The temperature and pressure relief valve (sometimes called a tpr valve or tp valve) helps regulate the pressure and temperature of the water inside the tank. Both can be extremely dangerous if too high.
The Temperature and pressure relief valve on all water heaters automatically opens when they sense an excessive amount of pressure or heat in the water heater tank, alleviating any damage they might have caused. Water will leak through the valve and discharge tube after all excess air escapes from the tank.
In rare cases, water heaters can shoot into the air like a missile without a properly functioning pressure relief valve.
Another function of the temperature and pressure relief valve is to release water from the tank if it gets too hot. Thermostats and temperature controls can go out in time. When the water in our hot water tank gets to a dangerous level, we rely on the pressure relief valve to expel it from the tank and through the discharge tube before it can give us 3rd-degree burns.
The main job of a temperature and pressure relief valve is to leak. Diagnosing the temperature and pressure valve can be problematic for any DIYer.
If you have questions about whether your temperature and pressure relief valve is leaking or if other problems are causing it to release water, call Hackler Plumbing today. Our professionals will be able to give you the answers you need after a thorough investigation of your water heater temperature and pressure relief valve.
How do you maintain your temperature and pressure relief valve?
The best way to prevent a faulty temperature and pressure relief valve is to maintain it regularly. The pressure relief valve must work right as it is the most crucial safety feature on the water heater.
Preventive maintenance is the best way to care for a water heater. These are the best two ways to check and maintain your temperature and pressure relief valve.
- Check for water leaking from the valve or attached pipe. A water leak is often a sign something is wrong with the pressure relief valve. A damaged rubber gasket or faulty lifting handle can allow water to seep through the valve. Call Hackler Plumbing today if your temperature and pressure relief valve is damaged.
- Test the valve annually by lifting the handle and relieving pressure from the water heater tank. Every water heater needs flushing annually as well. We shouldn’t have any surprises with a faulty temperature and pressure relief valve as long as we regularly maintain our water heater correctly.
Is Your Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve Leaking After Replacement?
The temperature and pressure relief valve is a safety feature we need to work on any water heater. Many components work together on a water heater so that our water is at the perfect temperature and comes out with just the right amount of pressure.
The temperature and pressure release valve protect us when any components on the water heater go out. It’s important to remember that a pressure valve is made to discharge water from the tank if there are any issues. Figuring out if it’s leaking or not can be confusing.
It’s a good idea to call Hackler Plumbing the moment we notice the tp valve or discharge tube dripping to be sure the problem isn’t the valve itself.
Let’s say we change the temperature and pressure valve and it continues to leak after replacement. Now we know there is a more serious problem with our water heater and we wasted all that time and money.
There is a lot more to a water heater than meets the eye. One of the most common issues inside a water heater tank is thermal expansion. The professionals at Hackler Plumbing can tell if thermal expansion is occurring in your system and what you can do to solve the problem.
Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve and Thermal Expansion
Water expands when it gets heated. Our water heater tank and plumbing lines are a “closed” system if a check valve or pressure regulator is on the water supply for the house.
When the water expands in any closed system, it will have nowhere to go. When the temperature builds up in the tank, so does the pressure. The temperature and pressure relief valve work to alleviate this excess build-up to keep our water heater from exploding. In some cases, serious measures will need to be taken to handle the extra pressure caused by thermal expansion in a closed system.
How to fix a closed system to stop a leaking Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve?
Adding an expansion tank to a closed system can completely stop a leaking T&P valve. If you’ve replaced your temperature and pressure relief valve, but it’s still leaking, one of our professionals at Hackler Plumbing will be happy to inspect your plumbing system.
They can determine whether or not you have a check valve or pressure regulator installed and help solve your temperature and pressure relief valve problem. They will even be able to install an expansion tank if they discover you do have a closed system.
It doesn’t matter where the expansion tank is installed, as long as the water has somewhere to go when the thermal expansion occurs. Call Hackler Plumbing today if you think you require an expansion tank installation. We are your local McKinney plumbing company serving the surrounding Metroplex area and are here to fix all water heater-related problems and can perform tankless water complete installations.
