How Do U Know if You Need a New Expansion Tank on Your Furnace

Have y'all e'er noticed the pocket-size tank that sits right next to your water heater? Ever wonder what the heck it actually does? Well, it'south chosen a thermal expansion tank, and information technology'southward actually kind of a large deal.

The thermal expansion tank does more to protect your habitation than you might realize. Information technology helps continue your dwelling's water pressure in check — and water pressure, if left to its ain devices, can do some serious damage.

In this article, you'll learn virtually thermal expansion and h2o force per unit area, and how thermal expansion tanks keep your plumbing system from breaking down.

What Is Thermal Expansion?

Thermal expansion is the tendency for affair to expand in mass or volume as its temperature increases. It'southward i of those universal laws of scientific discipline that applies to just nigh anything. The biggest victim of thermal expansion in your home is water. Since your home's water is all existence held up in extremely not-flexible pipes, information technology's something you might desire to know virtually.

H2o heaters are one of the foundational aspects of our modernistic lifestyle, and one we take for granted quite often. It's working all the time, heating up water for our sinks, showers and appliances. And every time it kicks on, the water in that tank expands.

Where does that extra h2o volume go?

Yous'd recall it merely flows right out of your firm, but it's not that easy. That's because most home's operate on a airtight plumbing system, meaning that backlog h2o is essentially trapped in your dwelling house.

Closed Plumbing Systems

Plumbing systems are either open or airtight. In an open arrangement, water can flow in and out of your home through the h2o main. If there's an increase in h2o pressure due to thermal expansion, h2o will naturally catamenia out of the organisation since the incoming h2o is flowing at a lower force per unit area.

In a closed system, this can't happen. And the reality is that most homes in the U.Southward. operate on a airtight system. In that location'south a couple reasons for this. The first is that when information technology comes to municipal water supplies, having an open up system could pose a possible public health risk. Sediment and debris from former lead pipes can contaminate drinking water. So home plumbing systems have a check valve to forestall backflow into the municipal supply.

The other reason most homes operate on closed systems is because of pressure reducing valves. Since municipal h2o suppliers normally pump out water at extremely high pressures, homes accept pressure regulators to dial downward the h2o pressure to safer levels. This protects your pipes and fixtures from wear and tear due to too much force per unit area.

Then if water can't leave your home, how does your plumbing network deal with the backlog pressure and book caused by your water heater? It relies on a thermal expansion tank.

What Is A Thermal Expansion Tank?

Thermal expansion tanks are the unsung heroes of mod plumbing. They give all that extra water a place to go so the residue of your plumbing system can go about its business organization without having to worry about high h2o force per unit area.

A thermal expansion tank is a small-scale tank that is installed on the inlet line going into your water heater. Inside the tank is compressed air and a bladder. The compressed air is pressurized to match your home's h2o pressure.

When your h2o heater fires upwards and the water in its tank starts expanding, the water pressure starts to exceed the pressure level of the compressed air in the expansion tank. That high-pressure h2o makes its fashion into the expansion tank's bladder. As the bladder fills up, the overall h2o pressure in your plumbing organisation starts to get dorsum down.

But an expansion tank isn't foolproof. If your water heater is set also high, there might be then much expansion going on that in that location isn't enough room in the expansion tank for all that h2o. The water heater manufacturers know this, and then they put a pressure release valve on their water tanks.

Pressure release valves are the last line of defence for your water heater. They practise their task in a more archaic way by simply letting the excess water spill out into a pan — or sometimes just onto the floor.

And then why worry about all this? What'southward the big deal with high water pressure?

Why You Should Worry Most Force per unit area

You might retrieve that having loftier water pressure level isn't that large of a bargain. The truth is, h2o pressure is 1 of the most important aspects of your abode's plumbing system.

When your water force per unit area is too high, fixtures, appliances and pipes are all put nether extra stress. Your toilets, showerheads and faucets are all designed to operate under a certain force per unit area threshold. Exceed that pressure and they start to interruption downward and need to be replaced.

Having chronically high water force per unit area can also lead to bigger problems. Small leaks can develop that can become undetected for months if they're behind walls, above ceilings or under floors. Those modest leaks eventually lead to structural damage, rotting out your home'southward wood frame and encouraging toxic mold growth.

High h2o pressure tin can also lead to sudden pipe bursts that can cause catastrophic damage and loss of property.  This is particularly true in the winter, when freezing temperatures can cause ice buildup in pipes that lead to fifty-fifty higher water pressure.

Fortunately, monitoring your dwelling house water pressure level has come a long way since the days of manual pressure gauges. Smart Water Security Systems like Flo by Moen continuously monitor your home water pressure and period, and also scan for leaks with daily automated Health Tests (pressure-loss tests). And all that data is available to you 24/vii on the Flo by Moen app. To larn more about the Flo past Moen Smart Water Security System, click here.

Avoid Common Problems – Expansion Tank Maintenance

Unfortunately, thermal expansion tanks don't last forever. Most tanks eventually become waterlogged, making them unable to perform their function. Professional plumbers recommend replacing them every five to ten years. Here are a few ways to look after your expansion tank:

• Sentinel out for condensation. This can be caused by a waterlogged expansion tank or could just be the result of a very boiling climate. Either way, it could pose a danger if your water heater is situated near any electric devices.
• Do the "tap examination." Simply tap or knock on your expansion tank and listen to the sound it makes. If it makes a hollow, ringing sound you know in that location's nonetheless air inside it. If it makes more of a ho-hum sound, information technology ways your tank is total of h2o and needs to be replaced.
• Feel the tank. Experience the tiptop and the bottom of your expansion tank. The top of the tank, which should exist filled with compressed air, should be absurd to the affect. The lesser of the tank, where the water goes, should be warm. If the height of the tank feels the same as the bottom, you know you've got a problem.
• Pay attention to your water heater'south pressure release valve. Remember the pressure release valve? It starts releasing h2o if there'southward too much pressure level for the expansion tank to handle. If you notice the release valve is constantly dripping, information technology could hateful your expansion tank isn't working anymore.
• Upgrade your tank before it fails. Yous don't accept to wait until you find a trouble to invest in a new expansion tank. A good rule of thumb is to replace your tank whenever you replace or service your water heater.
• Replace a faulty tank as soon as possible. If your expansion tank isn't doing it's task, your abode's at hazard for water damage or, even worse, a water heater explosion. As before long as you notice that something'southward not right, get a concur of a plumber and start taking steps to get a new expansion tank installed.

Decision

Every bit you tin can encounter, thermal expansion is always at work in your domicile, and your thermal expansion tank is i of your most important plumbing components. It keeps your pipes and fixtures in good shape and protects your h2o heater. Take good care of it and information technology will take care of you.

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Source: https://meetflo.com/blogs/flo/why-you-need-a-thermal-expansion-tank

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