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A water heater pressure relief valve
is a safety valve, commonly referred to as a Temperature and Pressure Relief
valve (TPR valve), that protects a water heater from potentially exploding. When
pressure or temperature exceed the rating limits of the water heater pressure
relief valve, the valve opens up and releases hot pressurized water from the
water heater. A water heater pressure relief valve is located on the side of a
water heater and typically has a discharge tube connected to it to direct
scalding hot water downwards. |
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Causes of a Leaking Water
Heater Pressure Relief Valve
If the water heater pressure
relief valve is dripping water, rather than gushing it, it could be caused
by either a faulty TPR valve, or the water heater is beginning to exceed the
rating limits of the water heater pressure relief valve. Chances are if you
have not been working on the water heater or plumbing it is just a faulty
water heater pressure relief valve. Regardless of what caused the TPR to
leak it needs to be fixed immediately.
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Photo by Mark Donovan |
Replacing Water Heater Pressure
Relief Valves
Replacing water heater pressure
relief valves is pretty straight forward, however you will need a large adjustable
wrench or crescent wrench, a hose, bucket, and some plumbers tape.
To replace a water heater pressure
valve, first turn power off to the water heater and turn the cold water inlet
supply line valve off.
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After allowing the water heater
to cool down awhile connect a garden hose up to the bottom drain valve and
direct the other end of the garden hose outside of the home.
Next, turn the drain valve on and
allow some of the water to drain from the water heater. Also turn a hot
water faucet on somewhere else in the house to help drain the water from the
water heater. You do not need to empty the entire water heater tank, and as
a matter of fact you should not.
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Simply empty enough to get below
the level of the water heater pressure relief valve. When you believe you
have emptied enough water from the water heater tank, shut the drain valve
and hot water faucet off.
Once you have drained off enough
water from water heater, remove the discharge tube. Next, use the adjustable
wrench to remove the water heater pressure relief valve.
Take the old water heater
pressure relief valve to your local hardware store and find an equivalent
replacement. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
Make sure you buy a replacement water
heater pressure relief valve that is rated for the same pressure and temperature
as your old one.
Prior to installing the new water
heater pressure relief valve, wrap some plumbers tape around the threads of the
valve. The plumbers tape will help to prevent any leaks around the threads.
Hand thread the new water heater
pressure relief valve into the water heater and then tighten it snuggly with an
adjustable wrench. Then reattach the discharge tube.
Finally, disconnect the garden hose,
and turn on the cold water supply line valve, and power to the water heater.
With any luck your leaky water heater pressure relief valve should be history.
If the new one begins to leak then call in a plumber to see why the water heater
is overheating and over-pressurizing.
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Testing Water Heater Pressure
Relief Valves
Hot water heater pressure relief
valves have a lever on them so that you can test them to see if they are working
properly. Have a bucket handy when pulling on this lever, and do not pull on it
when the water inside the water heater is hot. Note that sometimes after testing
a water heater pressure relief valve it may not entirely close and seal properly
again. This is particularly true on older TPR valves, due to the fact that
mineral content that may have collected on the internal parts of the valve
prevent the water heater pressure relief valve from fully closing. If a slow
leak persists after testing your water heater pressure relief valve, you will
have no choice but to replace it.
For information on maximizing your
wood stove’s home heating efficiency see
the “Installation
of Hood over Wood Stove Ebook”.
Water Heater Pressure Relief Valves (TPR
Valves) from Amazon.com
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