I have installed a check valve on the cold water inlet side of my water heater (it's a Voyager 100,000 btu, combi heater-domestic and radiant heat). I am getting convective heat tranfer in the cold water line. I'm assuming the check valve (spring type) is not designed to prevent heat transfer. Are the inline heat traps the answer? Do I need a heat trap on both the inlet and outlet pipes. I am using 1" copper on both the inlet and outlet - do they make 1" heat traps?

Thanx,

Rick

speedball1

Hey Rick,

I hope you have a expansion tank installed on the cold water supply when you blocked it off with a check valve. Because if you haven't when the hot water expands it will trip the T&P valve and you will lose hot water out of it.

Since most heater supplies are 3/4" I couldn't locate a 1" heat trap for you,
However you can build your own,(see image) out of fittings or a 1" flex connection. It consists of a inverted "U". You will need heat traps on both hot and cold for best performance. Good luck, Tom

woodshed

Tom -

Does the expansion tank get installed before or after the check valve?

speedball1

"Does the expansion tank get installed before or after the check valve?"

The expansion tank will install between the check valve and the cold water inlet of the heater. (see image) good luck, Tom

woodshed

Tom -

I could not view the image clearly; it's quite small. How do I enlarge the image?

Also, I am on a private well - do I even need a check valve? All the older homes in my city are on a municipal water supply and none of those homes have check valves. I'm not sure of the reasson to have a check valve. Please explain. If no check valve, then do I need an expansion tank?

Thanx,

Rick