How To Release Pressure From Water Heater

If yous've been having issues with your water heater recently, you lot might detect that you're paying high free energy bills, not getting access to hot h2o when y'all want it, or your water pressure is low.

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

Fortunately, by agreement how relief valves work, yous can solve whatever problem yous're having with the 1 on your h2o heater. In this article, nosotros'll review everything y'all should know nigh this valve.

Finally, you tin can go hot water at the right pressure again, enjoying your morning shower similar you used to. Read on to acquire more than.

What Is a H2o Heater Pressure Relief Valve?

A h2o heater pressure level relief valve, likewise referred to as a T&P valve, pressure level relief valve, or water heater temperature valve is a safety feature that you can observe on any water heater. The reason it's there is to go on you safety in case the h2o force per unit area is too high.

Without this safe characteristic, your h2o heater could finish upwardly breaking. Yous could potentially end upward with burns if the loftier water pressure level is dangerously high.

This valve as well ensures that at that place aren't whatever leaks in your h2o heater, which would lead to low water force per unit area when you desire to use it to wash the dishes or take a shower.

How Does a H2o Heater Pressure Relief Valve Piece of work?

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

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

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

Still, when the temperature is 210 degrees—or the pressure level is 150 pounds per inch (psi)—this is far too much force per unit area and estrus in the water heater. If it'southward the instance, you should modify your hot water heater temperature.

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

On the Micro-Level

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

When functioning properly, it will open equally it'south designed to when the levels of heat or pressure are loftier. The liquid comes out through this auxiliary road, relieving the heat and pressure level inside the water tank.

The rising of oestrus and pressure stops. One time the temperature and pressure returned to safe levels, the water heather pressure relief valve closes.

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

The "blowdown" is usually somewhere betwixt two and 20%. Once the pressure has reached the "blowdown" amount, the pressure level relief valve volition close once again so that you tin use the h2o heater equally intended.

Where Is the H2o Heater Pressure Relief Valve?

If you lot've been noticing whatever issues with your water heater pressure relief valve, then you demand to know where it is on your water heater. Usually, you can find information technology on the pinnacle or side of this appliance. It'south a valve that's connected to a plastic or metal belch tube that points upwardly.

The water heater pressure is already installed when you receive your h2o heater (or purchase a home that has i already). It's actually welded onto the tank; you'll see a threaded inlet where it is.

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

This is for condom reasons. Everything has been washed according to standards that accept been mandated by plumbing codes. And so if you're having any problems with the valve, you'll have to call a professional person to have information technology stock-still.

This said, if you're only having problems with the belch tube, this is like shooting fish in a barrel to replace. You won't take to drain or power down your water heater, and you can deal with information technology yourself.

This said, considering that in that location might be other issues causing belch tube problems—issues connected to high water pressure or temperature—it's safest to accept a professional deal with this as well.

Testing Relief Valves

If you suspect there'south a trouble with your h2o heater pressure relief valve, you can practice a examination. This is actually good idea if you don't accept whatever problems at all, as this type of maintenance will protect your water heater—and yourself.

Think before you do the testing to change into closed-toed shoes so that you can avert scalding.

To become started, identify where the relief valve shut off is. Ordinarily, yous tin find information technology upon the cold water feed, which is on height of the water tank, on the right side where the inlet is.

Once you've done this, accept a look at the discharge tube to brand sure that it's attached firmly. And then, take a bucket and put it nether the discharge tube.

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

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

Fixing Your Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve

When your water heater pressure relief valve isn't functioning properly, it's usually for one of to two reasons. It either sticks so that information technology doesn't properly open up or close, or it has a leak, which means that it'south continually dripping, lowering your water pressure.

Fixing a Sticky Valve

If your valve is sticky, and then information technology becomes stuck in a closed (downwardly) or open up (extended position). If it'southward closed, and then the valve won't exist able to relieve the oestrus or pressure that builds upwardly in the closed water heater arrangement. There could exist a rupture every bit a effect.

If it's open, on the other hand, then it will continuously leak water, which could cease upward flooding your home.

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

Fixing a Pressure Relief Valve Leaking

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

Get-go, shut off your water heater. Await for it to cool completely. Then, remove the valve and rethread it into the water tank opening.

Another reason the valve could be leaking is that in that location is sediment or dirt trapped within the relief port.

To set up the leaks in valves issue, pull back the metal leap valve lever, after which you'll discharge h2o that falls into the saucepan.

If the lever snaps into its original position and it'south even so leaking, you demand to turn off the gas valve by turning information technology to the off position. Then, close the water off so you can replace the valve safely.

A Note on Safety

If a water pressure outcome is what is causing the water heater pressure relief valve to not work, and so it might be dangerous for y'all to change the valve yourself. Mostly speaking, it'due south a proficient thought to hire a professional to protect yourself.

Need Your Water Heater Valve Replaced past a Professional?

Now that we've reviewed everything you lot should know almost a water heater pressure relief valve yous might accept realized that y'all need to supplant your water heater valve. However, to be as safe as possible, you lot want to hire a professional person.