Question: Like many SC houses, our N-7 home features hardwood flooring. Three or four gaps (about one-quarter to one-half inch each) have appeared between hardwood flooring strips. Why is this happening? How can I close the gaps? What about slicing similar sized shims from a spare flooring strip and setting them in the gap with glue? If so, where can I get those shims cut?
Answer: These gaps are caused by moisture leaving the wood during the dry winter months. In the spring and summer, as the humidity re-moisturizes the wood, it will swell and start to reduce the gaps. If you fill those gaps with wood strips when they are at their maximum width, the floor will probably buckle as moisture moves back into the wood.
This is really a job for an expert. Wood floors are installed differently on a slab vs a wood floor. Dealers that sell and install wooden floors have run into this problem before and can evaluate the underlayment, the type of wood, the edging, and give you an informed solution.
Question: I live in an attached home and had a heating and cooling contractor tell me the expansion tank on my water heater needs replacing. What is the life of this equipment? My son is a contractor and never saw one of these expansion tanks on a water heater. What is the purpose of it and should I replace it. It is 12 years old.
Answer: All water heaters can suffer the effects of thermal expansion. In every tank-type water heater, cold water is heated as it enters the water heater tank. This increases the overall water volume and pressure inside the tank. For safety, the increase in volume and pressure must be relieved in some way.
The way that is done in Illinois is to install an expansion tank. When an expansion tank is installed in a closed system and the temperature and pressure increases, the diaphragm inside flexes against an air cushion (air is compressible). The excess volume and pressure created by thermal expansion enters the pre-pressurized tank. Installing a properly-sized and charged thermal expansion tank in a water heating system is the recommended way to eliminate the problems associated with increased volume and pressure in a closed or restricted plumbing system.
The failure mode for an expansion tank is for the diaphragm to rupture allowing water to displace the air in the upper half of the tank. It is easy to check this by tapping on the expansion tank from bottom to top with a metal bar. The lower half with water inside will sound a dull thud. The upper half with air will sound a hollow, higher pitched sound. If you have a dull thud all the way up, your expansion tank has failed and should be replaced. These tanks generally last 7-10 years. When you replace your water heater, you should replace the expansion tank if it is older than five years.
A failed expansion tank can also cause another problem. The extra pressure it creates within the water heater can also cause the temperature pressure valve to vent water onto the floor. This is a valve mounted on the side of the water heater near the top with a copper tube extending down almost to the floor. If you see water on the floor under this copper tube it could be a failed temperature pressure valve, but is a much more likely a failed expansion tank.
If you have suggestions for future tips or have questions about maintenance around your home submit them to ask.the.woodchucks@gmail.com.
