O/T: hot water heater

2x4 · Sep 24, 2009

Have an electric 52 gal. water heater & 2 gallons a day of water drips out the overflow line. Have a bucket there to catch it for now. Provides us with hot water absolutely normally. Just drips out the overflow pipe coming from the pressure relief valve on top. Has gotten worse gradually. Do I need to replace the valve or get a new heater? Anyone got any experience with this?

Mike Groom · Sep 24, 2009

You probably just need to replace your pressure relief valve,that happened to me about 6 years ago and thats what I did.

farmerjohn · Sep 24, 2009

Just replace the valve.

Heyseed · Sep 24, 2009

Replace the valve, very straightfoward job. Valve is pretty cheap

k9mills · Sep 24, 2009

Two things: 1 - Temperature Pressure Relief valves (TPR Valves) do corrode and do leak priodically and replacement is a trip to the plumbing supply house and a 15 minute job to replace the relief valve. 2 - The normal ratings for PRV's are 190-200 degress temperature and 150 psi pressure. If the service line pressure is over 120 psi or so, any slight variation in pressure such as the hydraulic pressure in turning off a faucet will open the valve and it will continue to drip. If the line pressure is high you should install a pressure regulator valve in the service line and reduce the overall house presssure to 40-60 psi. The rest of the valves in the house will appreciate the lowered pressure. By all means, replace the valve. I have personally had stuck or corroded TPR valves along with a stuck thermostat that backed up hot water in the cold water line three doors down the street. I have also seen movies of houses blown to bits by an exploding water heater....

Anonymous-0 · Sep 24, 2009

If you add a pressure regulator you also need to add a small bladder (like 2 gallons) air tank to allow for expansion of the water in the water heater as it heats up. Otherwise that will also push the pressure relief valve open. That's because the pressure regulator acts as a check valve.

Gerald J.

da-bees · Sep 24, 2009

The line must drain dry at the valve otherwise water standing in the valve will rust the spring and stem,causing premature failure. As the others said,install a new valve and check presure in supply system.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 25, 2009

Over time hard water will prevent temp/pressure valve from closing completely. Replace the valve or soak it in a mild acid. If you've ever cleaned a clogged coffee pot you can clean the valve.

KF · Sep 25, 2009

I have to second what you just stated. If a regulator is a short distance from the water heater it will indeed create a pressure great enough to release the overflow or make other plumbing fixtures leak because of the high pressure. Had this happen at my place.

relaurain · Sep 25, 2009

These will start leaking when you go to test them. Did you use the lever to test it? You are supose to test them on a regular basis but yes, it's usually makes them leak! Little crud gets between the seal or it breaks the seal do to long time with heat. Just replace the valve cause they should be replaced periodically.
I had to replace these anually on boilers per state code. Stay away from the drain on the bottom unless you want that to leak also!

Anonymous-0 · Sep 25, 2009

Doesn't matter where the regulator is in the house or out at the road, it won't let the water expand back to the water line and so will need the expansion tank. $36 at Lowe's.

Gerald J.

O/T: hot water heater

2x4

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Mike Groom

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farmerjohn

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Heyseed

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k9mills

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Anonymous-0

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da-bees

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Anonymous-0

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KF

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relaurain

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Anonymous-0

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