Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve Pipe Dripping

Pressure relief valves sometime develop a drip when opened for the first time in years.

Water heater pressure relief valve pipe dripping.

The t and p valve which is located on the top or side of the tank opens and releases water or steam when the temperature or pressure exceed preset limits. The relief valve is working the way it s intended and water drained to reduce the pressure inside the tank. It s designed to release the pressure when there is too much of a load built up inside the water heater. Your water heater s relief valve can start leaking for one of two reasons.

If a pressure relief valve for a boiler is accidentally installed on a water heater it will leak like crazy from the start. But if the termination of the piping is not readily visible such as if it is located under the house the water will continue to drain until the homeowner gets an amazing electric or gas bill and goes searching for the reason. Either the valve was triggered to open because of excessive temperature or pressure or the valve itself is faulty. Release the pressure in the pipes using the lever on the pressure release valve.

If you have a large leak or the drip doesn t stop on its own in a day or two the valve will need to be replaced. These valves may look identical but they re set to go off at 30 psi. If hot water heater overflow or starts leaking the damaged temperature pressure relief valve is usually the reason. This temperature pressure relief valve is attached to the discharge pipe.

There s a problem with the valve such as a faulty seal and the water is unintentionally leaking. Turn on the shutoff valve at the cold water line or the main valve at the water supply to the house. When you see water coming out from the water heater release valve there are two most likely causes. A constant drip in your tpr valve is an indication we must know about.

These valves may look identical but they re set to go off at 30 psi. In the first case the valve will drain water out of the discharge pipe as explained above. One of such systems is the hot water heater overflow leaking. If a pressure relief valve for a boiler is accidentally installed on a water heater it will leak like crazy from the start.

It is critically important that the temperature pressure relief valve must work properly with your hot water heater overflow pipe leaking. Try opening and closing it a few times to see if it will seat itself.