How much water flow from a water heater pressure relief valve should I regard as "excessive"? ?

Question

Installing a back-flow prevention device above the water heater a little over a year ago fixed a problem with the water heater flooding part of our basement on a regular basis. For the first several months afterwords it was always dry as a bone. In the last month or so, I've gone downstairs on a couple of occasions to see a small puddle (3-4 foot diameter) around the drain. (Poor drainage, but I think that's another issue.) What's acceptable? Do I need to call the plumber who installed the back-flow prevention device and invoke the warranty?

Answer 1

if you have  water coming form the Temperature and pressure relief valve  and you know it is not because of  temp , than you know it is from pressure .  a check valve isn't the correct   way to go , it is most likely from thermal expansion and need and expansion tank for domestic water  installed on the feed side of the water heater .

Answer 2

your water heater is not supposed to leak ,,,,period.

Especially from the pressure relief valve. Maybe you have the temperature set to high????

Answer 3

im a service rep for a natural gas distribution company,there should be no water comming from your hwh r/v, they are not expensive & to change one is simple,t/off your valve@cold water inlet,if you do not have one,t/off water@mtr,open hot water faucet to let off pressure,remove old valve,apply teflon tape or pipe thread compound to new r/v,s***w in,tighten,reconnect drain pipe to r/v,if you have one that drains to outside,t/on water check for leaks,thats it,as for the backflow preventer im not sure,but i do know those r/v's go out from time to time for no reason

Answer 4

Hi. I for one agree that the valve should not leak any water at all BUT, I am glad that it is working for your sake. It has probably saved you from some expensive repairs.  In your post you describe the system working just fine and then recently seeing the water. I think you have a pressure tank that has failed and has allowed this to happen. When cold water expands when it is heated it increases in volume and if the pressure tank for this loop has failed then the last line of defense is the relief valve. Have someone check it out immediately and I hope this is all that it is. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

The pressure relief valve is a safety device... ANY water running from it needs to be checked out.  Either the valve is faulty, or you've got too much pressure building up in the water heater.

I'd recommend calling in a plumber.

Good Luck