Water Heater Thermal Expansion Tank Leaking
Finally if none of the prior inspections showed a cause for leaking then it is likely that the tank inside the water heater has gone bad.
Water heater thermal expansion tank leaking. The leak was evidenced by a rust trail down the side of the tank. The cold water inlet pipe valve the tpr valve anode rod port the expansion tank. With enough bending the paper clip will break. Is your hot water heater leaking from overflow pipe.
If you notice water leaking from the top of your water heater it s likely coming from one of 4 places. The lower half of a working expansion tank is filled with water from your home plumbing system. Although it is also not a complete test this is a very simple way to check. Not much water leaking though until last night it decided to blow.
Cures for water heater relief valve leaks due to thermal expansion. A water heater expansion tank is a small component that is installed just below the cold water inlet valve that feeds your home s water heater. Step 1 investigate to find source of leak. In the first case the valve will drain water out of the discharge pipe as explained above.
Normally this will be a major flooding leak not small dripping. You can think of this process as bending a paper clip. The changes in pressure due to overflow from the boiler during water expansion as well as having moving parts makes for the potential for degradation of the system. Even in the best boiler system your expansion tank may begin to experience some leaks.
If your water heater holds 50 gallons of cold water it will expand to about 52 gallons when it is heated. If the extra volume has nowhere to go it pushes on the walls of your plumbing. I have had a small leak from my potable expansion tank in my gas water heater which is now about 4 years old. If the tank has ruptured and is leaking the water heater cannot be fixed and it must be replaced.
Basically its purpose is to protect the hot water system of your house from excessive pressure that can damage the heater itself and other associated fixtures lines and fittings. Either the valve was triggered to open because of excessive temperature or pressure or the valve itself is faulty. It is spraying out of the expansion tank fairly quickly now. Expansion tanks to relieve high water pressure an alternative to installing or changing a water pressure regulator when building water pressure is occasionally 80 psi or higher is the installation of an expansion tank to temporarily absorb that pressure increase.
The expansion tank is a pressurized system.