Expansion Tank | Plumber Arlington

An expansion tank is a small tank used to protect a closed hot water heater system from excessive pressure. When water is heated it expands in a process called thermal expansion. This expansion creates elevated pressure and an increased volume of water that the water heater tank is unable to hold. The extra volume of water has to go somewhere, and when an expansion tank is present, the overflow of water enters into the expansion tank, reducing the pressure within the water heater tank to a safe level. Due to the risks involved with elevated pressures within a water heater, expansion tank installation should only be provided by a licensed Benjamin Franklin plumber in Arlington to ensure the proper installation.

plumber arlington

How it Works

A rubber diaphragm within the expansion tank retracts in response to elevated pressure. With the diaphragm retracted, hot water is able to flow into the expansion tank, reducing the pressure in the water heater. Eventually, the hot water in the expansion tank is released into the homes pipe system.

Without an expansion tank, pressure can potentially continue to build within the hot water system, increasing the risk of water heater damage, a burst hot water line or fitting. An expansion tank reduces these risks, and consequently reduces the risk of damage to your home and its foundation from a water leak.

Recent federal regulation requires backflow preventers to be installed in municipal water systems. Backflow preventers keep expanding hot water from backing up into a home’s plumbing system and entering into municipal water mains. This eliminates an avenue of escape for the extra volume of expanded hot water in homes lacking an expansion tank. Consequently, homeowners are being encouraged to install expansion tanks in some areas, and required in others. A Benjamin Franklin Plumbing plumber in Arlington offers professional installation, service and repair of expansion tanks.

Expansion tanks must be individually sized for a home’s specific requirement. The size required will depend upon several factors such as the capacity of your home’s water heater, and the amount of water pressure entering your home.

As municipal water suppliers upgrade their systems to conform to the new legislation requiring the installation of backflow preventers, local codes are likely to change requiring the installation of expansion tanks.

Currently, the recommendations for the installation of an expansion tank are as follows:

  • After the replacement of a water meter with a dual backflow valve.
  • After the replacement of a hot water heater.
  • During new home construction.
  • After the installation of a backflow prevention device on an existing water meter.
  • With the installation of a pressure regulating valve.

With or without the installation of a backflow prevention device, the installation of an expansion tank provides protection for your homes hot water system, preventing the potential consequences of thermal expansion. The installation of an expansion tank by a Benjamin Franklin plumber in Arlington provides a measure of protection against damage to the system, and potentially costly damage to your home from a water leak.

Like any other appliance, expansion tanks require routine inspection to ensure they are operating properly. Homeowner’s will find it convenient to schedule an inspection to coincide with the annual drain cleaning for your home.

A Benjamin Franklin plumber in Arlington can accurately configure the factors that determine the correct size expansion tank your home requires. You can depend upon a Benjamin Franklin plumber in Arlington to provide service or installation of an expansion tank. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers reliable plumbing services in Fort Worth, Arlington and the surrounding areas. We are a member of the BBB with an A+ rating.