So today I was messing with my Water heater trying to get it to fire up and I pulled on what appears to be some sort of pressure relief inside this compartment. So I opened it up and flowed some water and now it wont stop leaking. Do I need to replace this or is there some way to get it to stop. I would assume it's probably got some serious calcium deposits or something and not allowing it to close all the way. Any ideas? Is this a DIY fix? Looks like it would just twist off...

Pressure Relief valve1. Try opening and closing it to clear it out (might just be some junk stuck in the valve.2. Check temps if it only leaks when hot - could be either worn out or running too hot.3. Replace - RV Dealer or Lowes/Home Depot should have one.

Pressure relief valve...very important safety feature.Try this first:Water Heater Air PocketShut off the water supply, open the relief valve until water stop coming out, close it, turn the water supply back on.This will reestablish the air pocket in the water heater, giving the water some place to expand to when it is heated.If this doesn't work, replace the valve...very simple. Home Depot, Lowes. a wrench and some teflon tape on the treads.

Most home P&T valves are 3/4"NPT while all the RV ones have been 1/2" NPT

As others said, a pressure relief valve. Typically if it is leaking, it is on its way out. It is an inexpensive but very important safety feature. It it were me, I would replace it and not worry about fixing it.

If it started leaking on its own, I would recommend replacing it. Because you opened the valve and now it continues to leak a bit, this may not be as serious. You could try this absolutely FREE procedure. Take a pair of needle nose players and push in on the stem that was pulled out when you flipped the lever up.

What is this and how can I get it to stop leaking?

OnaQuest
Explorer
May 01, 2014
sh410 wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
Pressure relief valve...very important safety feature.
Try this first:
Water Heater Air Pocket
Shut off the water supply, open the relief valve until water stop coming out, close it, turn the water supply back on.
This will reestablish the air pocket in the water heater, giving the water some place to expand to when it is heated.

If this doesn't work, replace the valve...very simple. Home Depot, Lowes. a wrench and some teflon tape on the treads.

The only correct answer!!!! RTFM

Read the OP's post. He caused the leak himself by opening the valve while the water heater was cold. There was NO indication the valve is defective. It simply got some internal crud in the valve opening. It quite possibly could be stopped the same way it started. I've done it a number of times.

If it doesn't stop, then replace it.

I'm surprised that someone on this forum didn't advise him to buy a DP.....
LVJ58
Explorer
May 01, 2014
A few years ago mine did the same thing, solution--Replaced it.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
May 01, 2014
Please note. Just some simple safety preparation if you do decide to remove and replace it. Make sure the water heater is off, then open the relief valve before you try to unscrew it. If the hot water heater is pressurized and you try to remove the valve, you can injure yourself with high pressure scalding hot water.
sh410
Explorer
May 01, 2014
downtheroad wrote:
Pressure relief valve...very important safety feature.

Try this first:

Water Heater Air Pocket
Shut off the water supply, open the relief valve until water stop coming out, close it, turn the water supply back on.
This will reestablish the air pocket in the water heater, giving the water some place to expand to when it is heated.

If this doesn't work, replace the valve...very simple. Home Depot, Lowes. a wrench and some teflon tape on the treads.

The only correct answer!!!! RTFM
OnaQuest
Explorer
May 01, 2014
Open it up and let it snap shut a couple times. This will usually clear anything that may have gotten in the valve seat to make it leak. If it continues to leak, just replace it.
danager
Explorer
May 01, 2014
If it started leaking on its own, I would recommend replacing it. Because you opened the valve and now it continues to leak a bit, this may not be as serious.

You could try this absolutely FREE procedure.

Take a pair of needle nose players and push in on the stem that was pulled out when you flipped the lever up.
LongWeekends
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
As others said, a pressure relief valve. Typically if it is leaking, it is on its way out. It is an inexpensive but very important safety feature. It it were me, I would replace it and not worry about fixing it.
pkunk
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
Most home P&T valves are 3/4"NPT while all the RV ones have been 1/2" NPT
downtheroad
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
Pressure relief valve...very important safety feature.

Try this first:

Water Heater Air Pocket
Shut off the water supply, open the relief valve until water stop coming out, close it, turn the water supply back on.
This will reestablish the air pocket in the water heater, giving the water some place to expand to when it is heated.

If this doesn't work, replace the valve...very simple. Home Depot, Lowes. a wrench and some teflon tape on the treads.
wkswenson
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
Pressure Relief valve

1. Try opening and closing it to clear it out (might just be some junk stuck in the valve.
2. Check temps if it only leaks when hot - could be either worn out or running too hot.
3. Replace - RV Dealer or Lowes/Home Depot should have one.

Forum Discussion

What is this and how can I get it to stop leaking?

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