Hot Water Tank Woes

Intrepid · Mar 20, 2008

I am getting ready to try some of the diagnostics I've read elsewhere here in this forum today to figure out why the tpr valve is releasing water.

Question - since the pressure regulator valve has an expansion tank, why would the tpr overflow?

No, I don't trip the T/P valve manually every year nor do I drain the tank.

Should I just install a new system or investigate?
Thanks!

Cass · Mar 20, 2008

T&P valve is bad, PRV is bad, Exp. Tank is bad, Thermostat is bad (temp to high, or combination.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Intrepid · Mar 20, 2008

gee, Cass, which one do you think I should check first?

Cass · Mar 20, 2008

Start by checking water pressure, run the cold water at a faucet for 1 min. before checking. That will tell you if the PRV is bad.

You can tap on the Exp. Tank and see if it is water logged also.

Cass · Mar 20, 2008

You can buy an inexpensive pressure gage to check the water pressure with at any big box store for about $10.00

Redwood · Mar 20, 2008

Press on the center of the valve on the expansion tank. If water shoots out its bad! If air comes out its okay but check the pressure of the precharge.

hj · Mar 20, 2008

tank

If nothing comes out, the tank has to be repressurized, and you can only test the precharge when the water is turned off an all pressure bled out of the lines. Test them all, regardless of which order you do it, because you could have more than one problem.

Intrepid · Mar 20, 2008

Just so we know what we're all talking about (since I don't) I've included a couple files to assist me, the DIY'er.

Master Plumber Mark · Mar 20, 2008

change the relief valve first......

If I were you I would do the simple thing first..

change the t+p for 8 bucks and see what happens....

but also I would do something about the way your expansioin
tank is just hanging there on that copper arm...

if the Expansion tank were to get waterlogged
it will weigh upwards of about 50lbs.......

and you are expecting that copper arm to hold that weight...indefinitely.....

I would at least rig up a brace to hold up that
tank ....cut a piece of wood or pvc or whatever you have on hand
and shim it from the heater up to the copper elbow...

either do that or hang something down from above to
"lynch" that expansion tank and support the weight...

or you will be very sorry someday

Hot Water Tank Woes

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