Step 4 · Remove the Old Expansion Tank
Position your bucket directly under the old tank. Take your first pipe wrench and securely grip the metal fitting at the base of the expansion tank. Use a second pipe wrench to grip the pipe tee that the tank is threaded into; this is your 'hold-back' wrench. By holding the pipe tee stationary, you prevent the entire plumbing assembly from twisting or breaking. Apply force to the first wrench in a counter-clockwise direction to unscrew the tank. Be prepared for the tank's weight; a failed tank is often full of water and surprisingly heavy. Carefully support it as you finish unthreading it by hand and lift it down.