What is the purpose of an expansion tank on a hot 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.Click to see full answer. Similarly, is an expansion tank…
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.Click to see full answer. Similarly, is an expansion tank necessary for a water heater?An expansion tank is always highly recommended if you have a ‘closed-loop system’ caused by any kind of check valve or pressure regulating valve installed on your house’s water supply line. A common analogy compares having high water pressure in your home to having high blood pressure.Similarly, what happens when an expansion tank fails? If the expansion tank is missing or not operating properly, pressure in the system may cause the boiler’s pressure relief valve to vent water. Or, air bubbles being released by the heating water may gather somewhere else in the system, causing a blockage that stops the flow of hot water. Accordingly, how does an expansion tank work on a water heater? Expansion tanks work by equalizing pressure throughout the system. As hot water enters the heating system, the pressure in the system increases. As pressure increases, the diaphragm in the expansion tank is pushed down. This compresses the air in the tank, creating more space for excess water to enter.Can a pressure tank be used as an expansion tank?An expansion tank usually has a much smaller inlet hole than a pressure tank. But if it has a full open 3/4″ port it can work as either an expansion or a pressure tank. The one with the small port will only work as an expansion tank.
