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Expansion Tanks
What is the purpose of an expansion tank on a water heater?
Water expands when it is heated in the water heater. When water is not being used, such as at night, the heated water expands in the house water piping and pushes out toward the water main (it has no where else to go).
The problem is that some houses have a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV), Check Valve or Backflow Preventer (BFP) installed in the water service line. These valves are designed for different purposes but they all typically allow water to flow only one way.
So, when a PRV, check valve or BFP is installed, the expanded hot water is trapped in a closed system. The result could be damage at connections, leaking faucets or water trickling out of the T&P Valve.
The solution is to install an expansion tank on the cold water line between the water heater and the one-way valve. Expansion tanks have an air chamber that absorbs the excess water pressure to keep it at a safe level. The tank must be the right size to work properly based on water heater tank size, water temperature, and line pressure.
