DIYRob24
New Member
For new construction, is it ok to pressure test your water heater with air or is it left disconnected from the supply lines (or valves turned off) during the air pressure test?
My water heater can handle 150 psi, so pressure testing to say 80 psi wouldn't seem to be an issue. With that being said, I'm wondering if components can still get damaged at elevated levels of pressure but within the said limits. As an example, I will have an expansion tank on my supply line and I was instructed by the manufacturer to disconnect it for the air test because the internal bladder can get stretched out during an air test even though it too is rated to 150 psi of pressure. Just wondering what rules of thumb there are for air testing water heaters? Also, I did talk to the water heater manufacturer and was told that an air test should be fine, but the customer service agent I talked to didn't seem like he/she really knew.
My water heater can handle 150 psi, so pressure testing to say 80 psi wouldn't seem to be an issue. With that being said, I'm wondering if components can still get damaged at elevated levels of pressure but within the said limits. As an example, I will have an expansion tank on my supply line and I was instructed by the manufacturer to disconnect it for the air test because the internal bladder can get stretched out during an air test even though it too is rated to 150 psi of pressure. Just wondering what rules of thumb there are for air testing water heaters? Also, I did talk to the water heater manufacturer and was told that an air test should be fine, but the customer service agent I talked to didn't seem like he/she really knew.
