water heater leakin pressure release valve
I noticed today the pressure release valve on my water heater has a very slow drip. How often should that valve be replaced and is now the time. Doesn't seem like a complicated job any precautions ...
Forum Discussion
RJsfishin wrote:
Ironically, mine has dripped for a year or more. A week ago it got drastically worse. So I opened and closed it a few times, and it got worse yet, pumping water out like an open faucet !
I couldn't even imagine taking a pipe wrench to a 13 yr old heater, so I tefelon taped a 3/4" PVC plug and screwed it into the opening. Not leaking a drop,....and I have this feeling it will stay that way, unless I decide to somehow connect a new one to the old one.
Two issues:
First......doing what you have done. Water heaters have safety devices for a very good reason. Normal t-stat to control heating/operation, a higher temp t-stat as a backup to normal and then the T&P as a final safety device.
I operated boilers for a living, steam will KILL. A overheated/over-pressurized water heater WILL explode.
Please for your safety, your families safety and those that are innocent bystanders safety.............DO NOT CAP THE T&P.
If too afraid of replacing..let it drip.
Second......posting the idea of capping off the T&P is wrong and should NOT be suggested either directly OR indirectly.
This is NOT something to mess around with.
