Tank tees are a sleek and easy way of connecting multiple parts to the pressure tank. By including a tank tee, you eliminate the clutter surrounding your pressure tank which ultimately lowers your stress level as all parts are easy to access. But not all tank tees are created the same. Tank tees are available in a variety of different materials as certain applications require a specific material.
In this post, we take a walk through the different material options for tank tees and go through the importance of each material to help you better identify the tank tee that you need for your particular application. Let's take a look.
Tank tees are a multi port fitting that are designed to connect a tank to the water system. Multi port allows for just one fitting to do the same job as eight or more pipe fittings, creating a neater and easier installation. You can find tank tees in brass, bronze, galvanized, stainless steel, PVC and they come in both union and non-union designs.
Tank tees are available in a variety of lengths to mirror the diameter of the pressure tank. Typically, all tanks have a FPT (Female Pipe Thread) connection located at the centre bottom of the tank. Tank diameters are usually 16", 21", 24", 30" and 36".
Union tank tees are designed in many different configurations to adapt to a broad variety of pre-charged or bladder type pressure tanks. If the tank happens to fail, the pressure tank can be removed and replaced very quickly and easily with no need to redo the plumbing and electrical connections to the pressure switch.
Union tank tees make the installation and repair processes hassle free. The standard AS568 O-rings provide a water tight seal with no need to worry about the connections leaking. Union tank tees can be tightened or loosened even with the inlet or outlet connections plumbed.
Stainless solid tank tees are stronger than both brass and bronze and there is less of a chance of splitting with a stainless tank tee. Stainless tank tees are also made from non corrosive 300 series stainless and are a high quality investment casting which equals a more uniform casting. The downfall of stainless steel tank tees is they do cost more compared to the brass or bronze tank tees.
Brass solid tank tees are lower cost compared to the above stainless tank tees and the heavy duty brass tees but they are competitive in the market against other brass solid tank tees. Brass solid tank tees do have a lighter wall design which means they will have a lower life expectancy in any aggressive water applications compared to the stainless steel tank tees.
Galvanized tank tees are very strong and resist cracking. They are lower cost than stainless, brass and bronze and they are suitable for galvanized tank installation. It is important to use similar metals to eliminate corrosion caused by galvanic action between the tank tee and the tank. Galvanized tank tees, have to be used in conjunction with a pipe nipple and they have a limited range of styles to choose from. You should also ensure that galvanized tank tees are suitable to be used in your area, as not all provinces allow for the use of galvanized tank tees.
PVC tank tees are the lowest cost tank tee compared to all the other materials and they are non-corrosive. A downside is, they are not nearly are strong as metal tank tees and similar to the galvanized tank tees, the PVC tank tees have a limited range of styles that are available.
Each tank tee has it's benefits and disadvantages but each one is built for specific applications. Refer to this list when selecting a tank tee and it will help you determine which tank tee you require the job.
Head over to Boshart's Knowledge Base: technical product information, guidelines, and more.
A Tank Tee is a fitting with multiple connections and accessory ports, when used the installation is neat and compact. There are two line connections, one for the inlet supply line from the pump / well, the other connects to the discharge line to the plumbing system. Four FPT accessory ports for a pressure switch, pressure gauge, relief valve and drain valve eliminate the need for having multiple fittings and nipples which add clutter around a pressure tank.
The photos below show a union type tank tees with these components installed.
In this blog post, we will discuss what the various types of tank tees, their applications and go over the different materials available.
Types of Tank Tees
Tank tees are available in various lengths short (3”) to long (16”) to work with the connection sizes and locations on various brands of pressure tanks. The two major design types are Union and Non-union which may be referred to as solid or 1-piece tank tees. They are available in 1” and 1-¼" with male or female tank connections. Regardless tank tees are designed for connecting to any pre-charged pressure tanks. Tank tee length measurements are Center-End-Lengths (CEL)
Are used on pressure tanks with the tank connection protruding through the side of the tanks base. Short tees range from 3” to 4-1/2” CEL. Short tank tees are available in several types of tank connection as shown below.
Are used on pressure tanks with the tank connection being either at the center or offset inside the bottom of the tanks base. Long tanks tees have male NPT tank connection and are available in several lengths. Longer tank tees are required as the diameter of the pressure tank selected increases, the CEL must be sufficient to extend the tee head out far enough so that the pressure switch can threaded on or off without contacting the pressure tank.
Union vs. Non-Union Tank Tees
The benefits of union tank tees are realized during initial installation, and significantly reduces the labor involved for tank replacement. A union type tee easily disconnects the old tank, which can be removed in minutes leaving all the line and accessory connections and wiring intact. The new tank can then be fitted with the tank tee leg from the old tank, set in position and reconnected to the tank tee head by tightening the union. Job done!
Union tees that incorporate an O-ring provide a reliable watertight seal. No need to worry about the connection leaking. It is recommended to select a quality tank tee that uses a North American standard O-ring which are readily available in the event a replacement is ever needed.
Non-union tank tees do the same job, are less money and save money on the purchase price. However, they simply do not have the same ease of installation and time saving benefits especially when a tank needs to be replaced. The added labor involved during installation or tank replacement will far exceed the initial savings on the tee.
Tank Tee Materials
Stainless Steel Tank Tees
Stainless steel tank tees more price competitive than No-Lead Bronze and are replacing bronze (red brass) tank tees since the introduction of No-Lead requirements in 2014. Typically cast from 304 stainless steel which is incredibly durable and very corrosion resistant. Although stainless tees are more expensive than brass, they do not contain zinc alleviating the problems with dezincification that can occur when using brass alloy tank tees in aggressive water conditions. Another advantage is the extremely high strength of stainless steel virtually eliminates all risk of stress cracking when threading into female connections.
Brass Alloy
Tank Tees
Brass tank tees are less expensive and are suited for installations in most areas. However brass alloys are not as corrosion resistant as stainless steel, therefore installations in areas where the water is highly corrosive to brass, it is recommended to upgrade to stainless steel.
Galvanized Tank Tees
Galvanized tees are less expensive than both stainless steel and brass tank tees. Their use is typically limited to installations on galvanized pressure tanks without a bladder. Galvanized tees are selected to eliminate the risk of galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals. Galvanized tank tees used in conjunction with galvanized nipple and fittings solves the problem. It is important to note that some plumbing codes do not allow the use of galvanized fittings and nipples, one must verify that galvanized tank tees meet all the applicable plumbing code requirements.
PVC Tank Tees
PVC tank tees are a very competitive option compared to stainless steel, brass, and galvanized materials. They are extremely resistant to corrosion, they may not be as durable as metal tank tees, nor are there many configurations available. They may be a very suitable alternative, when proper PVC installation practices are followed, the use of a high-quality thread sealant paste rather than PTFE thread sealant tape and avoiding overtightening will reduce the risk of over stressing the female NPT accessory ports.
Tank Tee Installation Tip:
When connecting to a tank tee with dual MPT / FPT threaded line connections, it is highly recommended to use a FNPT fitting or valve to further support the MPT tank tee connection. See fitting on right hand side of the illustration. This adds extra support to the fixed wall thickness of the tank tee and has proven to virtually eliminate the risk of stress cracking failures due to overtightening.
Head over to Boshart's Knowledge Base: technical product information, guidelines, and more.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Large-Format Corrugated Board Cutter, Automatic Gluing Machine Corrugated Box, Box Gluing Machine.
what is pbat material Cardboard Laser Cutter For Sale wellhead casing spear machinery exporter HULKMAN AGV Humidor Vs Cigar Box 20ghz Signal Generator horizontal injection molding machine horizontal injection molding machine flow wrap machine for sale flow wrap machine for sale AMOLED and TFT Displays PMOLED Display 800kw Containerized Diesel Generator Volvo Genset for Sale Gasket vs. Seal Differences Gasket vs. Seal Differences