| Water Heaters: Friend or Foe? | | | | run. This valve is designed to release pressure if |
| Your Water Heater is one of the most expensive | | | | it gets up to 150 psi. The problem is that it's |
| and important parts of your plumbing system. | | | | really a safety valve and isn't designed to open |
| Without your water heater life just wouldn't be | | | | and close a lot. Too much could cause it to fail. |
| the same. Imagine cold showers every day! | | | | |
| But did you know that your water heater could | | | | Thermal Expansion Can Cause Running Toilets |
| be causing a problem in your pipes? | | | | Another symptom of thermal expansion problems |
| Hot Water Expands | | | | is a toilet that keeps running or kicking on from |
| Hot water heaters do their job by using either an | | | | time to time. This is caused by the excess |
| electric heating element or a gas burner to heat | | | | pressure overcoming the float on the fill valve, |
| cold water and make it hot. The problem is that | | | | allowing water to run into the tank. Over time |
| water expands when it is heated. This is called | | | | this can cause the fill valve to stop working and |
| "Thermal Expansion". | | | | make it run constantly. |
| A 40 Gallon Water Heater Can Cause An Extra | | | | |
| Half Gallon | | | | A Thermal Expansion Tank At The Water Heater |
| Due to Thermal Expansion, a regular 40 gallon hot | | | | Will Solve These Problems |
| water heater creates about an extra half gallon of | | | | If you are experiencing either of these problems, |
| water in the pipes while heating water from 70 | | | | or if you are just replacing your water heater, it |
| degrees to 120 degrees. If the extra water | | | | is a good idea to install a Thermal Expansion |
| doesn't have anywhere to go it causes the | | | | Tank. This is a small tank with an air bladder |
| pressure in the pipes to go up, sometimes way | | | | inside that is installed in the cold water pipe near |
| up. | | | | the water heater. When the water heater |
| | | | comes on and starts heating, the extra water |
| Water Heater Plus Closed System Equals A | | | | that is created is forced into the tank and |
| Problem | | | | compresses the air bladder. As the water cools, |
| If you have a "Closed System", meaning there is | | | | or a faucet is opened, the bladder pushes the |
| a check valve or Backflow Preventer" on the | | | | extra water back out of the tank, |
| incoming water line, the extra water volume | | | | A Fairly Simple Job |
| caused by thermal expansion has nowhere to | | | | Installing a Thermal Expansion Tank at your water |
| go. This means that the pressure in your pipes | | | | heater is a fairly simple job. You just need to |
| can get too high, possibly causing problems. | | | | turn the main water off, install a tee and female |
| Too Much Pressure Is Bad | | | | adapter in the cold water pipe near the water |
| If your pressure gets too high because of | | | | heater and then screw the Expansion Tank into |
| thermal expansion it can cause several problems. | | | | the adapter. A few basic tools and a little |
| One of the main issues is that your T and P Relief | | | | knowledge and you can eliminate thermal |
| Valve on the water heater can start to drip or | | | | expansion from your piping system. |