![]() Expanding water can flow into the expansion tank instead of exiting via the valve, and the water heating process can continue to work. You can typically solve an excess pressure problem by installing an expansion tank, which will give the pressure an outlet that isn’t the valve. The water won’t have anywhere to go if the system is closed, and the TPR valve opens to relieve the stress. The water heater does its job and heats the water, which causes upward expansion of the water and an increase in pressure. But if the water leak is active while the pressure, the water pressure in your plumbing system probably isn’t causing it.Ī closed plumbing system usually causes excess pressure. If the gauge shows the pressure is at 150 psi or more significant, excessive water pressure is probably causing your pressure valve to leak. With all other faucets and water outlets turned off, the pressure should be between 40 psi and 80 psi. You’ll need a pressure gauge with threading designed for garden hoses ‒ the one linked above has this feature. While there are many locations where you can connect the gauge to your plumbing, the easiest option is to connect it to one of your outdoor hose faucets. Don’t worry about connecting it to a hot water pipe or a cold water pipe ‒ both will show the same pressure. You need to buy a pressure gauge (available on Amazon) and attach it to your system of pipes. Testing the pressure level in your water heater is a relatively simple process. If your TPR valve is constantly leaking, there’s a good chance it’s working precisely as intended and is relieving excess temperature or internal pressure. High Water PressureĪlthough many people automatically assume a leaking valve is a broken valve, that isn’t always the case. If your valve is set to a different set of specifications, you might have a valve intended for another appliance. While settings can vary between brands and models, the valve is typically set to open when the temperature exceeds 210 degrees, and the pressure exceeds 150 psi. ![]() The water heater could explode due to thermal expansion if excessive pressure rises to an unsustainable level. If this valve didn’t exist, your water heater would be a ticking time bomb sitting in your home. This is because the temperature of your water needs to rise to a ridiculously high level to set off the valve. This safety valve exists to provide water and steam the chance to escape when the temperature or pressure gets too high inside the water heater tank.Īlthough the name contains both “temperature” and “pressure,” most valves are almost exclusively used for water heater pressure relief. The Purpose of the Pressure Relief Valveīefore we get started, I want to give a quick refresher on what the TPR valve does. The rest of this article will take you through the causes of water leaking from the pressure relief valve and explain how you can fix each of them. Identifying the cause of your temperature & pressure relief valve leak may take a bit of time, but you should be able to figure it out without too much trouble.
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