Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

[Thomas.misskelly]

Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

The guys at Headhunter pumps have told me that I need an expansion tank installed in my fresh water system for my new Eskimo ice maker. I have the tank and there is a place above the water heater to install it but it would need to be installed horizontally...this is ok?

 

[dottieshusband]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

Do you mean accumulator tank? If so, mine is installed near the potable freshwater pump.

 

[Thomas.misskelly]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

Yes I guess that is the proper terminology...if it can be installed horizontally it’s a pretty easy install. If it needs to be upright I need to find a different location

 

[dottieshusband]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

I'm not an expert on it. It is basically a rubber bladder inside a containment vessel. There is an air pocket outside the rubber bladder, and a Schrader valve to adjust the air pressure . As water fills the bladder, the air is compressed to a certain water pressure, then the pump cuts off. When you open a faucet, the pressure in the tank drops, and at a certain pressure, the pump comes back on... The but is... I thought headhunter pumps were demand pumps and didn't require accumulator tanks... but I don't think the orientation of the tank, vertical or horizontal would make a big difference. I looked online, and they make several for horizontal install... if all it's driving is your ice maker, this ought to do it.SHU-182-200

 

[Sadey]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

If you have ice makers in the system you need the accumulator tank to keep the HH pump from cycling often. If the pump cycles enough times in short order it shuts itself off under an alarm function. Plus an accumulator tank gives more consistent pressure throughout your system.

 

[lake of the woods]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

So from a man with veins made of plumbing pipe, the answer to your question " can a water pressure or expansion tank) be installed on its side?

answer: Expansion tanks can be installed horizontally. The recommendation that they are installed vertically is to reduce stress on the (normally copper) pipe, which should be adequately supported even if the tank is suspended vertically. You can lay a water pressure tank on its side even though the tanks are designed to sit air stem up or air stem down. Sitting a vertical tank horizontally puts more pressure on the lower parts of the bladder and can cause early failure. ... There are tanks designed to run sideways.

google Water pressure tanks and you will find the information you need. By the way you don't need a big water pressure tank. for most boats a few gallons (2-5) is plenty big enough. Well-X-troll is a excellent made water pressure tank and should last many years even in a salt water environment. They are not very expensive. Home Depot and other hardware stores carry them.

Cheers,
Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[whoover]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

Hello, I have a 2 gallon well x trol tank mounted horizontally in a saddle. It's been that way for years and no issues. It replaced a vertically mounted jabsco tank that failed after about three years. The well x trol was purchased at my local hardware store at about one quarter the price of the jabsco. The tanks look identical to me.

Walt Hoover

 

[kingsley_oasis]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

Mine is designed for vertical use, but is on its side in port engine room, no issues.

Has anyone insulated their tank or moved their tank out of the engine room? I ask because water in tank gets hot after engine run.

 

[Thomas.misskelly]

Re: Fresh water expansion tank installation on 2001 55’ sportfish

Thank you all, my questions are answered...next step fabricate mounting brackets.