Do I need an expansion tank?
 

Dear Readers,

I've a new oil-fired boiler with an indirect water heater. The
boiler
loop has an expansion tank. The domestic hot water does not. I have
well water (bladder tank located 50+ft away from the boiler).
Do I need an expansion tank on my domestic hot water? The plumber who
installed said I don't need one, but I'm concerned.

All comments appreciated.
Thank you.
Anthony M. Falcone

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

I think people started needing expansion tanks on water heaters when
muncipal water supplies added check valves to stop contanimation of the
water system. Since you don't have a check valve to prevent backflow, I
don't see why you would need one.


wrote in message
ups.com...
Dear Readers,

I've a new oil-fired boiler with an indirect water heater. The
boiler
loop has an expansion tank. The domestic hot water does not. I have
well water (bladder tank located 50+ft away from the boiler).
Do I need an expansion tank on my domestic hot water? The plumber who
installed said I don't need one, but I'm concerned.

All comments appreciated.
Thank you.
Anthony M. Falcone

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

"Art" wrote in message
ink.net...
I think people started needing expansion tanks on water heaters when
muncipal water supplies added check valves to stop contanimation of the
water system. Since you don't have a check valve to prevent backflow, I
don't see why you would need one.


Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

On Jul 20, 12:42 am, kjpro @ usenet.com wrote:
"Art" wrote in message

ink.net...

I think people started needing expansion tanks on water heaters when
muncipal water supplies added check valves to stop contanimation of the
water system. Since you don't have a check valve to prevent backflow, I
don't see why you would need one.

Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

It probably has at least one at the well, but if he has a bladder tank
between the hot water tank and the well,
that should allow for all the expansion necessary.

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

In article . net, "Art" wrote:
I think people started needing expansion tanks on water heaters when
muncipal water supplies added check valves to stop contanimation of the
water system. Since you don't have a check valve to prevent backflow, I
don't see why you would need one.

He indeed doesn't need one, but that's not the reason.

He doesn't need one because the pressure tank for the well serves the same
purpose.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Dear Readers,

I've a new oil-fired boiler with an indirect water heater. The
boiler
loop has an expansion tank. The domestic hot water does not. I have
well water (bladder tank located 50+ft away from the boiler).
Do I need an expansion tank on my domestic hot water? The plumber who
installed said I don't need one, but I'm concerned.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

In article . com, wrote:
I've a new oil-fired boiler with an indirect water heater. The boiler
loop has an expansion tank. The domestic hot water does not. I have
well water (bladder tank located 50+ft away from the boiler).
Do I need an expansion tank on my domestic hot water? The plumber who
installed said I don't need one, but I'm concerned.

Trust the plumber.

You don't need one for the domestic hot water because the pressure tank for
the well will accomodate any expansion from the water heater.

You *do* need one for the boiler, even though you have a well, because there's
a check valve between the boiler and the pressure tank. You may not be aware
that you have a check valve, but you do: the pressure reducing fill valve at
the boiler is a one-way valve, to prevent the possibilty of contaminating the
potable water supply with a backflow from the heating system (e.g. in the
event of a catastrophic loss of pressure in the potable supply).

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

There is no existing check valve between the bladder tank and the
indirect water heater domestic intake. You confirmed my suspicion
that the house bladder tank acts as an expansion tank for the domestic
water system.

Thank you all very much for your comments.

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

kjpro @ usenet.com wrote in message
...


Don't you think his water system has a check valve?



I don't know of many that do. Mine certainly does not. Not in my last
house either. Or the one before that. Why do you think he has one?

Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also. I
have four in my commercial/industrial buildings, none in residential.

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

On Jul 20, 6:50 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
kjpro @ usenet.com wrote in message

...



Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

I don't know of many that do. Mine certainly does not. Not in my last
house either. Or the one before that. Why do you think he has one?

Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also. I
have four in my commercial/industrial buildings, none in residential.

.Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also.

Yes & in some areas, backflow prevention is handled only at hose bibs
& dishwashers via individual devices.

My neighbor had a city permitted / inspected re-pipe & now has vacuum
breakers at the hose bibs.............no check valve & thus no need
for an expansion tank.

cheers
Bob

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

On Jul 20, 6:50 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
kjpro @ usenet.com wrote in message

...



Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

I don't know of many that do. Mine certainly does not. Not in my last
house either. Or the one before that. Why do you think he has one?

Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also. I
have four in my commercial/industrial buildings, none in residential.

Perhaps because he is on a well and I have never seen or heard of a
well system without one. The footvalve _is_ a checkvalve and if it is
a submersible, the checkvalve is built in. If there wasn't one, the
pressure tank would empty back into the well every time the pump shut
off.

Harry K

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

"Harry K" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 20, 6:50 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
kjpro @ usenet.com wrote in message

...



Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

I don't know of many that do. Mine certainly does not. Not in my last
house either. Or the one before that. Why do you think he has one?

Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also.
I
have four in my commercial/industrial buildings, none in residential.

Perhaps because he is on a well and I have never seen or heard of a
well system without one. The footvalve _is_ a checkvalve and if it is
a submersible, the checkvalve is built in. If there wasn't one, the
pressure tank would empty back into the well every time the pump shut
off.

Harry K


:-)

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

The check valve in a well system would be between the punp and the bladder
tank. Not the bladder tank and house water pipes. So he doesn't need an
expansion tank for the water heater.


"Harry K" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 20, 6:50 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
kjpro @ usenet.com wrote in message

...



Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

I don't know of many that do. Mine certainly does not. Not in my last
house either. Or the one before that. Why do you think he has one?

Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also.
I
have four in my commercial/industrial buildings, none in residential.

Perhaps because he is on a well and I have never seen or heard of a
well system without one. The footvalve _is_ a checkvalve and if it is
a submersible, the checkvalve is built in. If there wasn't one, the
pressure tank would empty back into the well every time the pump shut
off.

Harry K

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
t...
In article . com,
wrote:
I've a new oil-fired boiler with an indirect water heater. The boiler
loop has an expansion tank. The domestic hot water does not. I have
well water (bladder tank located 50+ft away from the boiler).
Do I need an expansion tank on my domestic hot water? The plumber who
installed said I don't need one, but I'm concerned.

Trust the plumber.

You don't need one for the domestic hot water because the pressure tank
for
the well will accomodate any expansion from the water heater.

You *do* need one for the boiler, even though you have a well, because
there's
a check valve between the boiler and the pressure tank. You may not be
aware
that you have a check valve, but you do: the pressure reducing fill valve
at
the boiler is a one-way valve, to prevent the possibilty of contaminating
the
potable water supply with a backflow from the heating system (e.g. in the
event of a catastrophic loss of pressure in the potable supply).


Or if you shut the water off to make repairs...

Do I need an expansion tank?
 

On Jul 20, 9:52 pm, "Art" wrote:
The check valve in a well system would be between the punp and the bladder
tank. Not the bladder tank and house water pipes. So he doesn't need an
expansion tank for the water heater.

"Harry K" wrote in message

oups.com...



On Jul 20, 6:50 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
kjpro @ usenet.com wrote in message

. ..

Don't you think his water system has a check valve?

I don't know of many that do. Mine certainly does not. Not in my last
house either. Or the one before that. Why do you think he has one?

Backflow preventers are relatively new in residential applications also.
I
have four in my commercial/industrial buildings, none in residential.

Perhaps because he is on a well and I have never seen or heard of a
well system without one. The footvalve _is_ a checkvalve and if it is
a submersible, the checkvalve is built in. If there wasn't one, the
pressure tank would empty back into the well every time the pump shut
off.

Harry K- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I believe that was explained earlier.

Harry K