What Is The Small Tank On Top Of My Hot Water Heater

The rheem performance 40 gal electric water heater has enough capacity for an average size family of three or four during daily water usage.

What is the small tank on top of my hot water heater.

That blue tank relieves the. As the name suggests these consist of an insulated tank in which water is heated and stored until needed then emerges from a pipe on top. It s that thing on top of the water heater about the size of a coffee can and we get a lot of questions about them. This ultimately protects it from damage.

If you see a puddle of water this is more than likely the problem. Storage tanks are the most common type of water heater. An expansion tank is a small tank that is typically located on or above the top of the water heater. At the top it has an air valve like the one seen on most tires called schrader.

This valve is typically located at top center of the tank. If this valve is leaking it is usually better to replace it completely. The expansion tank serves as a backup system to prevent overworking your plumbing. Actually they come in many different sizes which differ based on water pressure the amount of water that is heated and the temperature the water is heated to.

It is an overflow receptacle that alleviates the pressure caused by the normal thermal expansion that happens when water is heated. Common residential expansion tank looks like a small propane tank. Not all water heaters have an expansion tank but if yours does it s function is similar to that of the t p relief valve. Usually they are the same size as basketball depending more or less on the size of the water heater they serve.

This secondary safety device is designed to absorb excess hot water. At the bottom there is a threaded pipe connection. Faulty water inlet valves one of the most common reasons your hot water heater may be leaking at the top could be due to a faulty water inlet valve. Take a look at the top of your water heater.

The excess water volume instead of causing too much pressure on the plumbing rushes into the expansion tank and lowers the pressure in the water heater to safer levels. A water heater expansion tank is a safety device sometimes called a thermal expansion tank. What size expansion tank do i need. The temperature and pressure relief valve t p valve is located on top of your water heater and acts as a safety valve to release excessive pressure or water in case of overpressurization or thermostat failure.

Case in point the thermal expansion tank.