[Shop-talk] Water Pressure Relief Valve

[Doug Braun]

Is there possibly a check valve somewhere on the inlet line?  If so, if the
heater is heating a bunch of cold water and nobody is using water,
the water in the tank will expand and have no place to go except the check
valve.

Doug


On Fri, Sep 13, 2013 at 2:58 PM, Jim Stone <jandkstone99 at msn.com> wrote:

> The major appliances in the rental property we bought last year were all on
> their last legs, but we have been trying to stretch out replacing them as
> long
> as possible to keep it from becoming a money pit.  The furnace and
> refrigerator were the first to go.  Stove, dishwasher and air conditioner
> are
> all close behind.  The water heater is from 2002 and, not knowing how well
> it
> was treated in the past, is probably also at the end of its life
> expectancy.
> The pressure release valve had a very slow drip when we took possession,
> so I
> replaced it.  The new one still dripped and, thinking it was a defective
> replacement, I replaced that too.  But the drip remained.  It probably
> drips
> about a cup a day, but I have the valve running into a floor drain, so I
> have
> never been too worried about that.  However, yesterday after both my wife
> and
> I took relatively consecutive showers, the valve opened up completely and
> shot
> water out.  I shut off the water supply and the tank and reset the valve
> and
> all has been  normal  since.  I hadn t notice the setting before the valve
> opened, but the water had been very hot and I suspect the renters had
> turned
> it up pretty high.
>
> Is the drip and one time opening up an indication of impending failure?  I
> am
> not happy about spending the money right now, but it is certainly better to
> replace it ahead of a catastrophic failure.
> _______________________________________________
>
> Shop-talk at autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/doug@dougbraun.com