Installing an expansion tank is a moderately easy do it yourself project. An expansion tank can help your water heater last longer and it may.
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Before new plumbing regulations came into existence, excess water from water heaters flowed back into the municipal water supply, causing contamination. One solution was to fit a backflow valve on the heater outlet. However, added pressure overstressed the tank, causing an explosion hazard. Changes in municipal regulations now call for an expansion tank to be fitted to water heaters. These tanks are divided by a rubber membrane supported by compressed air, with sufficient space above the membrane to absorb the overflow. With the latest breakthroughs in plumbing technology, you can save money by installing a pressure tank yourself.
Household Pressure
Obtain a suitable thermal expansion tank based on the size of your water heater. Read the pressure requirement on the side of the tank; this is usually between 40 and 60 psi. Establish the household’s static pressure by attaching a pressure gauge to a threaded faucet such as a washing machine inlet or garden standpipe. Turn off all faucets and relevant appliances to get a reading of the household’s static water pressure. If it is above 60 psi or below the recommended pressure printed on the expansion tank, adjust the household's water pressure reducing valve. This is a small component fitted with a bell-shaped housing between the water meter and main household plumbing. Undo the locknut below the hex screw protruding from the top of the bell-shaped housing. Ask a friend to monitor the pressure gauge while calling you on his cell phone. Turn the adjusting screw clockwise with an adjustable wrench to Increase the pressure; counterclockwise to reduce pressure. When the pressure reaches the expansion tank’s recommended setting, hold the adjusting screw steady and tighten the locknut with a second adjustable wrench.
Tank Pressure
Check the pressure inside the expansion tank with a tire-pressure gauge pressed onto the Schrader valve on the bottom of the tank. If the reading is high, bleed off some of the pressure. If it is below the recommended pressure, attach a hand pump to the Schrader valve and pump in more air until the reading on the tire gauge coincides with the static pressure in your home. Do not use an air compressor as it may rupture the rubber bellows inside the tank.
Saddle Clamp
Locate the household water supply shutoff valve on the house side of the pipe leading from your water meter. Turn the handle all the way to shut off the water, then open a bathroom or kitchen faucet until it stops dripping, to relieve any water pressure. Use a saddle valve to provide a T-coupling attachment point on the pipe without cutting the tubing or using solder. Undo the clamp bolts, remove the upper half of the clamp and position the saddle valve on the tubing with the outlet pointing downward. Ensure the rubber gasket on the lower half of the valve is seated properly. Slide the saddle valve sideways to allow sufficient clearance for the expansion tank to fit between the valve and the water heater. Replace the top half of the clamp and tighten the clamp bolts fairly securely with an adjustable wrench; do not collapse the tubing by overtightening the clamp. Screw the piercing handle on the side of the valve clockwise all the way until the sharpened point penetrates the copper tubing. Undo the piercing handle to the fully open position. With the tank pointing downward, this configuration will support its weight without stressing the copper tube.
Installation
Wrap a short piece of Teflon tape tightly around the expansion tank's connecting thread. Lift the tank and screw it clockwise onto the saddle valve until the threads are tight. Open the household water shutoff valve and check for leaks. If water drips from the base of the piercing handle shaft, tighten its connecting union carefully until it stops dripping. Alternatively, if water seeps out of the clamp, tighten the clamp screws another quarter turn. Open the hot water faucet farthest away from the tank to bleed off any air bubbles trapped in the pipes.
References (3)About the Author
After graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand and qualifying as an aircraft engineer, Ian Kelly joined a Kitchen remodeling company and qualified as a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD). Kelly then established an organization specializing in home improvement, including repair and maintenance of household appliances, garden equipment and lawn mowers.
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Kelly, Ian. 'How to Install a Residential Expansion Tank.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-residential-expansion-tank-64805.html. Accessed 12 January 2020.
Kelly, Ian. (n.d.). How to Install a Residential Expansion Tank. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-residential-expansion-tank-64805.html
Kelly, Ian. 'How to Install a Residential Expansion Tank' accessed January 12, 2020. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-residential-expansion-tank-64805.html
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