Water heater relief valve dripping
Noticed something on my last trip. When I ran the water heater the pressure relief valve would drip. Not a lot but a steady drip. I assume due to the pressure build up of the heating water. I have nev...
Forum Discussion
garyemunson wrote:
X2 on the 'air pocket' solution. Most home building codes now require an expansion tank above the water heater to accomplish this same thing.
In older homes the expansion of the water in the heater caused the water to back up into the main, or into your well pressure tank. Now, codes require homes on a public water system to have a inline check valve on the incoming line from the main, thus no where for the water to back up to (making it a closed system like your RV). Result is that the code also had to require the expansion tank. In the past, your expansion tank was, literally, the water tower that supplied you.
If your home has a well, your well pressure tank is your expansion tank.
Charles
