@@AmplifyDIY The house bought has an expansion tank and it is required by the county. The one that is attached to my water heater is mounted horizontally above the tank. I noticed that the one in the video is mounted vertically. Does vertical or horizontal mounting matter in relation to the bladder inside and the water and air inside and its ability to function properly?
@@Laughinghawg Typically they are mounted vertically, but check the installation instructions for your model of expansion tank to see if horizontal installation is ok. If you throw the model number of your tank into Google you should be able to find instructions. Good luck!
I had a water heater emergency with the expansion tank. With an hour to spare I got a replacement at Lowes and with your video was able to make a great repair.....thanks for all the information!!
I had no idea about the immediacy of replacement needed with a leak nor the strap! No plumber has mentioned doing the strap. I googled it and, indeed, it IS needed! Thanks for this comprehensive video! I wish I had you available as a plumber. Your work is impeccable!
The Amtrol unit you uninstalled carries a 10 year warranty. The second one you showed comes from Home Depot and only carries a 1 year warranty. Also the original Amtrol unit was installed upside down. I have the same Amtrol unit and my instructions say it has the be installed with the air/schrader valve on the bottom. I mounted the new tank on an expansion tank bracket and used a stainless steel flex line to go from the cold water line into the top of the expansion tank. I used the mounting bracket because I didn’t want the expansion tank putting stress on my cold water copper line and definitely didn’t want to use galvanized pipe.... For future reference the Amtrol brand is a much better expansion tank than either the generic Home Depot or Lowes branded expansion tank. You do get what you pay for there. The video was an excellent explanation. Just always follow the mounting instructions that come with the expansion tank you purchase as the new tank may not be able to be mounted the same way. Ron
Excellent points all around! I'll note that my original Amtrol tank was installed by the same licensed plumber who did all the rest of the plumbing work in the house when it was built.... and lots of corners were cut elsewhere as well. Also, the instructions for the tank I installed in this video indicate it can be installed in either vertical orientation, and while it has a shorter warranty than the Amtrol tank, by checking it at least annually I expect it will last plenty long. Thanks for watching!
@@AmplifyDIY I know what you mean about plumbers. They aren’t all created equal... The plumber who did mine cut some corners too. The house is less than 15 years old and already had to replace some copper. Decided to just rip it all out and put in pex after a few leaks...
I have noticed that almost no one pays attention to the upside down install, even see some put in horizontally. Goes to show original install not being inspected.
@@DK-pr9ny I can’t remember the brand, but it came from the big box store about 25 years ago. The instructions on the last one I installed said it could be installed in any orientation. I’ll bet different manufacturers give different requirements, so some might be installed vertically with the valve up or down or about require it up or down, or possibly even to the side. I hope they know what they’re talking about…
Everything a content creator should be. Top marks on the video quality, explanation, knowledge, and presentation. The links are a great addition and also helpful. Subscribed due to this content provider.
Thank you for this. Did mine today. Tank was definitely shot and not doing its job. Your step-by-step saved us a ton of money in an already broke household.
I've been a plumber for 45 years and that was very entertaining and good information and that is been around new Compared to what I do Thanks for the info
I used this vid to replace my completely failed expansion tank today. I replaced the pressure release valve first thinking it was that, but the leak persisted, so I came here and the symptoms were exactly as this showed. I took the pressure of my expansion tank and it was 0. lol Replaced it after learning from this and back to perfect working order. Thanks a bunch!
Nice video. You mentioned if you have a one way water check valve. What some people don’t know is that if your house has a pressure regulator valve..... it also acts like a one way water check valve and you must then install an expansion tank.
First of all, a HUGE THANK YOU for your video and your thorough explanation on the expansion tank. You saved me a few hundred dollars because I had an issue with a leaking pressure valve. I thought it was the pressure valve, so I replaced it and the leak continued. I thought it might be the thermostat on the water heater and it was overheating the water and causing the pressure relief valve to open up. I also checked into the water pressure, 80psi and I called the water dept and verified that it wasn’t high since most places are around 60psi. They told me that they run around 85-100psi, normal pressure for their system. I’ll probably add a regulator later, but I checked the expansion tank’s Schrader valve and water came out! I replaced it and filled the air pressure to 80psi. The old tank had rusted through on the tank’s 3/4” nipple and I doubt the plumber added the correct pressure either. But to make a long story short, you helped me by saving me money and if a “like” and “subscribe” is enough to say thank you, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.
You just put a huge smile on my face. I love hearing from people who saved money / time / hassle from my videos. Thanks for letting me know, and great job getting it taken care of yourself!
Great video. Crystal clear and timely. I was about to do some DIY work on water pipes connected to my hot water heater and the potable water expansion tank. Needed to know the purpose of this tank and how to service it after draining and prior to turning back on the water supply line(s). Helped me tremendously! Thank you.
Great video. I just replaced mine tonight and your tips really helped. This was the best full instructional video I found. Thank you for the step-by-steps and for saving me hundreds!!
Thanks for your thorough video. I actually discovered that our tank was faulty (spouted water when tested) while trying to troubleshoot some really high pressure in our system (which I began to suspect because we were having all sorts of valve and cartridge failures around the house). At first I thought we just needed a pressure-reducing valve and got one installed, but we still had high pressure. Some more research indicated that the expansion tank might be the problem, and so then we got a new one installed. In my research, I had seen that the tank's pressure needed to be equalized with the house pressure, so I asked the plumbers whether they had done so and they said, "no, it comes pre-set" (to 20 PSI). Well, I knew that was an issue, read the instructions that came with it, and verified the proper procedure. So here's my point: The house pressure would sometimes get over 100 PSI. Measuring the "house pressure" would then indicate that the tank needed to be set to this, which I know was too high. I let the water run for a bit to reduce the excess pressure, then measured 45 PSI. I ended up redoing part of their installation then by doing what you first showed in this video - turning off the water, releasing any pressure, adding some air to make it 45 PSI, and then turning everything back on.
Great video. Mine sprung a leak and I was like “what is this little tank & what does it do”? This video easily saved me probably $100 + in a plumber service call. Changed it myself. Great video.
thank you for making this video, it has helped a lot with my husband and i on replacing our hot water heater that ruptured "as there was no expansion tank on the system at all" and this has explained why and how to install one onto a system. Thank you again
Nice installation. I also prefer the up side down installation. it avoid impurities in the water to settle and keep bacteria from growing within. cheers
I have watched a few of these videos on the expansion tank and how to check the pressure accurately, and you were the only one to say after turning off the water supply to open a faucet and let hot water run out to depressureize the system, then take a pressure reading!! Most all others just say to take the reading as it is right now !! THANKS for the tip and information!
Excellent directions. Thanks so much! My expansion tank took a while to empty after I dumped off a few gallons from the heater. I could hear the burbling, so I just waited until it stopped to ensure it was empty. Just a helpful point to ensure you don't have spillage when you remove the old expansion to tank.
What you should do when you drain the tank is open the top valve as it gives air to the tank and will drain more readily.another thing is the tank should be mounted vertically on the website it shows vertical with the schrader valve on the bottom
One of the best DIY videos I’ve ever seen on UA-cam. Simple to the point. I am a fix-it guy myself and can usually fix just about anything, but I will definitely be coming back to your videos in the future.
I did mine 2 months ago ( complete water heater and expansion tank ) and didn't know about trick you use to hold the tank. Will be doing this very soon. Thank you for a great video.
When my expansion tank failed, my tp valve did NOT leak. But when I first turned on faucet the water would come out faster because the pressure was higher. So don’t assume that not leaking tp means you are OK.
You are correct.when I first opened the hot water there was a momentary higher blast of hot water and then it would settle to the supply pressure.that is how I discovered a failure.there were no leaks to indicate the problem.
That’s because all that pressure was built up in the heater and had to where to go and being the the bladder in the expansion which would absorb that pressure is now ruptured you get that burst of hot water which is also bad for your heater.
What a clear, nice paice, and simple but explicit explanation on this DIY project Thank you for this video, I don’t need nothing else to repair and replace my expansion tank God Bless you
I'm currently living in my fifth house (in SE Texas) and I've never seen one of these tanks attached to a water heater. I've never had a problem. As a matter of fact, the existing water heater in the house I own is the original heater ( installed in 1996) and I've lived here for 15 years. Are these really necessary?
Hey Aggiedave - great question! Not everyone has or necessarily needs an expansion tank. You can read a bunch more info about the hows and whys here: legacyplumbing.net/blog/water-heater-expansion-tank/ Thanks for watching!
@@AmplifyDIY This is not the answer that Aggiedave77 asked...you should say that it is not necessary as the hot water tanks is required to have a high pressure relief valve to relief the pressure if the water pressure inside the tank exceed the set value, say 75 psi...A few cities may have regulations that require a thermal expansion tank, but that is the exception, not the norm.
if you have a check valve in your supply line ( to prevent backflow into the city water system... a local code aspect)....then you have created a closed system where the expanding water has no where to go when it heats up. If you don't have a check valve...and the water expansion goes back to the city supply.....then you won't need the tank.
14 years ago my TMP relief valve kept opening, on my NEW WATER HEATER. Replaced 2 TMP relief valves and still had the problem? So, I had the expansion tank installed. Presto, no more water heater problems. 11-22-2020 Today 8-1-2021 , Again I replaced the TMP valve and flushed the water heater. Didn’t think about the expansion tank until I watched another video you did, and my exp. tank had two thuds and no ping⚠️ Got a new Exp. tank, water pressure gauge, and pipe dope/ Teflon tape. My water pressure tested at 80 psi. The new Exp. tank is set at 40 psi. And I’m using a portable air pump that I have in my vehicle for tires. And just watching this video once again to get proper instructions to replace and install new Exp. Tank. Well it’s installed and I’ll check it though out the next few days and a couple weeks. My tank is only 2 Gal. and hangs having AIR PRESSURE Valve at bottom. The previous Exp. Tank was installed the same way, having no extra supports. 👍🏻💓❗️🇺🇸 Stay Safe.
Very good presentation. It would be useful if you presented also the different types of expansion tanks (for heating systems and domestic use) and explain the differences.
The easiest way to test your expansion tank is to just release some air from the Schrader valve, If you get air the diaphragm is good if you get water the diaphragm is bad! I have been used on irrigation systems for years!
I always wondered what that was for. I found out today as it failed due to my ignorance. When I replaced the heating elements this time, I filled the tank up with water thinking it was for better pressure... Wrong! My wife called me saying, "The thing was leaking all over the place!" I came home to find that it cracked on the side. After watching this great video I learned my mistake!! Have a plumber coming over now to replace it, but at least I know why it failed. Thanks for the content! Paul In NC
Oof! I'm sorry to hear yours failed, Paul! I'm glad you now understand how it works though, and will be better prepared in the future. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Will definitely help with me changing my leaking expansion tank! Only suggestion I have is using putty and plumbers tape at the same time sounds lie your going off the rails a bit! I would just follow the directions!
Awesome video - the right amount of information, perfectly paced and just what's needed. I swapped out my leaky expansion tank in no time after watching and following this. Thanks so much - you saved me a lot of time and (doubtless) dollars!!!!
Just the information I needed! I need to replace my son's water heater tomorrow, and was wondering what kind of setup was required for the expansion tank. I would not have thought to bring my air compressor!
Expansion tanks are the least reliable thing in your system. I eliminated mine and checked the min and max pressures with gauge with a full cold to hot tank transition. If your water pressure is low enough, the extra 20 psi caused by heating water won't hurt a thing and you don't need one of these. Pressure gauges are cheap. If it's rare that you use all the hot water in your heater, with only heating half a tank the pressure increase is lower still. Expansion tanks are 3x the cost of relief valves. Change the relief valve every four years if you're worried about it. The real crime is installing an expansion tank on a system with a tankless heater. The plumbing lobby is strong.
@@zarnya Does what help with 100 psi? What are you asking? I simply said that measuring first to determine if a problem even exists. With low water pressure and a low tank temperature the pressure rise that I saw was only 20 PSI. Starting with 30 PSI water pressure that isn't a problem.
Thank you for the visual when checking the water pressure for your house as well as the ET. I went to HD and purchased one, I think I'm ready to do this!
I was surprised (and a little annoyed) to learn that the plumbers who installed all the expansion tanks in my neighborhood never bothered to correctly pressurize them. If your system has one of these tanks, go check the pressure!
This is a very good introduction to water heater expansion tanks. After watching this clip, I now realize that my system is running on the ragged edge; i.e., the electric water heater AND expansion tank are 15 years old!
Hi, just watched this and learned what I needed to do to replace my expansion tank, which had cracked and was spewing water through a small hole. I measured my water pressure, then added air to the bladder using my 12v tire inflator. Thanks for posting this.
Thanks Quentin - before there are any issues, just check the pressures in the expansion tank annually, and test your T&P valve as well. Annual tests like that will almost always confirm if everything is working as it should, or if trouble is on the horizon. Thanks for watching!
Wow. Thanks for the video. I have been noticing standing small spots of standing water in my garage near the water heater. Found a couple rusted holes in the non visible side of the expansion tank.. Your vid makes it look easy peasy lemon squeezy.. Heading to Lowe's now!
Oh, here is one very good suggestion I learned about 45 years ago: with a Sharpie, write down the installation DATE where it cannot be seen. Homeowners have faulty memories. I had one dingbat lady yell and scream that "...she had just replaced her water heater." I stopped right there and began putting my tools away. She relented and paid up front in order for me to continue. When I pulled out her old water heater---the previous plumber had dated things---her old unit was 15 years old! Great tip I carry forth to this day.
Why write it where it can’t be seen? I replaced my tank last year and wrote the installation date with a sharpie on the bottom blank border of the serial number and rating plate because I couldn’t remember when I had replaced the previous one. Why hide it when 12 years from now I can date the thing in my doddering old age at a glance?
@@QwazyWabbit ....if you're working on your own house, it is much different than doing a job for customer. Customers have faulty memories. Ever hear of "carpenter's quips?" When sealing up a wall, tradesmen will add jokes, anecdotes, etc.
That happens with car batteries all the time,every time i buy a new one i write down in my maintenance log when i bought it,people tell me all the time " that battery is only 2 years old" nope, its 7 years old,lol
@@dntlss correctomundo. I have a LogBook for all my vehicles as well as motorcycles. Oil 'n filter changes, batteries, tyres, repairs, etc. Oh, and every gas-up, I log it. Easy habit. When I sold my 1979 Ford F250 4wd with the logbook, the new owner flipped out with glee.
Thanks for the informative video! I used your other video to replace my t&p valve but it was still leaking. I believe I need to install an expansion tank now based on this video. Better than spending money for a new water heater.
Thank you for the step by step… very insightful and helped me saved me a good chuck of change from hiring a professional. Was much easier than anticipated.
Great videos. Hopefully won’t have to replace this tank after I replace the PRV tomorrow. I’ll be using the PRV replacement video as my guide. GO BLUES!!!
The need for them is really dictated by your water supplier. They are becoming more and more common. All new homes being built in my area for at least the last 10 years have them installed when the heater is first put in. Thanks for watching!
Wow! Very informative video! I have got by just fine for last 60 years in my home without one. I’m going to call plumber right away and see what he thinks! Thanks man! You saved my life!
This is a great video. I had one fail on me a about 14 to 16 months ago. We started noticing very rapid water bursts for the first 2 seconds when turning on any faucet. I ignored the issue (being very busy at work) for a few months until the water tank itself sprung a very slow leak seen in the catch pan. It was not a leaking pressure relief valve or any of the pipes so I had to replace the water heater. Thankfully it was still under warranty (for a few more months) and Rheem gave me back about 1/2 of the price of the new one. I replaced both the water heater and the expansion tank, adjusted the pressure on our house pressure regulator and filled the tank with the proper pressure. I did retest the pressure on the tank and house a few days later but not since. Interestingly my failed and replacement tanks are both the same as yours.
Sorry you had to deal with a failed water heater due to a failed expansion tank! That stinks! I'm glad you were able to get some warranty coverage, though. Hopefully your new setup will last much, much longer. Thanks for watching!
I just had a thermal expansion tank installed, but I didn’t notice my plumber check our home water pressure or pre-charge the tank. However, I thought it was charged correctly as it read 65psi which matches my home water pressure when I tested it with my pressure gauge. However, I then watched you video and followed your steps to check the tank pressure correctly by depressurizing the system and found it was just barely above the factory psi of 20 at 20.5 psi. Therefore I filled it up with my compressor to match my home water pressure. Wouldn’t have known how to do this without watching your video. Thanks for the great video!
Nice job, Dan! I'm perplexed by how many licensed plumbers get this so wrong. Glad you caught it and pressurized the tank correctly so it will work properly. Thanks for watching!
This was an excellent presentation on best practices for a thermal expansion tank installation. Everything was well-thought out and wow... very neat work, as well. Thank you very much for the many gems shared. Subscribed!
We have cold water expansion valves in Australia. They are just like to hot water expansion valve but without the prob. The hot water expansion valve is meant to release first.
Great job. I like this very much, very helpful. Keep up the good work
Thanks a lot!
Nice work. Great info
@@AmplifyDIY The house bought has an expansion tank and it is required by the county. The one that is attached to my water heater is mounted horizontally above the tank. I noticed that the one in the video is mounted vertically. Does vertical or horizontal mounting matter in relation to the bladder inside and the water and air inside and its ability to function properly?
@@Laughinghawg Typically they are mounted vertically, but check the installation instructions for your model of expansion tank to see if horizontal installation is ok. If you throw the model number of your tank into Google you should be able to find instructions. Good luck!
He is the nicest man in the world.
I am impressed how you get to the solution no time wasted with "useless comments" and how you cut unnecessary footage. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
This guy's kindness is evident by his demeanor. Instant credibility.
I want to be this kind!
Finally a COMPLETE and quick video!!
Thank you brother!!
You're welcome!
I had a water heater emergency with the expansion tank. With an hour to spare I got a replacement at Lowes and with your video was able to make a great repair.....thanks for all the information!!
Nice work!
I had no idea about the immediacy of replacement needed with a leak nor the strap! No plumber has mentioned doing the strap. I googled it and, indeed, it IS needed! Thanks for this comprehensive video! I wish I had you available as a plumber. Your work is impeccable!
You are legendary sir. 4 years later, your video is still helping people, myself included, and it will continue to do so long into the future!
The Amtrol unit you uninstalled carries a 10 year warranty. The second one you showed comes from Home Depot and only carries a 1 year warranty. Also the original Amtrol unit was installed upside down. I have the same Amtrol unit and my instructions say it has the be installed with the air/schrader valve on the bottom. I mounted the new tank on an expansion tank bracket and used a stainless steel flex line to go from the cold water line into the top of the expansion tank. I used the mounting bracket because I didn’t want the expansion tank putting stress on my cold water copper line and definitely didn’t want to use galvanized pipe....
For future reference the Amtrol brand is a much better expansion tank than either the generic Home Depot or Lowes branded expansion tank. You do get what you pay for there.
The video was an excellent explanation. Just always follow the mounting instructions that come with the expansion tank you purchase as the new tank may not be able to be mounted the same way.
Ron
Excellent points all around! I'll note that my original Amtrol tank was installed by the same licensed plumber who did all the rest of the plumbing work in the house when it was built.... and lots of corners were cut elsewhere as well. Also, the instructions for the tank I installed in this video indicate it can be installed in either vertical orientation, and while it has a shorter warranty than the Amtrol tank, by checking it at least annually I expect it will last plenty long. Thanks for watching!
@@AmplifyDIY
I know what you mean about plumbers. They aren’t all created equal... The plumber who did mine cut some corners too. The house is less than 15 years old and already had to replace some copper. Decided to just rip it all out and put in pex after a few leaks...
I have noticed that almost no one pays attention to the upside down install, even see some put in horizontally. Goes to show original install not being inspected.
They can be installed in any orientation.
@@DK-pr9ny I can’t remember the brand, but it came from the big box store about 25 years ago. The instructions on the last one I installed said it could be installed in any orientation. I’ll bet different manufacturers give different requirements, so some might be installed vertically with the valve up or down or about require it up or down, or possibly even to the side. I hope they know what they’re talking about…
Instant subscribe. This guy has a great delivery. He covers all the important points without dragging it out.
Thanks for subscribing! I really appreciate it!
Everything a content creator should be. Top marks on the video quality, explanation, knowledge, and presentation. The links are a great addition and also helpful. Subscribed due to this content provider.
I appreciate that!
Thank you for this. Did mine today. Tank was definitely shot and not doing its job. Your step-by-step saved us a ton of money in an already broke household.
You are very welcome! I'm so glad it was helpful. :)
I've been a plumber for 45 years and that was very entertaining and good information and that is been around new Compared to what I do Thanks for the info
Nice seeing a pro giving "props" to us amateurs.
"because you know PHYSICS" I had not understood the reasons for having one of these. All of my houses are OLD (and I am TOO). What a wonderful LESSON!
Great job explaining the thermal expansion tank Sir, you just save me quite a bit of money. Thank you
Yay! That's why I do this. Love to help people. :)
@@AmplifyDIY Thank you!!
I echo his words. Thank you! Save us money
I used this vid to replace my completely failed expansion tank today. I replaced the pressure release valve first thinking it was that, but the leak persisted, so I came here and the symptoms were exactly as this showed. I took the pressure of my expansion tank and it was 0. lol Replaced it after learning from this and back to perfect working order. Thanks a bunch!
Nice job!
Nice video. You mentioned if you have a one way water check valve. What some people don’t know is that if your house has a pressure regulator valve..... it also acts like a one way water check valve and you must then install an expansion tank.
Thanks for the insight, Alan!
Great video. You logically covered all the bases and made a very professional presentation.
First of all, a HUGE THANK YOU for your video and your thorough explanation on the expansion tank. You saved me a few hundred dollars because I had an issue with a leaking pressure valve. I thought it was the pressure valve, so I replaced it and the leak continued. I thought it might be the thermostat on the water heater and it was overheating the water and causing the pressure relief valve to open up. I also checked into the water pressure, 80psi and I called the water dept and verified that it wasn’t high since most places are around 60psi. They told me that they run around 85-100psi, normal pressure for their system. I’ll probably add a regulator later, but I checked the expansion tank’s Schrader valve and water came out! I replaced it and filled the air pressure to 80psi. The old tank had rusted through on the tank’s 3/4” nipple and I doubt the plumber added the correct pressure either. But to make a long story short, you helped me by saving me money and if a “like” and “subscribe” is enough to say thank you, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.
You just put a huge smile on my face. I love hearing from people who saved money / time / hassle from my videos. Thanks for letting me know, and great job getting it taken care of yourself!
Best video about expansion tanks I watched. Several other vidios left out key info they should have covered.
Extremely helpful...probably saved me a good couple hundred dollars doing it myself as opposed to a Plummer.
I have never done this. Was it easy?
It's easy
Excellent presentation without all the self aggrandizement on most other DIY clips.
Glad you liked it!
Great video. Crystal clear and timely. I was about to do some DIY work on water pipes connected to my hot water heater and the potable water expansion tank. Needed to know the purpose of this tank and how to service it after draining and prior to turning back on the water supply line(s). Helped me tremendously! Thank you.
So glad it helped! Good luck with your job!
Had to replace my expansion tank and this video was sooooo helpful! I’d give it 5 thumbs up if I could.
I'm so glad it was helpful. Thanks for letting me know!
Great video. I just replaced mine tonight and your tips really helped. This was the best full instructional video I found. Thank you for the step-by-steps and for saving me hundreds!!
One of the best DIY videos, I have seen.
Hey, thank you very much, Imtiaz!
Thanks for your thorough video. I actually discovered that our tank was faulty (spouted water when tested) while trying to troubleshoot some really high pressure in our system (which I began to suspect because we were having all sorts of valve and cartridge failures around the house). At first I thought we just needed a pressure-reducing valve and got one installed, but we still had high pressure. Some more research indicated that the expansion tank might be the problem, and so then we got a new one installed. In my research, I had seen that the tank's pressure needed to be equalized with the house pressure, so I asked the plumbers whether they had done so and they said, "no, it comes pre-set" (to 20 PSI). Well, I knew that was an issue, read the instructions that came with it, and verified the proper procedure. So here's my point: The house pressure would sometimes get over 100 PSI. Measuring the "house pressure" would then indicate that the tank needed to be set to this, which I know was too high. I let the water run for a bit to reduce the excess pressure, then measured 45 PSI. I ended up redoing part of their installation then by doing what you first showed in this video - turning off the water, releasing any pressure, adding some air to make it 45 PSI, and then turning everything back on.
Great job!
Great video. Mine sprung a leak and I was like “what is this little tank & what does it do”? This video easily saved me probably $100 + in a plumber service call. Changed it myself. Great video.
Great to hear!
Thank you my friend. I was worried that this was gonna be a licensed plumber fix. Therefore a ridiculous price. So relieved it's a DYI! Thanks again
thank you for making this video, it has helped a lot with my husband and i on replacing our hot water heater that ruptured "as there was no expansion tank on the system at all" and this has explained why and how to install one onto a system. Thank you again
I hope adding an expansion tank to your new heater helps it stay working well for decades. Good luck!
Nice installation. I also prefer the up side down installation. it avoid impurities in the water to settle and keep bacteria from growing within. cheers
I have watched a few of these videos on the expansion tank and how to check the pressure accurately, and you were the only one to say after turning off the water supply to open a faucet and let hot water run out to depressureize the system, then take a pressure reading!! Most all others just say to take the reading as it is right now !! THANKS for the tip and information!
Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for watching, psan72!
I think you need to shut the cold water side (whole house) also to test the pressure.
Excellent directions. Thanks so much! My expansion tank took a while to empty after I dumped off a few gallons from the heater. I could hear the burbling, so I just waited until it stopped to ensure it was empty. Just a helpful point to ensure you don't have spillage when you remove the old expansion to tank.
Great tip, thanks for sharing!
What you should do when you drain the tank is open the top valve as it gives air to the tank and will drain more readily.another thing is the tank should be mounted vertically on the website it shows vertical with the schrader valve on the bottom
One of the best DIY videos I’ve ever seen on UA-cam. Simple to the point. I am a fix-it guy myself and can usually fix just about anything, but I will definitely be coming back to your videos in the future.
You are awesome! I appreciate the kind words.
I did mine 2 months ago ( complete water heater and expansion tank ) and didn't know about trick you use to hold the tank. Will be doing this very soon. Thank you for a great video.
Great job explaining on how to do this. Best one on UA-cam so far
Glad you liked it!
I watched several videos on this….and yours was by far the best. Thanks.
Wow, thanks Roger!
When my expansion tank failed, my tp valve did NOT leak. But when I first turned on faucet the water would come out faster because the pressure was higher. So don’t assume that not leaking tp means you are OK.
You are correct.when I first opened the hot water there was a momentary higher blast of hot water and then it would settle to the supply pressure.that is how I discovered a failure.there were no leaks to indicate the problem.
That’s because all that pressure was built up in the heater and had to where to go and being the the bladder in the expansion which would absorb that pressure is now ruptured you get that burst of hot water which is also bad for your heater.
What a clear, nice paice, and simple but explicit explanation on this DIY project
Thank you for this video, I don’t need nothing else to repair and replace my expansion tank
God Bless you
I'm currently living in my fifth house (in SE Texas) and I've never seen one of these tanks attached to a water heater. I've never had a problem. As a matter of fact, the existing water heater in the house I own is the original heater ( installed in 1996) and I've lived here for 15 years. Are these really necessary?
Hey Aggiedave - great question! Not everyone has or necessarily needs an expansion tank. You can read a bunch more info about the hows and whys here: legacyplumbing.net/blog/water-heater-expansion-tank/
Thanks for watching!
@@AmplifyDIY This is not the answer that Aggiedave77 asked...you should say that it is not necessary as the hot water tanks is required to have a high pressure relief valve to relief the pressure if the water pressure inside the tank exceed the set value, say 75 psi...A few cities may have regulations that require a thermal expansion tank, but that is the exception, not the norm.
if you have a check valve in your supply line ( to prevent backflow into the city water system... a local code aspect)....then you have created a closed system where the expanding water has no where to go when it heats up. If you don't have a check valve...and the water expansion goes back to the city supply.....then you won't need the tank.
I usually don't comment on videos but when a video has good content, well presented and attention to detail, I have to... Excellent video!
Awesome! Thank you!
Does direction of tank matter? I was looking at putting one in with air valve at bottom. Thank you
Nope, direction does not matter: blog.supplyhouse.com/expansion-tank-mounting-positions/
14 years ago my TMP relief valve kept opening, on my NEW WATER HEATER. Replaced 2 TMP relief valves and still had the problem? So, I had the expansion tank installed. Presto, no more water heater problems. 11-22-2020
Today 8-1-2021 , Again I replaced the TMP valve and flushed the water heater. Didn’t think about the expansion tank until I watched another video you did, and my exp. tank had two thuds and no ping⚠️ Got a new Exp. tank, water pressure gauge, and pipe dope/ Teflon tape. My water pressure tested at 80 psi. The new Exp. tank is set at 40 psi. And I’m using a portable air pump that I have in my vehicle for tires. And just watching this video once again to get proper instructions to replace and install new Exp. Tank. Well it’s installed and I’ll check it though out the next few days and a couple weeks. My tank is only 2 Gal. and hangs having AIR PRESSURE Valve at bottom. The previous Exp. Tank was installed the same way, having no extra supports. 👍🏻💓❗️🇺🇸 Stay Safe.
Very good presentation. It would be useful if you presented also the different types of expansion tanks (for heating systems and domestic use) and explain the differences.
Excellent tutorial no music straight to the points thanks
The easiest way to test your expansion tank is to just release some air from the Schrader valve, If you get air the diaphragm is good if you get water the diaphragm is bad! I have been used on irrigation systems for years!
I always wondered what that was for. I found out today as it failed due to my ignorance. When I replaced the heating elements this time, I filled the tank up with water thinking it was for better pressure... Wrong! My wife called me saying, "The thing was leaking all over the place!" I came home to find that it cracked on the side. After watching this great video I learned my mistake!! Have a plumber coming over now to replace it, but at least I know why it failed. Thanks for the content! Paul In NC
Oof! I'm sorry to hear yours failed, Paul! I'm glad you now understand how it works though, and will be better prepared in the future. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video! I’ve,always wondered that that tank does. Does the expansion tank help prevent water pipe hammering?
Hey Crazy Petez! Yes, preventing water hammer is one of it's jobs. Thanks for watching!
Yes for sure. Mine is being replaced now to stop the hammering
Great video! Will definitely help with me changing my leaking expansion tank! Only suggestion I have is using putty and plumbers tape at the same time sounds lie your going off the rails a bit! I would just follow the directions!
Heh. Belt and suspenders. :)
Sir, thank you for providing such valuable information! You are awesome. Subscribed!!!
Thanks for the sub!
Awesome video - the right amount of information, perfectly paced and just what's needed. I swapped out my leaky expansion tank in no time after watching and following this. Thanks so much - you saved me a lot of time and (doubtless) dollars!!!!
That's great to hear - nice job getting yours swapped out!
Thank you! Helped out a lot.
Just the information I needed! I need to replace my son's water heater tomorrow, and was wondering what kind of setup was required for the expansion tank. I would not have thought to bring my air compressor!
Expansion tanks are the least reliable thing in your system. I eliminated mine and checked the min and max pressures with gauge with a full cold to hot tank transition. If your water pressure is low enough, the extra 20 psi caused by heating water won't hurt a thing and you don't need one of these. Pressure gauges are cheap. If it's rare that you use all the hot water in your heater, with only heating half a tank the pressure increase is lower still. Expansion tanks are 3x the cost of relief valves. Change the relief valve every four years if you're worried about it. The real crime is installing an expansion tank on a system with a tankless heater. The plumbing lobby is strong.
Does it help with 100+ extra psi?
@@zarnya Does what help with 100 psi? What are you asking? I simply said that measuring first to determine if a problem even exists. With low water pressure and a low tank temperature the pressure rise that I saw was only 20 PSI. Starting with 30 PSI water pressure that isn't a problem.
Thank you for the visual when checking the water pressure for your house as well as the ET. I went to HD and purchased one, I think I'm ready to do this!
You can do it, Ruthernerson! Good luck!
The sound of draining the water at the very end, sent me to the bathroom.
That tank does have a bladder in it, after all. 😂
Just replaced my expansion tank myself after fearing I would have a costly repair on my hands. Thanks for the step by step walkthrough!!
Great job!
Thanks! This looks a little less intimidating.
I want to say thank you for helping change my tank!!
Glad I could help, Miguel!
I was surprised (and a little annoyed) to learn that the plumbers who installed all the expansion tanks in my neighborhood never bothered to correctly pressurize them. If your system has one of these tanks, go check the pressure!
Where did you get that awesome air pressure gauge you used?
Hi Lauren! I actually did a video all about that specific gauge: ua-cam.com/video/Lkh49kSUmvg/v-deo.html
This is a very good introduction to water heater expansion tanks. After watching this clip, I now realize that my system is running on the ragged edge; i.e., the electric water heater AND expansion tank are 15 years old!
I think It's time for you to do a video on at home haircuts :D
LOL. Only if you like the “Mr. Clean” look!
Just replaced my expansion tank using this video. Thanks for sharing this video and keeping it simple. God bless!
Great job!
Legend! Used this today to save a few hundred bucks!
Awesome!
Hi, just watched this and learned what I needed to do to replace my expansion tank, which had cracked and was spewing water through a small hole. I measured my water pressure, then added air to the bladder using my 12v tire inflator. Thanks for posting this.
Great to hear, Joe!
What an incredibly kind man, sharing his knowledge so thoroughly. Anybody know what song is playing in the background? I love it
Just-right tone & info. What to do BEFORE suspecting or replacing water heater pressure relief valve that is leaking or cycling too often.
Thanks Quentin - before there are any issues, just check the pressures in the expansion tank annually, and test your T&P valve as well. Annual tests like that will almost always confirm if everything is working as it should, or if trouble is on the horizon. Thanks for watching!
Great step by step explanation with just enough added details
Glad you think so! Thanks, AJ!
Very good video . Tanks you for you time . Good idea if you can make a new video for the small pump install in hot water Line. I don’t know what’s for
This is the best video i have seen on this great video 😀👍
Wow. Thanks for the video. I have been noticing standing small spots of standing water in my garage near the water heater. Found a couple rusted holes in the non visible side of the expansion tank.. Your vid makes it look easy peasy lemon squeezy.. Heading to Lowe's now!
I hope it all goes well for you. Good luck!
Oh, here is one very good suggestion I learned about 45 years ago: with a Sharpie, write down the installation DATE where it cannot be seen. Homeowners have faulty memories. I had one dingbat lady yell and scream that "...she had just replaced her water heater." I stopped right there and began putting my tools away. She relented and paid up front in order for me to continue. When I pulled out her old water heater---the previous plumber had dated things---her old unit was 15 years old! Great tip I carry forth to this day.
Great tip!
Why write it where it can’t be seen? I replaced my tank last year and wrote the installation date with a sharpie on the bottom blank border of the serial number and rating plate because I couldn’t remember when I had replaced the previous one. Why hide it when 12 years from now I can date the thing in my doddering old age at a glance?
@@QwazyWabbit ....if you're working on your own house, it is much different than doing a job for customer. Customers have faulty memories.
Ever hear of "carpenter's quips?" When sealing up a wall, tradesmen will add jokes, anecdotes, etc.
That happens with car batteries all the time,every time i buy a new one i write down in my maintenance log when i bought it,people tell me all the time " that battery is only 2 years old" nope, its 7 years old,lol
@@dntlss correctomundo. I have a LogBook for all my vehicles as well as motorcycles. Oil 'n filter changes, batteries, tyres, repairs, etc. Oh, and every gas-up, I log it. Easy habit.
When I sold my 1979 Ford F250 4wd with the logbook, the new owner flipped out with glee.
Thanks for the informative video! I used your other video to replace my t&p valve but it was still leaking.
I believe I need to install an expansion tank now based on this video. Better than spending money for a new water heater.
Best of luck - I'd love to hear if adding an expansion tank takes care of it for you. Good luck!
Fine video on some basic & frequently overlooked maintenance
Thank you for the step by step… very insightful and helped me saved me a good chuck of change from hiring a professional. Was much easier than anticipated.
A lot of pipe dope there. Also you were holding your pipe wrench in the same direction as your channel locks. All and all. Great video
Great videos. Hopefully won’t have to replace this tank after I replace the PRV tomorrow. I’ll be using the PRV replacement video as my guide. GO BLUES!!!
Thomas and Broberg need to hurry up and heal! Thanks for watching!
Just replaced my tank with the help of this video. Thanks!
Great job, Harry!
Very helpful video. The step by step help me change mine out. Less than 30 mins total.
Great to hear!
Tell us the sizes of the pipes to & from the expansion tank. We are new to plumbing. Thank you very much, & also explane the fitting uses.
We just bought a new house and the bladder in our tank has failed. Thanks for the video. Now I know what to do.
I’m happy to try to answer any questions you run into fixing yours. Good luck!
I never had expansion tank at home and the water heater still works well.
The need for them is really dictated by your water supplier. They are becoming more and more common. All new homes being built in my area for at least the last 10 years have them installed when the heater is first put in. Thanks for watching!
very good explanation how to install and maintain!!!!
Thank you for your instructionals..
They save me hundreds of dollars
Excellent video. Thanks for keeping it brief and on topic.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks to his video I am going to change one in my house.
Wow! Very informative video! I have got by just fine for last 60 years in my home without one. I’m going to call plumber right away and see what he thinks! Thanks man! You saved my life!
Let me guess, the plumber thought you should have an expansion tank and he was willing to install it for $200 an hour.
This is a great video. I had one fail on me a about 14 to 16 months ago. We started noticing very rapid water bursts for the first 2 seconds when turning on any faucet. I ignored the issue (being very busy at work) for a few months until the water tank itself sprung a very slow leak seen in the catch pan. It was not a leaking pressure relief valve or any of the pipes so I had to replace the water heater. Thankfully it was still under warranty (for a few more months) and Rheem gave me back about 1/2 of the price of the new one. I replaced both the water heater and the expansion tank, adjusted the pressure on our house pressure regulator and filled the tank with the proper pressure. I did retest the pressure on the tank and house a few days later but not since. Interestingly my failed and replacement tanks are both the same as yours.
Sorry you had to deal with a failed water heater due to a failed expansion tank! That stinks! I'm glad you were able to get some warranty coverage, though. Hopefully your new setup will last much, much longer. Thanks for watching!
Excellent job. Straightforward and informative. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I find it amazing that water heaters have worked just fine for decades without this tank.
It's not amazing at all.
Not required everywhere either.... Texas for example doesn't require them for code compliance.
Watching this made me comfortable enough to install my own expansion tank. Thank you sir.
Perfect Video. Good length, straight to the point. Bravo sir!
I never knew you could recharge these. I just gave it a try and will see how it goes. Your videos are awesome, thanks!!
Thank you, Jamie! I hope yours just needed to be recharged! :)
@@AmplifyDIY my pleasure! It’s been a day and so far so good!
Thank you. Mine apparently started leaking last night... so I woke up to a learning experience.
Thank you. Always a pleasure learning from people like you
I just had a thermal expansion tank installed, but I didn’t notice my plumber check our home water pressure or pre-charge the tank. However, I thought it was charged correctly as it read 65psi which matches my home water pressure when I tested it with my pressure gauge. However, I then watched you video and followed your steps to check the tank pressure correctly by depressurizing the system and found it was just barely above the factory psi of 20 at 20.5 psi. Therefore I filled it up with my compressor to match my home water pressure. Wouldn’t have known how to do this without watching your video. Thanks for the great video!
Nice job, Dan! I'm perplexed by how many licensed plumbers get this so wrong. Glad you caught it and pressurized the tank correctly so it will work properly. Thanks for watching!
Good job, very thorough and informative!
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful.
Thxs for this priceless information now I feel better to change my own expension tank
This was an excellent presentation on best practices for a thermal expansion tank installation. Everything was well-thought out and wow... very neat work, as well. Thank you very much for the many gems shared. Subscribed!
Glad you enjoyed it... even though you are a Sharks fan. ;-)
thank you for this video. i just used it to replace mine, and it helped a lot. i found the paper instructions in the box after i’d finished, haha.
We have cold water expansion valves in Australia. They are just like to hot water expansion valve but without the prob. The hot water expansion valve is meant to release first.