New Virginia Law On Expansion Tanks!

We have been getting a lot of questions about expansion tanks recently. What is an expansion tank? Why do I need them? Are the required? New Virginia Plumbing code states that all gas water heaters installed in a closed system (there is a back flow device near) are required to be accompanied by an expansion tank. Here are some helpful tips and information on water heater expansion tanks.

An expansion tank is a device that is installed near a boiler or water heater system. It is designed to relieve pressure caused from the thermal expansion of hot water. It works by using an expanding diaphragm that is activated during thermal expansion. The top part of the tank is hot water, and the bottom part is air. If an expansion tank goes bad - or the diaphragm fails, you can tell because the whole tank will be filled with hot water. Just tap on the top and bottom of the tank. It should make a hollow sound on the bottom (which indicates that it is empty) and a thud like sound at the top.

The reason expansion tanks are being required is because of new requirements on regulator valves and backflow devices as well as the certain counties increasing water pressure. Before backflow devices were required, the expansion caused from the hot water could easily flow back through the pipes. Now, because of the backflow prevention devices that are necessary, the water has no where to go and could potentially ruin household plumbing fixtures as well as the water heater itself. An expansion tank relieves the pressure from the expanding hot water which will prevent a lot of damage.

A good thing to note as a home owner is that some water heater manufacturers will actually void the warranty on their product if no expansion tank is installed with their water heaters. It is always best to read the manufacturer's manual as well as check with your county's officials regarding any requirements for the safety of your home.

Do-it-Yourself! Preventing & Clearing Stoppages

Stoppages in your bathtub sink or toilet can be a real inconvenience. Prevention is always key to avoiding these kinds of problems but just because you follow the rules doesn’t mean other people do!

Most of the calls we get here at HMS Plumbing is for simple stoppages. Often times I will try to help someone walk through getting the job done themselves so they won’t have to spend time or money on having a plumber come to their home. Here are some of the tips that have successfully helped clear a few minor stoppages over the years and left some people feeling pretty good about themselves!

Minor Bathtub Stoppage:

Take a coat hanger and unwind it leaving a small hook at the end. Shove the hooked part down the drain and move it around a bit – A lot of time what is clogging up a bathtub drains is hair and when you remove the coat hanger it will look like you could make a wig out of all the hair you pull out! Repeat the process until all the hair or debris is clear. Run a lot of hot water down the drain and you should be good to go!

Sometimes the coat hanger works fine – but sometimes you need to get out the big guns. You can buy a small hand snake from any home improvement store. They are relatively cheap and can really come in handy for minor stoppages. I would recommend having one of these around!

Another really cool idea is to use a zip-it. These are available at most hardware and home improvement stores. Check out the videos on their website! http://zipitclean.com/

Toilet Stoppages:

A lot of times people don’t realize that they are not suppose to flush things like feminine products, paper towels, or baby wipes. When these are flushed they can cause stoppages ranging from all types from minor ones (surface and only affect that line) or major ones (lodged in the main sewer). If it is a minor stoppage, a lot of times this can be easily dealt with even if you don’t fancy yourself to the do-it-yourself type.

For a minor stoppage, the coat hanger trick works well for this too – the only problem with that is that you might scrape up the inside of your toilet with a sharp wire. I recommend trying the good old fashion plunger for this (a lot of times this is actually what the plumbers use to clear it!). You could also use an auger or small hand snake as well for those deeper stoppages.

Sink Stoppages:

A lot of time with sink stoppages, running some hot soapy water down the drain can help break up the debris. The small hand snake or coat hanger trick can definitely be used to pull up or break up anything that may be clogging your drain. If you do use chemical liquid plumber, make sure that it is environmentally friendly – it will not only be good for the environment but it is much better on your pipes. A lot of times with the liquid drain cleaners they use harsh chemicals that can eat away at the PVC glue in your pipes and cause leaks in the futures.

Another great trick for clearing a sink stoppage is actually using a plunger (preferably not one that has been in your toilet). If you have a double sink – cover one of the sink drains with a stopper and use the plunger on the uncovered one, this will often time really do the trick to clearing a minor stoppage in your sink.

I hope these hints have been helpful. If you can save money on a plumber by using one of my tips, then take yourself out to dinner because you deserve it!