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    Andy123's Avatar
    Andy123 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jan 5, 2008, 08:12 PM
    High water perssure after expansion tank installation
    Not sure what is going on - need an advice:

    40 year old house with incoming water pressure regulator.
    Pressure with water running about 50 PSI, with faucets closed 60 PSI.

    When I had no expansion tank with all faucets closed pressure was slowly going to about 100 PSI while water heater was heating water.

    So today I installed expansion tank, set tank air pressure at 50 PSI before installation.
    Now I see that pressure going to 120 PSI+ within an hour.
    I have WATTS gage permanently installed right next to the tank so I can monitor pressue.

    I know expansion tank is working because if I open faucet I see no water meter movements for 10-15 seconds until it empties the tank.

    So question - what I did wrong?
    Tank too small?
    I can get a large one tomorrow, but want to get an advice first.
    Thanks
    Andy123's Avatar
    Andy123 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #2

    Jan 6, 2008, 04:50 AM
    Update:
    - Overnite pressure went up to 140PSA even with hater heater set at "vacation", so something else is going on.
    Can this be a faulty pressure regulator?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Jan 6, 2008, 06:30 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Andy123
    Update:
    - Overnite pressure went up to 140PSA even with hater heater set at "vacation", so something else is going on.
    Can this be a faulty pressure regulator?
    That would be my guess. I think the expansion tank was just coincidence and that the PRV valve went bad about the same time you installed the tank. Replace the PRV valve and I bet your problem will go away. Regards, Tom
    Andy123's Avatar
    Andy123 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Jan 6, 2008, 06:43 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    That would be my guess. I think the expansion tank was just coincidence and that the PRV valve went bad about the same time you installed the tank. Replace the PRV valve and I bet your problem will go away. Regards, Tom
    Did you mean pressure regulator or Pressure Relieve Valve on the water heater?
    I did replace Waterheater pressure relieve valve recently because it was not closing and making sipping noises. I guess it was holding pressure lower than 140 PSI I have now.

    I did another test and now I am 100% convinced that incoming pressure regulator is bad: I turned water heater off and closed cold water valve at water heater- cold line pressure still going up - only one source - incoming street water, I guess regulator is leaking.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #5

    Jan 6, 2008, 06:52 AM
    I'm sorry if I confused you with my answer. I meant the pressure regulator valve. I call the water heater valve " the T & P Valve" (temperature and Pressure valve) so the two don't get mixed up. Replace the pressure regulator valve and set the house pressurs between 45 and 50 PSI. Too much pressure putse a strain on the water pipe system and the valves and faucets.. Good luck, Tom
    Andy123's Avatar
    Andy123 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Jan 6, 2008, 10:24 AM
    I replaced pressure regulator this morning and now pressure is stable, I set it at about 55 PSI and gage is not going over 60 with water heater on.

    Thank you
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