Thermal expansion compensating device and method of use

In a water system having at least one length of pipe anchored at a first anchored end and a second anchored end axially displaced from the first anchored end, and having a section of the at least one length of pipe removed between the first anchored end and the second anchored end forming a first pipe associated with the first anchored end and a second pipe associated with the second anchored end, a thermal expansion compensating device to decrease physical stresses in the water system due to thermal expansion, said device comprising:

• a fluid conduit having a first opening for connection to the first pipe and a second opening for connection to the second pipe, wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with the second opening, and, the first opening is substantially axially aligned with and axially separated from the second opening, and with the first opening and the second opening configured to have a substantially aligned flow direction;
• a resiliently deformable pipe segment defining a portion of the conduit and located between the first opening and the second opening;
• a pre-tensioning member for applying a pre-tensioning force to substantially axially displace the first opening from the second opening by resiliently deforming the resiliently deformable pipe segment from a first rest position, where the resiliently deformable pipe segment is at rest, to a second tensioned position, where the resiliently deformable pipe segment is resiliently deformed due to the pre-tensioning force;
• wherein the first opening is connected to the first pipe and the second opening is connected to the second pipe while the resiliently deformable pipe segment is in the second tensioned position.