Time to drain and recharge the solar hot water system, replacing the expansion tank along the way. Been waiting for a cloudy, rainy day so I don't get scalded.
Hoses, buckets, pump all ready for eventually pumping replacement glycol into the pipes. Only one problem: open the valves and hardly any OLD glycol came out.
Oh, right, expansion tank is full of glycol (popped bladder) which is why we're here. But that tank does NOT want to unscrew from pipe. Maybe some heat will help. Failing to loosen it means cutting pipe and sweating a new connector on.
I bought the new expansion tank last year, the only one they had at HD, and since the existing one had no part # or sizing I figured it was just a standard size.
I figured wrong.
Do I try to get creative with copper pipe skilz or do I go to a different store and find something a more realistic size?
A weird "brain glitch” in this whole thing is after I failed to unscrew the old tank with a wrench I accepted the fact I'd have to cut the pipe and install a new connector. Only AFTER I bought one and got home did the part of my brain that does this stuff wake up and say, “why don't you just sweat the old connector off?”
oh, right…
I did that and it was easy. I haven't tried to salvage the old corroded connector, but at this point I have a fresh connector and I'll use that.
Once I find a new tank that fits. “;^)
And it’s back together. Now we just need sunshine to heat the panels, trigger the pump, and move the glycol mix. Hopefully all staying within the pipes! #SolarHotWater
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