Water heater safety valve

Bobbo wrote:
I have owned my RV for 10 years, and have opened the pressure relief valve every year when draining the water heater as an air vent. I have had no problems with it leaking. Ever.

YMMV

Yea, that's what I do also, except I drain the WH after every trip. Drains a lot faster when you open that valve.

I have owned my RV for 10 years, and have opened the pressure relief valve every year when draining the water heater as an air vent. I have had no problems with it leaking. Ever.

YMMV

Dont open that press relief valve unless you are prepared to replace it....
Once you do it is not unlikely it will dribble all the time from there on out. Happened to me.
Havnt had a recurrence as I tell myself removing the anode rod for periodic inspection replaces air pocket instead.... Speaking of which you should be keeping an eye on anyway.

marty1300 wrote:
And I am guessing I can just replace with one of the same temp/ pressure range

IF....the leak stops after the tank heats up and you run a little hot water....then don't waste your money trying to "fix" this. The new one will do the same thing (I learned that the hard way).

IF....you turn off the pump and/or let one hot water faucet drip while the initial heating is taking place, it won't leak like that.

Water SWELLS when heated

By design water heaters have a void at top of tank above hot out for an air pocket.

Air pocket is normally established upon initial filling of WH tank...bleed air out of system via a open faucet.

Over time Air pocket can get lost or absorbed into water.

W/O air pocket to control increase in pressure from water swelling the T&P Relief can 'weep' as water is heated (can't compress water----can compress air)

As noted above re-establish air pocket (due to small size of RV water heaters air pocket needed)

If you have used no water it is just normal expansion.
Add a small expansion tank for best results.

Before you replace it try this:

First wiggle the relief lever back and forth open and close to dislodge any possible debris that may be causing it to leak...be careful...don't scald yourself.

If this doesn't work...re-establish the air pocket at the top of the tank.

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.
Water Heater Air Pocket