Expansion tank leaks

Dof3

I have noticed alot of expansion tanks in my area are starting to get leaks. What are some of the reasons for this? Besides the obvious old and worn out.

Unknown

it's because of bad hydronic water quality.

talk to George@rhomar.

Best advice you will ever get.

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Dof3

If you add something to the water in the system would that help? I know they make water conditioners and additives for boilers. The expansion tank on my own system sprung a leak after 2 years and I also have changed a few others recently.

Jim Eastman_2

If an expansion tank is leaking in a short amount of time, such as two years that you described, water quality could be a factor. Another probable factor is oxygen in the system. Do you have tubing with no oxygen barrier? Are you pumping away from the expansion tank? Do you have "air noise" issues with the system? Any of these situations can cause an abundance of oxygen in the water that will corrode the inside of the expansion tank and cause a leak.

Some of the water treatments will "coat" the inside of the steel expansion tank to reduce the corrosion. I have installed a potable water expansion tank (properly sized) and adjusted the tank pressure to 15 psi on systems that have oxygen problems. The inside of these potable expansion tanks have a coating of material that minimizes the corrosion potential.

Jim Eastman

hr

Most commonly

it is caused by non barrier tubing. The higher the operating temperatures the more prevelant the problem.

Hardly ever see a premature expansion tank failure on a copper tube baseboard system, for example

Water treatments can/ will help but will need yearly testing and possible a boost package, if a lot of o2 is getting into the system.

A system with a small leak that is constantly taking on fresh oxygenated water is another common cause.

Is it sized correctly to the system capacity and temperature range?

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Dof3

BAd water

I would bet it is the water in my system. I used Wirsbo tubing with oxygen barrier and it is a closed system. But my water has alot of sulfer in it. It has turned the clear pex lines black but, only on the supply side not the return side. I will have to open the system to replace the tank. Is there any thing I should add to it to help protect it?

Weezbo

dump the system water..

get clean potable water from somewhere,put some large bottel of red food colouring in the water and pump it into the system ,now you can See when the water comes back and dump the water you had laying in the slab out also.easiest way i know how to make the pipes look a nice cherry red also

hr

You could have a bacteria

in the water that is feeding on the ferrous components causing the black water.

It can hapen with iron or sulpher water. Draw a sample and smell it. Bacteria water will have a septic, almost sewer like, smell.

It will have an oily feel when you smear it between your fingers. Remove a pump head from the voulte and see if it is being eaten away.

Be nice to take a sample to a lab and get an exact answer. Easier to treat a problem when you know exactly what you are dealing with.

A good clean with an hydronic chemical, flush and use deionized or RO water to refill, then buffer the ph with a hydronic system chemical.

Rhomar hangs out here they have the stuff! Not sure if they can treat a bacteria problem however. George?

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