, um, uh, gee where to start. ;-)
Well the die electric union on the hot side is useless since the copper is screwed directly into the galvanized iron.
A check valve is not a backflow preventer----- more technical, but I won't bore you with all that info since it won't be applied in your case.
When you install a recirc system you will bring the circ back into the cold side & will need a check valve in-between the shut off valve & the tee for the recirc. the expansion tank will need to be installed downstream of the check valve since that is where the pressure will be created.
"Why do you hurt me when I do bad things to you?" My youngest son to his older brother
Is it just me, or does it look like the nipples on the wh are black iron?
I've never seen a pressure tank on a residential water system -- the whole system just stays at the pressure coming in from the supply unless there's a backflow preventer on the system. The reason you need one on a heating system is that the required backflow preventer prevents the hot water in the heating system from expanding back out into the supply system. Since most homes don't have a check valve between the street and the house, any expansion just backs into the main.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Many water companies have programs to install a check valve or similar backflow preventer on the service lines to each house.Also if one has a pressure reducing valve they also require an expansion 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.
"Many water companies have programs to install a check valve or similar backflow preventer on the service lines to each house."
I've seen that mentioned around here, but I've never seen it in my area. Makes sense to do it though.
"Also if one has a pressure reducing valve they also require an expansion tank."
I've never been lucky enough to be in an area that has pressure high enough to warrant one of these. Never thought of that. Do they prevent backflow as well?
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
"Also if one has a pressure reducing valve they also require an expansion tank."
All depends on the reducing valve, some have check valves, some don't. It really pays to read the spec's ( and talk to a real plumber )
Learned this one the hard way.
Bill
What the other bill said.I have heard of ones that allow the to flow excess pressure back to the source (water main). As to PB's comment there are a number of different things used for backflow prevention. Some depending on the needs and the possibility of contamination.So I used the term "checkvalve". But since the back contamination from houses is extremely low I suspect that they use minimal types of back flow prevention and it might just be something as simple as a check valve.Some of the full blown backflow preventer need regular testing so I double that the cities are using that type..
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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 need to get down there and take a look see. All I remember is a water meter that was new. A new 3/4" copper main and a new water meter. From there the plumbing is iffy at best. No problem. I want to try the pex and there is plenty of room.
A thermal expansion tank is code here now. A year ago I was required to add an expansion tank to get the plumbing for a room addition passed, the reason given was it, was required by the local water company.
This morning I passed a rough in inspection on a new house, this house was on a private well, an expansion tank was require on this job too. There pushing these tanks as a safety issue.
Odd part is eight feet on down the pipe is a 12 gal. drawdown pressure tank.
The inspector said last year the expansion tank has to be on the cold inlet side of the water heater, how far it was away from the tank didn't matter. But I don't think it would be a good idea to put a softner or filter or anything else that might become restricted between the heater and the expansion tank.
Pex won't do this