Water Heaters - Water pressure is 83, Expansion tank set for 80
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Chrisatunc
05-21-07, 10:03 AM
Howdy-
I don't have a pressure regulator on my water line (if I do have one, it's not inside the house) and the watts guage that I put on my hose bib registered 83 psi this morning. I know that it's recommended to have a pressure regulator for psi over 80. I've read that an alternative is an expansion tank.
Luckily, I ask because I'm putting in a water heater and have planned to use an expansion tank. The tank can handle up to 150 psi, but they ask you to inflate it to match your water pressure and they say not to inflate it over 80 psi. Will this 3 psi difference make a big difference?
The supply line from the street is 1/2" copper and it's 1/2" copper all throughout the small (850 sqft) house. Thanks in advance, but I don't need any advice on thinking about switching to 3/4" :-)
-Chris
I don't have a pressure regulator on my water line (if I do have one, it's not inside the house) and the watts guage that I put on my hose bib registered 83 psi this morning. I know that it's recommended to have a pressure regulator for psi over 80. I've read that an alternative is an expansion tank.
Luckily, I ask because I'm putting in a water heater and have planned to use an expansion tank. The tank can handle up to 150 psi, but they ask you to inflate it to match your water pressure and they say not to inflate it over 80 psi. Will this 3 psi difference make a big difference?
The supply line from the street is 1/2" copper and it's 1/2" copper all throughout the small (850 sqft) house. Thanks in advance, but I don't need any advice on thinking about switching to 3/4" :-)
-Chris
shacko
05-21-07, 11:42 AM
Codes do call for 80lbs max. for the incoming pressure, the higher you go the more wear and tear you have on your system,60lbs. should be plenty. You need a pressure reducing valve.
Expansion tanks on a water heater are for thermal expansion when the water heater heats up, if your incoming pressure is too high they will not do you any good.
Bottom line, reducer valve, set the charge of the expansion tank to the pressure of the outlet of the valve. Luck.
Expansion tanks on a water heater are for thermal expansion when the water heater heats up, if your incoming pressure is too high they will not do you any good.
Bottom line, reducer valve, set the charge of the expansion tank to the pressure of the outlet of the valve. Luck.