Water Heater Expansion Tank Air Pressure

The tank has two sections that are separated by a rubber valve.

Water heater expansion tank air pressure. Since water expands when it is heated due to thermal expansion the water heater creates extra water volume every time it heats water. It has a diaphragm separating both. This prevents cold water from partially compressing the air in the tank. When water is heated or a hot water faucet is turned off abruptly pressure builds from expanding water molecules.

Pressurizing the air side of the tank to equal the static pressure of the water at the expansion tank location and before adding water to the system. It is used to absorb excess water pressure. The expansion tank serves as a backup system to prevent overworking your plumbing. According to well x trol bladder type well tank air precharge.

Water naturally expands and contracts as it heats and cools and air within the system provides a cushion that allows for expansion without damaging pipes or allowing the pressure relief valve prv to expel water from the system. The pump gauge will tell you how much air pressure is in the tank. Go to the expansion tank and connect the pump outlet to the schrader valve. The hot water expansion tank is a two gallon tank that hangs off of your hot water system or your boiler.

Most expansion tanks come pressurized to 12 40 psi but before you install the tank you have to match the system pressure. Use a tire gauge to check the pressure. You install the expansion tank down the line from the inlet valve that sends hot water into your home. Start by removing the protective cover from the air valve on the tank.

Water expands by roughly 2 as it heats up from 50 f to 120 f. The excess water volume instead of causing too much pressure on the plumbing rushes into the expansion tank and lowers the pressure in the water heater to safer levels. Most of the time your tank is half water and half air. Some models may come with different pressure settings however.

The water heater expansion tank serves as an overflow receptacle by absorbing excess water volume that occurs when water is heated as well as absorbing fluctuations in the incoming water supply pressure. When your water thermally expands a water heater expansion tank prevents unwanted increases in pressure. It s estimated for example that the cold water in a standard 50 gallon water heater expands to 52 gallons when heated to 120 degrees fahrenheit. Shut off the cold water valve that feeds your water heater it should be just upstream of your expansion tank.

Well x trol water pressure tanks are shipped from the factory with a standard precharge of 18 psig for models wx 101 and wx 102. Typical factory set air pressure on a bladder type residential well water tank is 18 psi. Turn on a hot water fixture that s closest to your. The diaphragm only begins to compress when the water temperature rises.

But this air must be located in the proper location within the system. This ultimately protects it from damage. So to get rid of the pressure from your water system sitting on your expansion tank s rubber yoga ball do the following.