Electric Hot Water Heater Expansion Tank Installation

Check the manufacturer s recommendations for exact sizing.

Electric hot water heater expansion tank installation. Water expands by roughly 2 as it heats up from 50 f to 120 f. For most residential installations with 40 or 50 gallon water heaters a simple 2 gallon tank is fine. Bottom boards are a buffer made of r 10 or better thermal resistant material that increase the efficiency of your electric heater. Pricing is largely dependent on the size of the tank.

The tank has two sections that are separated by a rubber valve. The tank is quite easy to install with a normal 3 4 inch threaded connection. The expansion tank is usually installed horizontally though it is acceptable to install it vertically if it is necessary because of space limitations. It is recommended to install the thermal expansion tank on the cold water line horizontally and close to the water heater.

Make sure the drain valve is completely closed and then turn the main water supply on and open all line valves. An expansion tank is generally installed directly above the water heater by means of a tee fitting installed in the cold water delivery pipe. Dedicated water shutoff this valve allows you to shut off the water supply to your tank without sacrificing usage in the rest of. You install the expansion tank down the line from the inlet valve that sends hot water into your home.

Connect the plumbing supply lines to the water heater according to manufacturer s instructions and local code requirements solid copper pipe or flexible copper supply lines are common. When your water thermally expands a water heater expansion tank prevents unwanted increases in pressure. Understanding water heater installation code requirements can be a real pain. This is based on how many gallons of water your.

Remove the trapped air by opening the hot water tap. Locate the cold water supply line and determine which part of it runs horizontal side by side to the water. Determine the size of water heater expansion tank you will need. A 5 gallon expansion tank is needed for water heaters up to 100 gallons.

How to install an expansion tank on a water heater step 1. A 2 gallon expansion tank works with water heaters up to 50 gallons.