Water Heater Expansion Control

[jar546]

In place of an expansion tank, we now approve this device which then adds a second discharge tube to the drain pan or wherever your situation allows it to terminate.

 

[ICE]

Watt's the part number?

How does it function?

 

[cda]

https://www.sharkbite.com/sites/default/files/2019-11/thermal-expansion-relief-valve-spec-sheet.pdf



https://www.sharkbite.com/resources/blog/thermal-expansion-relief-valves-replace-expansion-tanks

 

[jar546]

Some other options:

https://www.zurn.com/media-library/web_documents/pdfs/specsheets/bv-bvecxl-pdf
https://www.watts.com/resources/references-tools/thermal-expansion

I think these are a better option than a rusty thermal expansion tank.

 

[ICE]

In place of an expansion tank, we now approve this device which then adds a second discharge tube to the drain pan or wherever your situation allows it to terminate.

I am not convinced that discharging to a drain pan is a suitable solution. The devices will operate at a setting from 80 psi on up. At a setting of 80 psi it would open but as soon as it hits 79 psi it closes. Upon opening the psi would drop below 80 psi immediately if it were reacting to thermal expansion. There would be a short burst of water that may or may not be contained in a smitty pan. If the valve opened due to a service pressure above 80 psi the flow would continue until the service pressure went below 80 psi. That would overwhelm a drain pan. The next highest setting is 120 psi which is putting stress on the entire plumbing system.