Pressure regulators and expansion tanks

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by rray

Hey, Jeff.

What do you think about this:

I think they're trying to sell you and expansion tank

Like you, I have see exactly 1 expansion tank during my career as a Home Inspector.

I don't think they're a bad idea, but until I get some definitive information that shows me the great benefit of having one, I will not be recommending their installation on a standard residential system. Also, the methods for determining their necessity, are well beyond our normal scope.

[Bruce Thompson]

I don't know if it is code in Tyler, but I see expansion tanks on every home built in the last 10-15 yrs. My own home has one.

Bruce

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jpope

I think they're trying to sell you and expansion tank

Like you, I have see exactly 1 expansion tank during my career as a Home Inspector.

I don't think they're a bad idea, but until I get some definitive information that shows me the great benefit of having one, I will not be recommending their installation on a standard residential system. Also, the methods for determining their necessity, are well beyond our normal scope.

I do not see them very often here either. And on a home with PEX piping I think it would not be necessary at all.

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Originally Posted by jpope

608.3 continued. . .

In addition to the required pressure or combination pressure and temperature relief valve, an approved, listed expansion tank or other device designed for intermittent operation for thermal expansion control shall be installed whenever the building supply pressure is greater than the required relief valve pressure setting or when any device is installed that prevents pressure relief through the building supply. The tank or device shall be sized in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation.

The scenario does not occur much here, so I have not seen a bunch either. Expansion tanks here are not needed unless your next door to the pumping station and then a pressure relief is required at the pressure reducing valve. A backflow preventer is only required if you have a residential fire suppression system or an irrigation system (around here). Of course, special circumstances demand a judgement call by the AHJ.

From what I've seen in the last 2 years you could ask 12 AHJ's and get 12 different answers. You could even ask 2 different code inspectors in the same AHJ and get 2 different answers.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

I do not see them very often here either. And on a home with PEX piping I think it would not be necessary at all.

I would agree with this in theory. PE and PEX allow for plenty of expansion. . .

[Russel Ray]

http://activerain.com/blogsview/6933...es-I-Feel-Like

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

I see them on nearly every new home in Charlotte, NC. Must be code there. Been told that the county I live in now requires them also.

I recommend them for all homes on municipal water systems and attach this useful article for the client's information. The article link is below.

Thermal Expansion Control

P.S. We must remember that we are not 'code inspectors'. The home has already had that done. The code is the minimum expectation. I often make recommendations that exceed code. And the home inspection report should not be taken to be a "repair list". Start recommending things that exceed code and you'll have to remind agents of what our role is, but it's what we should be doing as a service to our clients.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Good link Joe, interesting reading.