View Full Version : Relief valve outside of house leaking
jamekub
Oct 2, 2012, 02:38 PM
My relief valve outside the house, just recently started leaking. I replaced it and have been adjusting the pressure downwards for the house (its actually running too low now) but it still continues to leak.
Do you know why it does even with the new part?
mygirlsdad77
Oct 2, 2012, 03:04 PM
Can you post a pic of the part that is leaking? I doubt you have a relieve valve outside, maybe a pressure reducing valve, but usually they are inside. Im betting what is leaking is maybe a vacuum breaker for an irrigation system? If so, adjusting the pressure most likely won't fix it. You will need to dissasemble the vacuum breaker and clean and or replace parts in it.
Oh, unless your temp/press relief valve for your water heater is piped outside and that is what is leaking? Let us know more about this and maybe a pic or two.
jamekub
Oct 2, 2012, 03:24 PM
Sorry but I'm trying to find how to add photo under Control Panel. Can't find the link it says there is. Another way?
afaroo
Oct 2, 2012, 03:34 PM
Hello Jame,
Here is how to add a picture to the post, Thanks.
1. Click advance
2. Scroll down and click on the manage attachment.
3. Manage attachment window will open.
4. Click on Brows chose your picture where it is located (desktop/file).
5. Double click on the picture.
6. Once it in the box to the left of the Brows, then click on the upload to the right of the brows.
7. Now it will show in the upload file from a URL box.
8. Close the manage attachment window and hit submit answer and you are done, good luck
John
jamekub
Oct 2, 2012, 04:00 PM
Great here it is. Thank you. I don't want to call a plumber on this if it's a simple fix for me to handle.
The new valve I put in is seen there still with the yellow tag on it.
I've flicked the valve and it stops for a short while and then starts dribbling again. The pressure regulator is seen there behind the valve, may be hard to see because of the sun. I've been lowering the pressure steadily figuring a water project in a neighboring community may have changed the press for our house. Now the water pressure is so low its noticeable in the showers and sinks but the new valve still dribbles continually.
By the way the pressure regulator was replaced by a plumber about 2 years ago.
Thank you.
ma0641
Oct 2, 2012, 04:07 PM
It is a strange set up. It appears the house regulator is outside and the PRV for the hot water heater is outside too? And on the cold water side? What is the leaking regulator for?
jamekub
Oct 2, 2012, 04:31 PM
I'm not a plumber so I don't know how the previous owner did this work. Here is a much better picture.
There are old sprinkler units w the wires you see there in the front, so don't get confused by them.
mygirlsdad77
Oct 2, 2012, 06:06 PM
Great pics. However, its anybodys guess as to what is feeding what and what the pressures should be. I believe I see two pressure reducing valves and one pressure relieve valve (the leaker, correct?) Hard to say if it is another bad valve, or if the pressure is indeed to high. Only way to know would be to have a pressure gauge installed directly after the reducing valves. Hard to set a pressure reducing valve without a pressure gauge to see what the actual setting is. I could suggest putting a hose bib gauge on the boiler drain that the garden hose is connected to, but I don't know if that is in series with the pressure relief valve. You could unthread the pressure relief valve it self, then thread in a gauge and see what the actual pressure is, then compare that to the rating on the pressure relief valve. Lots of questions I could ask here, but without seeing everything first hand, inside and out and knowing direction of flow etc, this may be pretty tough to solve. I question whether there is even a real need for the pressure relief valve. If this is strictly for a sprinkler system, I don't think there is a need, but Im not really a sprinker system guy, but have never seen one in my area. Okay, Im rambling on now. Lets just hope one of the other pros pops in with their knowledge on this particular setup.
ma0641
Oct 2, 2012, 07:53 PM
Do you use the sprinkler system? I think you have an unregulated water line that was reduced for the sprinkler system.