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Robert Spike
 
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Default Water still running after shower turned off

I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.

Thanks.
  #2   Report Post  
Speedy Jim
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Robert Spike wrote:

I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.

Thanks.


It could indeed be due to the exp tank, but it's not
necessarily a problem.

If the system pressure drops considerably with useage
(toilet refill, etc.), water will be forced *out* of the
exp tank. When the toilet has filled, the pressure builds
again and now the exp tank fills up.

You might experience this on a well pump system; less likely
on city water unless there is a restriction which drops
pressure markedly.

Jim
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HRL
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.


I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.



  #4   Report Post  
Robert Spike
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"HRL" wrote in message ...
"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.


I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.



So - - - to confirm what I think I understand here. The sound of the
water rushing through the pipes for 20 seconds or so *after* the
shower/sink/toilet shuts off is actually normal as the water is
refilling itself back up into the Expansion Tank? I actually know
absolutely nothing about plumbing, so all this information is very
helpful to me.

I'm not sure why the plumber recommended this for me. It was pretty
inexpensive, and I recall having one put on in my last house (in the
same Township) after the water company installed a "back flow" device.
But, this behavior didn't exist in my old house - - - Just my new one
since 6 days ago when the new water heater and Expansion Tank was
installed.

I'm just trying to reach a conclusive decision and feel comfortable
that my house isn't going to flood from a pipe burst.

Thanks, again. I'll look forward to further responses.
  #5   Report Post  
Speedy Jim
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Robert Spike wrote:

"HRL" wrote in message ...
"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.


I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.


So - - - to confirm what I think I understand here. The sound of the
water rushing through the pipes for 20 seconds or so *after* the
shower/sink/toilet shuts off is actually normal as the water is
refilling itself back up into the Expansion Tank? I actually know
absolutely nothing about plumbing, so all this information is very
helpful to me.

I'm not sure why the plumber recommended this for me. It was pretty
inexpensive, and I recall having one put on in my last house (in the
same Township) after the water company installed a "back flow" device.
But, this behavior didn't exist in my old house - - - Just my new one
since 6 days ago when the new water heater and Expansion Tank was
installed.

I'm just trying to reach a conclusive decision and feel comfortable
that my house isn't going to flood from a pipe burst.

Thanks, again. I'll look forward to further responses.


Yes, it appears to be normal. As I said earlier though,
there must be *some* kind of restriction causing the pressure
to drop (sounds like you are again on town water supply).
But if you're happy with the way the fixtures work, I wouldn't
worry any more about the refill noise.

Jim


  #6   Report Post  
Robert Spike
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"HRL" wrote in message ...
"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.


I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.



Since posting my last message, I contacted the Water Company. My home
currently DOES NOT have a Back-Flow device installed, but it DOES have
a Pressure Reducing Valve. They suggested having the plumber inspect
the Pressure Reducing Valve and adjust it if necessary. Is this
consistent with the problem that I am describing? Do these things
need adjusting?

In speaking with my plumber again, he wants to come out and remove the
Expansion Tank so see if that helps the problem. If he does that, and
the problem goes away, what then? How necessary is the Expansion
Tank? The house is 16 years old and has never had an Expansion Tank
before.
  #7   Report Post  
HRL
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
"HRL" wrote in message

...
"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.


I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with

the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it

takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to

the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.



Since posting my last message, I contacted the Water Company. My home
currently DOES NOT have a Back-Flow device installed, but it DOES have
a Pressure Reducing Valve. They suggested having the plumber inspect
the Pressure Reducing Valve and adjust it if necessary. Is this
consistent with the problem that I am describing? Do these things
need adjusting?

In speaking with my plumber again, he wants to come out and remove the
Expansion Tank so see if that helps the problem. If he does that, and
the problem goes away, what then? How necessary is the Expansion
Tank? The house is 16 years old and has never had an Expansion Tank
before.


The only time I have seen them used is if you have trouble with low water
pressure or perhaps noise in the pipes.

But appears there may be many other reasons. A Google for expansion tanks
resulted in thousands of hits:

http://www.stateind.com/expansion/expansion.htm

http://www.contractormag.com/article...fm?columnid=75


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Speedy Jim
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Robert Spike wrote:

"HRL" wrote in message ...
"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.


I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.


Since posting my last message, I contacted the Water Company. My home
currently DOES NOT have a Back-Flow device installed, but it DOES have
a Pressure Reducing Valve. They suggested having the plumber inspect
the Pressure Reducing Valve and adjust it if necessary. Is this
consistent with the problem that I am describing? Do these things
need adjusting?

In speaking with my plumber again, he wants to come out and remove the
Expansion Tank so see if that helps the problem. If he does that, and
the problem goes away, what then? How necessary is the Expansion
Tank? The house is 16 years old and has never had an Expansion Tank
before.


A thermal expansion tank is *required* when there is a pressure
reducing valve or backflow preventer installed. So, the plumber was
acting on his best instincts.

One possibility is that the reducing valve is not closing tightly.
This means that once the set pressure is reached, a small amount of
water continues to flow past the valve seat and the pressure slowly
climbs to max street pressure. Easily test this theory with a pressure
gauge. It sure would explain the noise.

Jim
  #9   Report Post  
Robert Spike
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Speedy Jim wrote in message ...
Robert Spike wrote:

"HRL" wrote in message ...
"Robert Spike" wrote in message
om...
I just had a new hot water heater installed a week ago. The plumber
recommended an Expansion Tank, and he installed one of those as well.

Everything is fine. However, once my shower is turned off, or a
toilet is flushed and fills back up, I still hear water flowing
through my pipes through out the house for about 30 seconds or so.
Nothing is leaking anywhere, and this behavior did not exist before
the new hot water heater and new Expansion Tank were installed. My
plumber is baffled. He came out and replaced the Expansion Tank
(thinking that was the problem) but it hasn't helped.

Any idea why this is happening? Is it the new Expansion Tank and, if
so, is this normal behavior?

Please feel free to post here, or e-mail me directly at
.

I am baffled why the plumber doesn't know.
Why did he recommend the expansion tank unless you had low water flow?
So now that you have the expansion tank you should get more flow with the
extra supplied from the tank. But after you turn off the valves it takes a
while for it to fill again. If there is a way to turn off the line to the
expansion tank I expect turning it off would eliminate the problem.

If the sound itself is exceptionally loud that is something else.


Since posting my last message, I contacted the Water Company. My home
currently DOES NOT have a Back-Flow device installed, but it DOES have
a Pressure Reducing Valve. They suggested having the plumber inspect
the Pressure Reducing Valve and adjust it if necessary. Is this
consistent with the problem that I am describing? Do these things
need adjusting?

In speaking with my plumber again, he wants to come out and remove the
Expansion Tank so see if that helps the problem. If he does that, and
the problem goes away, what then? How necessary is the Expansion
Tank? The house is 16 years old and has never had an Expansion Tank
before.


A thermal expansion tank is *required* when there is a pressure
reducing valve or backflow preventer installed. So, the plumber was
acting on his best instincts.

One possibility is that the reducing valve is not closing tightly.
This means that once the set pressure is reached, a small amount of
water continues to flow past the valve seat and the pressure slowly
climbs to max street pressure. Easily test this theory with a pressure
gauge. It sure would explain the noise.

Jim



The plumber returned to my home and corrected the problem. I thought
I would post my findings here.

He took a pressure reading and it revealed a reading of 105 PSI. He
tried to adjust the Pressure Reducing Valve but it wouldn't go below
100 PSI. He said this was way too high. He replaced the Pressure
Reducing Valve, adjusted the pressure to 75 PSI and now all is fixed.
Now when I flush a toilet, turn the shower off etc. the water stops
immediately and I don't hear the noise anymore.

Thanks for all the information.
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