There is a copper pipe exiting the exterior back wall of my house by the laundry room in the vicinity of the hot water heater. I never noticed this pipe until a few days ago when steaming hot water started coming out of it. The flow of the water was not real fast nor real slow, it was similar to a regular faucet flow. I was washing clothes at the time and never noticied this in the past 26 years.

Is this normal or sign of :eek: problems with water heater?

Can you trace it back to the location on the water heater?

While unusual, it could be from the overflow valve? If you don't have a floor drain close to the water heater, they may have had to run it outside.

I would keep an eye on it, if it keeps this up, I'd have someone take a look at the water heater, could be it just built up enough pressure to need a quick release.

I agree, it does sound like the previous owners piped the PRV outside and now the valve is leaking. Please don't just see where this goes because that valve may be doing its job. They usually open at 210 degrees or 150 psi or when they just get crud in them. If you have either of the first two issues it needs attention now. Do you know if your hot water system has an expansion tank or not?

I would rather think it was a t & p valve than a prv. If it is leaking then either the pressure is to high or the temperature is too high or the spring in the t & p is weak and needs to be replaced.