Why does my hot water heater overflow keep discharging water?
Ben D asked:
My gas fired hot water heater during the winter & fall seems to constantly discharge 5-12oz of water per day. Less so in the summer. Why does it do this? I tried turning the temp’ down but it did not help any.
Katheryn
My gas fired hot water heater during the winter & fall seems to constantly discharge 5-12oz of water per day. Less so in the summer. Why does it do this? I tried turning the temp’ down but it did not help any.
Katheryn
February 19th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Adalberto
it sounds like the pop-off valve needs replacing sometimes the spring in them gets weak and allows water to escape,the reason it does it more in the winter is because the water heater is working harder to try to maintain the temp.
February 19th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Debi
Is it an old heater?
Might be worth it to just get a new one.
They’ll last around 15 yrs depending on your water quality.
Look at the serial # on the front label.
The first two numbers are the year it was made.(04=2004)
The next two are the week of the year.(13=the 13th week)
So #041365748374 would mean it was built in the 13th week of 2004.
If it’s fairly new, then yes I would replace the pressure relief valve.
Or TPI valve.
You can buy them at any hardware store.
Make sure you get the same size/style.
Shut the water off, turn off the power, and you might want to drain the water down past the level of the pressure valve, otherwise more water will spill out. But not that much.
You don’t have to drain the whole thing.
Do this by attaching a hose to the drain valve and removing one of the flex hoses at the top of the heater.
Remove the old pressure valve.
Install the new one with teflon tape.
Reconnect the flex, remove the hose, turn on the water with the hot side open on a faucet to let the air out.
Once the water starts running freely, shut it off and check for leaks.
No leaks?
Then turn on the breaker and you’re good to go.
But if its old,you really don’t want to put your money into something that may or may not last much longer.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Maureen
the pressure relief valve is weak replace it
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:37 am
Dawna
if your water heater is 6 or less years old i would replace the valve $15-20 repair and simple to do — if it is older i would replace the water heater not only do you get a new valve the new ones are more efficient to run
February 25th, 2010 at 12:51 am
Eboni
Your relief valve may not need replacing. The real cause may be the pressure tank that is nearly always installed near the hot water tank. It may have failed and there is no room for any pressure built up when the water heater heats cold water to go unless it goes out the valve. Most homes are equipped with backflow prevention valves and need this tank to take care of the relief valve problems that will automatically happen when the water heater does its thing. With all the repeated operations of the relief valve it may also have to be replaced.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Carmina
Sounds like a faulty pressure relief valve, replace it and you should be ok