drip DRIP D-R-I-P! Water heater pressure valve
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:35 pm
Been hearing a dripping under the home. Finally got the nerve to get under the house in 40 degree weather with a runny nose and waller around in mud. Well... thank goodness no mud, but I did see what the dripping was all about. A white drain pipe ... water dripping into a pool of water collecting under the home.
change of clothes -> Back inside the house to the water heater. Sure 'nuff the pressure valve is what the dripping is coming from. I normally keep the Electric Intertherm water heater off till maybe once a week before Church. Then I rush out and turn it off again; just can't afford the electric bills to keep it warm when I'm not using it. No more propane in tank - can't afford to put 100 gallon minimum in it' so can't switch to propane water heater. So, it's dripping when the heater is off - definitely no pressure as the water is not hot. Is this just a shot pressure valve? The tank is 25 years old this August. If it is just the valve, I imagine drain the tank and make sure the power is off to it (which it is till Saturday night), unscrew it and get a replacement at Home Depot and screw it back in? (Good thing I'm a computer scientist to figure these things out!!...). After replacement is in, fill back with water and turn juice back on to test it? I've never released the pressure once a month but I did a few minutes ago and it lets water out. I guess the sealing mechanism has just gone bad?...
What do you think?....
Mark
change of clothes -> Back inside the house to the water heater. Sure 'nuff the pressure valve is what the dripping is coming from. I normally keep the Electric Intertherm water heater off till maybe once a week before Church. Then I rush out and turn it off again; just can't afford the electric bills to keep it warm when I'm not using it. No more propane in tank - can't afford to put 100 gallon minimum in it' so can't switch to propane water heater. So, it's dripping when the heater is off - definitely no pressure as the water is not hot. Is this just a shot pressure valve? The tank is 25 years old this August. If it is just the valve, I imagine drain the tank and make sure the power is off to it (which it is till Saturday night), unscrew it and get a replacement at Home Depot and screw it back in? (Good thing I'm a computer scientist to figure these things out!!...). After replacement is in, fill back with water and turn juice back on to test it? I've never released the pressure once a month but I did a few minutes ago and it lets water out. I guess the sealing mechanism has just gone bad?...
What do you think?....
Mark