Forum Discussion

todde278's avatar
todde278
Explorer
Apr 23, 2016

Water expansion tank

I did a lot of reading on expansion tanks and decided to install one


The hardest part was getting the straps tight in the tight space. With some limited backyard testing it seems like the pump doesnt cycle as much and when it does its a lower volume. With the pump turned off i have almost 30 sec of water coming out the kitchen faucet. Turning the bath faucet on full bore it will fill a bucket quite quickly. I will see how it eorks during our first trip in june. The point of instslling this was to lessen the pump cycling so much when using water for a short time. In total it cost upwards of $100 to complete.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Apr 23, 2016
    Looks good. Should work just fine. Question? how do you winterize it? There's no drain and it will hold water. Will you remove it for the winter?
  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Apr 23, 2016
    Yes, I installed a 2-gallon expansion tank under the bathroom sink. It's plumbed in PEX with Sharkbite fittings. And it does reduce the pump cycling when we dry camp.
    You may want to experiment with the air pressure in the tank to find the sweet spot.
  • todde278's avatar
    todde278
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    In my testing today, if i turn off the pump and open the faucets the tank is empty. I am sure there is still a small amount of water but not enough to be concerned about. You cant see it in the picture but i also installed a shutoff valve to the tank in case i fill the lines wuth antifreeze.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    as I understand the construction of those tanks, water fills a rubber bladder, and the rest of the tank is pressurized air. a little water freezing inside the bladder shouldn't be a problem, long as it's not in a valve or coupler?

    my small shurflo pressure tank has made it through two winters now
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Apr 24, 2016
    YOU WILL LOVE THE TANK!!!!!!!!!

    GordonThree wrote:
    my small shurflo pressure tank has made it through two winters now


    I am using a Shurflo accumulator too. It has lasted through 2 RVs and still works well.

    I can see that with a bigger household style tank, pump cycling would be even less at low volume flow of water (faucet barely on)
  • todde278's avatar
    todde278
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    Its amazing how much water runs out with the pump off. The tank is 2 gallons but i would say that probably a gallon comes out of the faucet. I have the pressure set to around 25psi or so. I am mainly looking to get rid of the pump pulsing when using a small flow of water. So far looks like a worth while imvestment.
  • thecdnmole's avatar
    thecdnmole
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    Thanks for posting this as I have been thinking of doing the same for similar reasons! Sounds like yet another thing to add to my spring list of jobs to do on the Ti!
  • campthewestcoas's avatar
    campthewestcoas
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2016
    I did this mod a number of years ago and it's been working great
    I had room so I mounted mine vertical with homemade brackets to let the water completely drain when I winterized

About Travel Trailer Group

44,029 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 13, 2025