Hot Water Installation: Understanding Thermal Expansion Tanks
If you are planning to install a new hot water system in your home, you may not have considered installing a thermal expansion tank. Thermal expansion tanks can help to regulate water pressure, which can help to prevent leaks and can help to extend the life of the hot water system. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about the benefits of installing a thermal expansion tank as part of your new hot water system.
The importance of regulating water pressure in your hot water system
When the water in your hot water system warms up, it begins to expand. When the water in a hot water tank approaches boiling point, its volume is massively increased. However, the pipes, tanks, and valves in your hot water system are fixed in place and do not expand at the same rate as the water. As a result of this, the increased volume places increased pressure on your home plumbing system. In the past, this excess pressure was relieved by allowing water to flow back out into the mains water supply. However, many water companies now prevent this from occurring, as they do not want to manage the unpredictable flow of water this can create. As time passes, this increased pressure can wear down the many rubber seals within the hot water system. When these seals eventually fail, it will cause hot water to leak into your home. In extreme cases, high pressure can lead to pipes to burst and fracture.
How an expansion tank works
An expansion tank takes the form of a drum canister. This canister is installed in a position which links the cold water system and the hot water system. The canister contains a bladder which absorbs excess water. As pressure builds up as hot water is heated, the diaphragm prevents excess water from flowing into the plumbing system and reduces the pressure placed on the pipes and other components. As the pressure falls in the plumbing system, the water held in this bladder is slowly released back into the pipes.
If you would like to find out more about the many benefits of installing a thermal expansion tank in your home, you should contact a hot water installation service today. A plumber will be happy to discuss your new hot water system and how the layout and components used to create it can impact the rest of your home's plumbing system.