How To Release Pressure From Hot Water Heater

If yous've been having issues with your water heater recently, yous might observe that you're paying high energy bills, not getting admission to hot water when you lot want it, or your h2o pressure is depression.

This can be frustrating, but what'due south the cause? You might be having a problem with the water heater pressure relief valve.

Fortunately, by agreement how relief valves piece of work, you tin can solve whatever problem you're having with the one on your water heater. In this article, nosotros'll review everything yous should know about this valve.

Finally, you tin can get hot water at the right pressure again, enjoying your morning shower like you used to. Read on to larn more than.

What Is a Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve?

A water heater force per unit area relief valve, also referred to equally a T&P valve, pressure relief valve, or water heater temperature valve is a safety feature that you can observe on any water heater. The reason information technology'due south there is to go along you safe in case the water pressure level is too high.

Without this rubber feature, your water heater could stop up breaking. Yous could potentially cease up with burns if the high water pressure level is dangerously high.

This valve also ensures that at that place aren't whatsoever leaks in your water heater, which would atomic number 82 to low water pressure when you want to employ information technology to wash the dishes or have a shower.

How Does a Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve Work?

The h2o heater pressure relief valve is in place so that it tin relieve backlog pressure and temperature in a water heater if either of these is too high. Because this everyday appliance is a closed system, thermal expansion occurs in h2o heaters.

Here's how it works. Whether your h2o heater is heated by electric elements or a gas burner, both the metal tank and the h2o inside expand when the hot h2o temperature is somewhere betwixt 120 and 140 degrees.

It's totally normal for the water and h2o heater to expand to a sure extend. Later all, this is what naturally happens when the temperature rises.

Withal, when the temperature is 210 degrees—or the pressure is 150 pounds per inch (psi)—this is far too much pressure and oestrus in the water heater. If it'south the case, y'all should change your hot water heater temperature.

If your h2o heater pressure relief valve is working, this is when it will open up. This releases steam and hot water from the discharge tube, making your water heater operate safely again.

On the Micro-Level

On the micro-level, the functioning of this valve works similar this. The relief valve itself has been prepare upwardly by a professional or pre-designed to open when the temperature or pressure reaches a dangerous level.

When functioning properly, it will open as it's designed to when the levels of heat or pressure level are high. The liquid comes out through this auxiliary road, relieving the rut and pressure within the h2o tank.

The ascension of heat and pressure stops. In one case the temperature and force per unit area returned to safe levels, the water heather pressure relief valve closes.

This specific state that the water heater is in is called the "blowdown." Normally, the "blowdown" is defined by professionals (and is used in the design or set up up of the valve) equally a specific pressure per centum.

The "blowdown" is usually somewhere between 2 and twenty%. Once the pressure has reached the "blowdown" amount, the pressure relief valve will shut over again so that you tin can use the water heater as intended.

Where Is the H2o Heater Pressure Relief Valve?

If you've been noticing any issues with your h2o heater pressure relief valve, and then y'all need to know where it is on your water heater. Usually, you tin can find it on the tiptop or side of this appliance. It's a valve that's connected to a plastic or metal discharge tube that points upwardly.

The water heater pressure is already installed when you receive your water heater (or purchase a home that has 1 already). It's really welded onto the tank; you'll come across a threaded inlet where it is.

Yous can't replace or remove information technology. The valve itself has been screwed into the threaded inlet.

This is for safety reasons. Everything has been done according to standards that accept been mandated by plumbing codes. So if yous're having whatever issues with the valve, yous'll take to call a professional to have it fixed.

This said, if you're only having bug with the belch tube, this is easy to replace. You won't accept to drain or power down your water heater, and yous tin can deal with it yourself.

This said, because that in that location might exist other problems causing discharge tube issues—problems continued to loftier h2o pressure level or temperature—it's safest to have a professional person bargain with this too.

Testing Relief Valves

If y'all suspect at that place'south a trouble with your water heater pressure relief valve, you lot can do a test. This is actually good idea if you lot don't have any problems at all, equally this type of maintenance will protect your water heater—and yourself.

Remember before you exercise the testing to modify into closed-toed shoes and so that you lot tin can avert scalding.

To get started, identify where the relief valve shut off is. Commonly, you can find it upon the common cold water feed, which is on top of the water tank, on the right side where the inlet is.

Once yous've done this, take a expect at the discharge tube to brand sure that it's attached firmly. Then, take a saucepan and put it under the discharge tube.

At present, pull the metal lever of the valve slightly, and so that a small amount of the water—a quarter loving cup or and then—discharges into the bucket.

Finally, release the level then that it quickly snaps into the original position. If it doesn't snap quickly into this original position, and then your water heater valve isn't working and needs to exist replaced.

Fixing Your Water Heater Force per unit area Relief Valve

When your water heater pressure relief valve isn't operation properly, it'due south commonly for one of to 2 reasons. It either sticks and so that it doesn't properly open up or close, or it has a leak, which means that information technology'southward continually dripping, lowering your h2o pressure.

Fixing a Sticky Valve

If your valve is sticky, then information technology becomes stuck in a airtight (down) or open up (extended position). If it's closed, and then the valve won't be able to relieve the heat or pressure level that builds upwards in the closed h2o heater system. There could exist a rupture equally a result.

If it's open up, on the other manus, so information technology will continuously leak water, which could end upwardly flooding your dwelling.

Sometimes, you can easily fix this problem by opening and closing the valve lever a few times. Nevertheless, if it continues to stick, and so you'll need to supercede information technology.

Fixing a Pressure Relief Valve Leaking

Your h2o heater is leaking? Make sure that it doesn't come up from the valve earlier replacing it. If your pressure relief valve is leaking, then this possibly because it isn't seated properly in the tank'southward threaded opening. This is quite a mutual issue if you've recently replaced your old valve with a new one. To fix this effect with this cause, you have to take several steps.

Showtime, shut off your water heater. Wait for information technology to cool completely. Then, remove the valve and rethread information technology into the h2o tank opening.

Another reason the valve could exist leaking is that there is sediment or clay trapped inside the relief port.

To set the leaks in valves issue, pull back the metal spring valve lever, after which you'll discharge water that falls into the bucket.

If the lever snaps into its original position and it's yet leaking, you need to turn off the gas valve past turning it to the off position. Then, shut the water off so you lot tin replace the valve safely.

A Note on Safety

If a h2o pressure level issue is what is causing the h2o heater pressure relief valve to not piece of work, then it might be dangerous for y'all to modify the valve yourself. Generally speaking, information technology's a good idea to rent a professional to protect yourself.

Need Your Water Heater Valve Replaced past a Professional person?

Now that we've reviewed everything you lot should know about a water heater pressure level relief valve y'all might have realized that you lot need to supervene upon your water heater valve. Yet, to exist every bit condom as possible, you want to hire a professional.