Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    nickels's Avatar
    nickels Posts: 21, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Feb 15, 2006, 07:58 AM
    30 Gallon Hot Water Heater Relief Valve??
    I just had the relief (release?) valve replaced on my Hot Water Heater because it was constantly leaking and dripping. The new one seems to work great because I don't see it dripping anymore. However, I kept a bucket under it to be cautious, and every day there is a little over a cup of clean water in the bucket. Is it normal for the hot water heater to release over a cup of water a day? I am a new homeowner so I am not too skilled on these issues yet. It doesn't seem normal to me but I am not sure.

    Thanks for any help.

    PS - The temp on the hot water heater is very low, and our hot water consumption is average.
    fredg's Avatar
    fredg Posts: 4,926, Reputation: 674
    Ultra Member
     
    #2

    Feb 15, 2006, 08:09 AM
    HI,
    Is the water slowly leaking from the threads where the new valve was screwed in? If it's leaking from the threads, then whoever replaced it didn't put "thin thread tape" on the threads before tightening down the valve.
    Just a thought.
    nickels's Avatar
    nickels Posts: 21, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Feb 15, 2006, 09:12 AM
    I don't think its leaking, so much as maybe just releasing water every now and then. I watched it for a few minutes and there was no sign of a slow leak or any dripping. Before it was fixed I could see it dripping every second or two. Ug
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
    Full Member
     
    #4

    Feb 15, 2006, 03:13 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by fredg
    "thin thread tape"
    I'm assuming you mean teflon tape?
    shader's Avatar
    shader Posts: 235, Reputation: 12
    Full Member
     
    #5

    Feb 19, 2006, 09:23 PM
    I would first get the valve checked and make sure it has the right temperature and pressure rating for your water heater. If not then get the heater itself checked out. The purpose of the valve is to open and vent water and pressure if temperature or pressure exceed's the valves limit and preventing the heater from blowing up. A cup a day of water is not normal.
    Check this site for an overview on water heaters http://www.sutherlands.com/aboutwaterheaters.htm#a10
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
    Uber Member
     
    #6

    Feb 20, 2006, 06:16 AM
    Are you on city water and do you have a back flow preventer? It would be a brass thingamajig screwed into the line near the meter. It may have an arrow pointing away from the meter. If you have a back flow preventer, you must have an expansion tank between it and the hot water heater. It would just be sort of a small tank connected to the pipes somewhere. When you draw hot water, it is replaced by cold. The cold then expands as it heats. If it can't flow back the in line, it has to go out the relief valve. The back flow preventer and expansion tank is a new trick it took us old dogs, Tom and I a while to figure out. Look things over and post back with what you find.

    Note, it is the builder or sellers responsibility to have the hot water tank in good operating condition.
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
    Full Member
     
    #7

    Feb 20, 2006, 12:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by labman
    Note, it is the builder or sellers responsibility to have the hot water tank in good operating condition.
    ... but if you wait too long after buying/building the house, the seller/builder will be able to tapdance out of his responsibility by claiming that if it took so long for you to come forward, it must be that it was good originally, and only now malfunctioned due to some fault of yours. So if it turns out to be a pre-existing condition, don't wait around - take care of it as soon as possible.
    nickels's Avatar
    nickels Posts: 21, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #8

    Feb 20, 2006, 01:04 PM
    I had a plumber come out. He said I needed a new thermal expansion tank.
    The pressure gause read 80-100 normally, and it spiked to 160 after a shower, which triggered the release value.

    He also said the previous owner probably knew something was wrong but didn't mention it to us - shocker. It's been since just after Thanksgiving when we moved in so there is nothing I can do but pay the bill and shake my fist in the air.

    Thanks for the help.
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
    Uber Member
     
    #9

    Feb 20, 2006, 01:16 PM
    Labman blows it. I said an expansion tank. Guess I should have said a working expansion tank.

    If you had a lawyer at closing, talk to him about it. A copy of the bill and a letter from the lawyer may be all it takes. If you didn't have a lawyer, maybe check out the law forum here. It is very hard for a seller to weasel out of a known, undisclosed defect.

    Thanks for confirming it was an expansion tank issue.
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
    Full Member
     
    #10

    Feb 20, 2006, 01:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by nickels
    It's been since just after Thanksgiving when we moved in so there is nothing I can do but pay the bill and shake my fist in the air.
    So what? That's only a couple of months - you can still do complain about it to the seller for at least half a year (or a year) after you buy it, if not more.
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
    Uber Member
     
    #11

    Feb 20, 2006, 01:43 PM
    One more point, if it could possibly be a plumbing problem, post it to plumbing. You would have been told about the expansion tank the day you posted it. I was under suspension the day you posted.
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
    Full Member
     
    #12

    Feb 20, 2006, 01:49 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by labman
    I was under suspension the day you posted.
    Suspension? For what? I didn't know you could get suspended around here... :(
    SC Journeyman's Avatar
    SC Journeyman Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #13

    May 5, 2008, 06:12 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by labman
    Labman blows it. I said an expansion tank. Guess I should have said a working expansion tank.

    If you had a lawyer at closing, talk to him about it. A copy of the bill and a letter from the lawyer may be all it takes. If you didn't have a lawyer, maybe check out the law forum here. It is very hard for a seller to weasel out of a known, undisclosed defect.

    Thanks for confirming it was an expansion tank issue.

    labman,
    It's obvious it would need to be a working expansion tank. A good laugh never hurt anybody! ;-)
    SC Journeyman's Avatar
    SC Journeyman Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #14

    May 5, 2008, 06:26 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by nickels
    I just had the relief (release?) valve replaced on my Hot Water Heater because it was constantly leaking and dripping. The new one seems to work great because I don't see it dripping anymore. However, I kept a bucket under it to be cautious, and every day there is a little over a cup of clean water in the bucket. Is it normal for the hot water heater to release over a cup of water a day? I am a new homeowner so I am not too skilled on these issues yet. It doesn't seem normal to me but I am not sure.

    Thanks for any help.

    PS - The temp on the hot water heater is very low, and our hot water consumption is average.
    If your usage is normal, but your water seems to run out to soon, I would say you've got a bad lower heating element. It's always the bottom one (trust me). But don't sweat it.
    1. Turn the power off
    2. Turn the incoming water supply off
    3. Have element changing wrench and new element
    4. Remove old element
    5. Quickly as possible replace element
    6. Fill tank back up with water (turn on water supply)
    7. Check for leaks
    8. Clean up any water that may have been expelled from tank during steps 4 & 5.
    9. Turn power back on
    10. Enjoy a hot shower, you earned it

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Need help deciding between a tank or tankless water heater [ 19 Answers ]

Which one saves me money; the tankless water heater or conventional tank water heater? :confused:

Water retention relief pills while on the pill [ 2 Answers ]

Hi there, this may be a silly question but is it all right to take herbal water retention pills while I'm on the pill to help get rid of the water retention? I know they are suitable for PMS just before a normal period but I'm just checking they will work just as well since I'm on the pill. Sorry...

Water heater check valve [ 1 Answers ]

My wife and I just moved into a new house. The builder bankrupted on us and left us with several problems. Most are readily fixable, but one has me a bit puzzled. There are two water heaters, one at each end of the house, connected properly. They connect to the water lines in parallel so that the...

Water Heater Pressure Relief [ 3 Answers ]

My water heater pressure relief valve is pouring water out of the valve. Do I have a problem with the tank or do I need to turn the temperature down on the heater. More background information: We went on vacation and turned off the water heater and the water to the house. When we returned, we...

Water Heater... is There A Blow Back Valve To Prevent The Tank From Going Dry And [ 8 Answers ]

Damage will result if element comes on when tank is dry in a water heater. I live in a community where the water is constantly being shut off and the element burns out. Is there a type off blow back valve that can be installed to prevent the tank from going dry.


View more questions Search