Water is a precious resource, and its excessive consumption could lead to dramatic consequences in the future. According to the United Nations Regional Information Center, 40% of the world’s population already suffers from water scarcity. To reduce waste, the WWF recommends some precautions: preferring the shower to the bath, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and installing devices such as thermostatic taps, water-saving shower heads and dual-flush toilets. However, there is another little-known but effective tool: the expansion vessel for water heatercapable of avoiding invisible but significant losses.
The water heatereven in perfect condition, can be a source of waste. During the day, the pressure in his tank increases due to the expansion of the heated water. If the pressure exceeds a certain limit, the safety valve releases small quantities of water. For a 200 gallon tank, this leak can be as high as 6 gallons per night, accumulating over 2,190 gallons per year. For a 300 liter tank, waste reaches up to 3,285 litres.
How an expansion tank works and why it can save liters of water every day
The expansion vessel it is a small tank filled with pressurized air and equipped with a membrane. This device stores water that would otherwise be eliminated by the valve, regulating its pressure and returning it to the boiler during use. For a 200 liter tank, it can avoid losing up to 6 liters per night.
Installing the expansion tank is quite simple: the technician will install a hose to the cold water inlet of the water heater, adding a T-piece between the tank and the safety assembly to secure the expansion tank. It is essential to choose a vessel with the capacity and pressure suitable for your system.
