Plumber in Fort Worth| Water Heater Repair Fort Worth

Fort Worth, Texas Expansion Tank Specialists

Expansion tanks are installed in residential hot water systems to prevent the buildup of excessive water pressure within a tank hot water heater caused by thermal expansion of hot water.

Thermal expansion refers to the characteristic of water to expand when it is heated. As water is heated its density decreases while volume expands. Water does not compress and the extra volume of water created must go somewhere.

During times of no-flow in the system, pressure reducing valves, also called a hot a water heater “pop-off valve”, backflow preventers or any other one way valves are closed leaving expanded water no path to flow back into the system, it can therefore, only remain in the tank.

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for the hot water heaters pressure relief valve to fail. When this occurs in the presence of the conditions where pressure continues to build in the water heater tank, pressure can rupture the tank or a hot water pipe bursts. Even with a functional pressure relief valve, pressure can build up in pipes and supply lines causing them to rupture. An expansion tank removes these risks by allowing hot water to flow into it reducing tank pressure.

With backflow prevention measures being installed, expanded hot waters avenues of escape are further limited, and as a result expansion tanks are being recommended and in some cases, required, as public water utilities are upgraded to conform to Federal law. Our licensed Benjamin Franklin Plumbing plumbers in Fort Worth, TX are qualified specialists in the installation and repair of expansion tanks.

Residential hot water systems are generally closed systems, and with the addition of an expansion tank, increased water pressure forces a diaphragm in the expansion tank to retract. Once retracted it allows hot water to enter the expansion tank reducing the pressure in the water heater, and the risk of damage to it or hot water pipes.

As water suppliers upgrade their water systems to conform to law, many local codes will likely at the minimum require the installation of an expansion tank in the following situations:

• When a water meter is replaced with a dual back flow valve.
• When a hot water heater is replaced.
• In new home construction.
• When a backflow prevention device is installed on the water meter or a pressure reducing valve is installed on the service line.
• When a new pressure regulating valve is installed.

Due to the 2004 Federal legislation to prevent contamination in public water systems due to back flow, as public water system bring their system in line with the law, some local and county authorities nationwide are recommending or requiring the installation of expansion tanks, and in some cases water meters are being updated with the required dual check valves.

To protect your water heater and hot water lines from the damaging effects of thermal expansion, the installation of an expansion tank by a qualified plumber in Fort Worth is the safest course with or without water systems installing backflow prevention measures. High temperature regulators and pressure relief valves are not adequate protection. They do not control thermal expansion and may potentially fail, and an expansion tank is the best and safest option.

Our licensed plumbers can accurately configure the many factors that determine the proper expansion tank for your home. You can depend upon a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing professional plumber in Fort Worth to install, repair or service an expansion tank. Our professional plumbers provide full service plumbing include water heater repair in Fort Worth.