Standard tank water heaters can bring about stress on your pipes, due to the normal thermal expansion occurring over the course of the heating period. To that end, you may want to consider the value of a water heater expansion tank. Sometimes known as thermal expansion tanks, these products can bring a number of benefits to your space.
At the same time, it is important to research your options. Pressure damage on your plumbing system can create a number of short-term and long-term headaches, but you are still going to want to learn as much about hot water heater expansion tanks as possible. This would certainly include the subject of hot water heater expansion tank cost, as well.
Do I Need A Hot Water Heater Expansion Tank?
On-demand tank-less water heaters do not need to consider the value of a hot water heater expansion tank. Only tank-style heaters need to consider the potential threat of pressure damage on the plumbing system. Working as overflow receptacle, this product will work to absorb excess water volume, which is created through your tank water heater while it is working.
Thermal expansion expands water as it is being heated. This is something that is important to keep in mind. For example, when the cold water in a fifty-gallon water heater goes through the heating process, it will likely expand to fifty-two gallons. This is where the strain can come into play, and this is where the hot water heater expansion tank is going to prove to be invaluable.
Open systems rarely need to worry about expanding water, since it can be pushed back with relative ease. However, the closed water supply systems are not quite as fortunate. These one-way valves can run into a lot of problems with trying to push back the water to the city. Most cities require residential closed plumbing setups to include one of these expansion tanks.
In terms of cost, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Prices start at around forty dollars, but it can rise from there. The high-end price for these tanks tends to hit around the two hundred dollar mark. The amount of money you can expect to pay for one of these tanks is going to depend largely on the size you will need.
Finally, if you plan to hire a professional for water heater installation, talk to them about getting an expansion tank installed, as well.