Themp
Active Member
So, decided to install an expansion tank today and it completely removes the pressure spike I was having and the release of this pressure through the toilet around 80 PSI. So you could say I am a fan at this point, but you will have to maintain it. It said it was pre-charged to 20 PSI but it really was 15 PSI, could be it was cold. But in any event this is like keeping your tires inflated to the correct pressure.
Now the most interesting thing that happened in all this expansion tank discussion is that I visited my son over Christmas and his new house. It is over ten years old and when I went into the garage where the gas water heater was I noticed right away that his TP valve was dripping. He had a bucket under it. He said it only drips a little. Any way we took the time to replace this and in the process decided to survey his whole house plumbing for expansion tank and pressure reducing valve. What we found and this house was inspected when he bought it was:
1.) No pressure reducing valve as the previous owner had removed it. You can see where it was hanging near the expansion tank. The house pressure is 90 PSI.
2.) The expansion tank is toast, totally filled with water.
3.) The water heater is plumbed backwards the hot water is exiting the cold side of the water heater and a shut off valve is on the hot side not cold. Someone had painted on the ceiling where the copper pipes enter a red ring around the hot side. The water heater does seem to work correctly so the plumber must have switch the drip tube.
My son was not into going into any expense as this point and since the pressure reducing valve was removed he does not have a closed system, so the expansion tank is useless anyway. So, he decided to think about it.
So, he has 90 PSI open system, house is plumbed with some kind of white translucent plastic pipe. I never thought of looking at what it was.
Now the most interesting thing that happened in all this expansion tank discussion is that I visited my son over Christmas and his new house. It is over ten years old and when I went into the garage where the gas water heater was I noticed right away that his TP valve was dripping. He had a bucket under it. He said it only drips a little. Any way we took the time to replace this and in the process decided to survey his whole house plumbing for expansion tank and pressure reducing valve. What we found and this house was inspected when he bought it was:
1.) No pressure reducing valve as the previous owner had removed it. You can see where it was hanging near the expansion tank. The house pressure is 90 PSI.
2.) The expansion tank is toast, totally filled with water.
3.) The water heater is plumbed backwards the hot water is exiting the cold side of the water heater and a shut off valve is on the hot side not cold. Someone had painted on the ceiling where the copper pipes enter a red ring around the hot side. The water heater does seem to work correctly so the plumber must have switch the drip tube.
My son was not into going into any expense as this point and since the pressure reducing valve was removed he does not have a closed system, so the expansion tank is useless anyway. So, he decided to think about it.
So, he has 90 PSI open system, house is plumbed with some kind of white translucent plastic pipe. I never thought of looking at what it was.