Hot Water Relief Valve Drip Normal?

The relief valve leaks due to the increased pressure from lack of air pocket.

The relief valve has a lever on it in order to operate the valve. Operating the valve will clear debris/scaling from valve. The valves are not just a one shot valve...they can be operated as designed.

Normal filling of WH typically establishes the air pocket. But the air can be absorbed during heating cycles and because RV plumbing is a closed system the air pocket needs to be re-established on occasion.
Using the PRV to drain water from top of WH tank is the recommended method.

C-Leigh Racing wrote:
All that is good advice, but if that valve drips water, once you have the air pocket back in place, can it leak air as well & then your air pocket is gone again.

Back years ago when was doing plumbing work & like installing a new water heater & filling it back up, it was bad to open up that new relief valve to let the air pressure out to fill the heater completely.
9 times out of 10, that new relief valve would leak & drip afterwards if you did open it up.
Neil

Thanks for your post. Sounds like good advice. When I replace our relief valve I will definitely keep that in mind.

All that is good advice, but if that valve drips water, once you have the air pocket back in place, can it leak air as well & then your air pocket is gone again.

Back years ago when was doing plumbing work & like installing a new water heater & filling it back up, it was bad to open up that new relief valve to let the air pressure out to fill the heater completely.
9 times out of 10, that new relief valve would leak & drip afterwards if you did open it up.
Neil

Our owners manual says it is normal for some "weeping."

I would re-establish the air pocket as other posters have mentioned.

Brett's method is not what my manual states.

Turn off water pump.
Turn off city water.
open any hot water faucet in coach
open pressure relief valve. when water stops coming out (a few seconds)snap the valve closed.
turn off faucet.


done.

The valve could be bad, or more likely, the air cushion at the top of the tank may be gone.

Water, like most things expands as it is heated. Water is non-compressible. So water heaters are designed to have an air pocket at the top to absorb increased pressure. If no air pocket, it is normal for the valve to leak.

To re-establish the air pocket, turn off water pump, turn off shore water. Bleed off pressure by opening any faucet (cold and hot). Leave the faucets open and remove the water heater drain plug. After draining, replace plug (Atwood) or anode (Suburban). Turn on pressure water or shore water and use as usual.