G Grizzly Backflow & Plumbing
Ellicott City, MD · 21042 Local testers · Utility reports filed

Thermal Expansion Tank Tie-In in Ellicott City, MD Near Me

Thermal expansion tank tie-in in Ellicott City, MD after a backflow preventer or check valve closes your water system. Call (833) 990-5874.

Thermal Expansion Tank Tie-In in Ellicott City, MD
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(833) 990-5874
Certified testers
Reports filed with your utility
RPZ, DCVA and PVB
Price talked through by phone

Thermal Expansion Tank Tie-In in Ellicott City, MD

Install a backflow preventer on a home's main line and you have created a closed system. When the water heater runs, heated water expands and has nowhere to go. Pressure climbs until the temperature and pressure relief valve on the heater, set at 150 psi, starts to weep.

A thermal expansion tank fixes that. It is a small steel tank with an air bladder, tied into the cold supply near the heater. The bladder absorbs the expansion.

The detail people skip is the air charge. The tank has to be pre-charged to match your static water pressure, checked with a tire gauge before it goes on. A tank left at the factory 40 psi on a 70 psi system does very little.

Sizing depends on heater capacity and water pressure. A 40 or 50 gallon heater usually takes a 2 gallon tank.

Grizzly Backflow & Plumbing connects Ellicott City, MD homeowners with plumbers who tie in expansion tanks as part of backflow prevention work. Call (833) 990-5874.

How it works

Four steps to backflow testing in Ellicott City, MD

  1. 01

    Grab your notice

    Have the utility letter handy. It lists the device, serial number and due date.

  2. 02

    Talk it through

    Call (833) 990-5874. We go over the device type and the price before anything is booked.

  3. 03

    Test day

    A certified tester reads each check and the relief valve on a calibrated gauge.

  4. 04

    Report filed

    The report goes to your water utility, and you keep a copy for your records.

Coverage

Backflow Testing Services Across Ellicott City, MD

Backflow testing for the neighborhoods and ZIP codes around Ellicott City, MD.

Neighborhoods we cover for backflow testing

  • Historic Ellicott City
  • Turf Valley
  • Font Hill

ZIP codes we serve

21042 21043

Backflow testing FAQs

Questions about backflow testing

Questions we hear most often about Thermal Expansion Tank Tie-In in Ellicott City, MD.

Talk to a person
What happens if I miss the backflow test deadline?
Utilities usually send a second notice, and after that some add a fee or schedule a service shutoff. Calling (833) 990-5874 before the deadline is the simplest way to avoid it.
What is the difference between an RPZ and a double check valve?
Both have two independent check valves. An RPZ adds a relief valve between the checks that discharges water to atmosphere if the checks leak, which is why it is required on high-hazard connections.
Will my water be off during the test?
Yes, briefly. The tester closes the shutoff valves on the assembly while reading the checks, so water downstream of the device is off until the test is done.
Can a backflow preventer freeze?
Yes. Trapped water expands and can crack the bronze body or blow out the bonnet. Insulated enclosures, heat cable or draining the device for winter prevent it.
Is fire sprinkler backflow testing different?
Yes. Along with the standard check valve test, NFPA 25 calls for an annual forward flow test on fire line backflow assemblies. Results often go to both the water utility and the fire authority.

Book a backflow test

Backflow Test Due in Ellicott City, MD? Call now.

Certified testers for backflow testing in Ellicott City, MD. Call (833) 990-5874 and we go through the device and the price before anything is booked.

(833) 990-5874
Phone · (833) 990-5874
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