Outstanding video. Exceptionally well done explanation of the purpose of the expansion tank and why we need it. Plus you gave great tips on how to set it.

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Good explanation

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Important to remember that...if you want to achieve the maximum thermal expansion capacity of your tank...when inflating the air bladder, the tank must have no water pressure applied. Anything that prevents the air bladder from fully expanding to full volume during inflation will reduce the effective capacity of the tank, by limiting the starting volume of air in the tank that is available to be compressed by applied water pressure. To understand this, first visualize an air bladder that, when un-impeded, inflates to completely fill a tank. Then, when equal water pressure is applied, no water at all can enter the tank, yielding a FULL tank of air available to compress due to thermal expansion. Then visualize an air bladder that, when impeded by water pressure, inflates to only partially fill a tank. Then, when equal water pressure is applied, water can partially enter the tank, yielding only a PARTIAL tank of air available to compress due to thermal expansion. There are reasons for deviating from the above, such as, in some cases, you might not need the full capacity of the tank, and then you might be able to extend bladder life by limiting the starting volume of air in the tank...but, in most cases, expansion tanks are inflated with no water pressure applied, so as to achieve the full thermal expansion absorption capacity of the tank.

@SmedleyPlumbing

6 ай бұрын

Yes we covered that in the video

Very informative

@SmedleyPlumbing

8 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I'm not a plumber, by any means, but can anyone explain to me how we managed to survive with hot water heaters for quite a long time, without the use of these expansion tanks? I've seen quite a few old water heaters in basements, without these little tanks, I understand what they're for, and that water expands as it is heated, but were there enough water heater explosions to warrant the implementation of these expansion tanks becoming code in most areas in the United States..?

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Great question. The main reason is we didn't used to have check valves in the system. Those check valves prevent the water from flowing back into the supply system. Once locked in the home, it causes the pressure to rise.

@denverscott37

Жыл бұрын

@@SmedleyPlumbing cool, thanks for the reply

@chadimerti8141

7 ай бұрын

Good question. Look into open and closed h20 circuits If prv fails its ugly. In Cali we are only required to put them in if recirculation pump and/or h/c mixing vale is installed

Why do you need an expansion tank? They've never been houses before until recently waste of mine.

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Check valves is the system prevent the expanding water from flowing back into the city water supply

💯👌👌👍👍👍

@SmedleyPlumbing

7 ай бұрын

Thanks

The expansion tank is useless Unless it is pressurized correctly. You will find a bicycle valve fitting on top that needs to be filled with compressed air (while the plumbing is depressurized), typically to the operating pressure of the water.

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

*to match the operating pressure.

very interesting

@SmedleyPlumbing

7 ай бұрын

I think so too!

so it helps eliminate water hammer and also maintain the incoming water pressure supply 🤔 as long as no breaks in pipes which would just backflow all the water to the waste point of the break

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Feel free to click on the full version of that video for more info.

👍👍🎉

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Finally, thanks you!

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

Happy to help!

Can you install hot water tanks directly on concrete floors? I just replaced a 15 year old unit, and installed the new one on the concrete floor in it's place. The outer shell on the old unit only had some rusty scrapes on it.

@SmedleyPlumbing

14 күн бұрын

Yeah. They typically have small feet that hold them up from the floor anyway.

But what’s the point of the bladder I don’t get it

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

When your water heater makes hot water, that water expands. The tank provides a place for the increased volume to reside temporarily until a tap is turned on.

@jasonnester9514

Жыл бұрын

@@SmedleyPlumbing why. Bother with a bladder then just have an empty pressure tank

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

@@jasonnester9514 the bladder separated the air and the water. Without the bladder, the water would absorb the air. The bladder keeps the air in a state where its ability to compress becomes what allows the water to expand into the tank.

@jasonnester9514

Жыл бұрын

@@SmedleyPlumbing I don’t understand that all lol Have a air less sealed tank no water and how does a bladder stop air from getting into the water not that it matters but I don’t get it at all

@SmedleyPlumbing

Жыл бұрын

@@jasonnester9514 the bladder is like a diaphragm that keeps them separate while maintaining flexibility. Similar to your diaphragm muscle in your body. Separates your guts from your lungs while remaining flexible.

That is a misleading demonstration, especially when you say it is “exactly” what goes in an expansion tank. What you show is “exactly” happening is water flowing to the upper air chamber. That doesn’t happen.

@SmedleyPlumbing

5 ай бұрын

Water compresses an air bladder in an expansion tank. We believe we showed exactly that.

Mitch?

@SmedleyPlumbing

10 ай бұрын

Speaking...