Expansion Tank Pressure

Heating boiler bladder type expansion tank compression tank pressure adjustment.

Expansion tank pressure.

Use a tire gauge to check the pressure. For example water heated from 90 f to a thermostat setting of 140 f in a 40 gallon water heater will expand by almost one half gallon. Expansion tanks are used to absorb any excess pressure created due to thermal expansion which prevents an over pressurization of the system. Start by removing the protective cover from the air valve on the tank.

If the pressure is less than 12 psi you will need to add some air s add air. The key concepts are. This increases the overall water volume and pressure inside the tank which must be relieved to avoid the potentially negative effects of thermal expansion. It is used to absorb excess water pressure.

In any situation where water in a closed system is heated an expansion tank is required. Irc 2009 p2903 4 thermal expansion control. If the pressure setting reads less than 12 psi it probably will since you drained water from the tank attach an air compressor or hand air. 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.

When the pre charge was not to factory specifications when the air pre charge pressure needs to be increased to. Use a bicycle pump or compressor to fill the tank to match the system pressure you noted earlier. A detailed procedure for sizing diaphragm type expansion tanks is given in reference 1 as well as several other industry publications. Most expansion tanks require a psi reading of about 12 psi.

Most expansion tanks come pressurized to 12 40 psi but before you install the tank you have to match the system pressure. If youre considering converting an old non captive type expansion tank to a captive air expansion tank an easy rule of thumb is to replace the existing tank with the model that is equal to the existing tanks volume. The hot water expansion tank is a two gallon tank that hangs off of your hot water system or your boiler. Bleed air pressure out of the water tank or add air pressure into the water tank until the tank pressure is at the desired set pressure.

You re good to go. Check your manual for the precise rating for your expansion tank. But there are some circumstances in which an adjustment to the pre charge may be needed. If the expansion tank s pressure is lower than your house s water pressure you ll need to fill the tank to the matching pressure using the same type of air compressor you d use to re inflate your car s tires.

If your pre charge was set properly or only needed a minor pressure adjustment then hooray. For example if your well pump pressure control switch is set to cut in start pumping water from the well at 30 psi then set the pressure tank to 30 2 28 psi. Tank is hanging from the ceiling replace it with a no. When water is heated or a hot water faucet is turned off abruptly pressure builds from expanding water molecules.

This is where expansion tanks come in.