Watch out for those cheap water heater expansion tanks

I installed a new water heater about 6 months ago and threw one of those $25 expansion tanks from a big box store on there. For the first few months everything seemed fine, but then I noticed a small puddle under the tank last week. When I took it off the copper fitting was completely corroded on the inside, like green crust all through the threads. The rubber bladder had also started to split and was letting water pass right through. My plumber neighbor said the cheap ones use lower grade brass that reacts with Albuquerque's hard water. He showed me his setup with a higher end tank that's been running for 8 years without issues. Has anyone else had problems with the bargain expansion tanks here in town?

2 comments

2 Comments

lily_stone766d ago

Eh, one bad experience doesn't mean they're all junk.

oscarmurphy6d agoProlific Poster

Honestly @lily_stone76, one bad experience is just the universe's way of telling you to never trust anything that promises "easy setup and lifetime support" again. Nothing like a $500 mistake to teach ya.