A Leaky Temperature and Pressue Valve on a Water Heater

A temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) is used on residential water heaters to relieve pressure before it reaches dangerous levels. During normal operations of the water heater, water should not be leaking from the T&P valve. If there is any dripping, it means two things – there is an unacceptable amount of pressure in the tank, and the T&P is doing its job by temporarily relieving pressure.

There are several things that might cause a temperature and pressure valve to leak.

The least expensive and most common problem usually a faulty valve. All of our trucks are stocked with these valves and replacement is usually quick and simple.

If the T&P valve has been replaced but is still dripping, the second most common problem is that the water pressure coming into the home from the city is at a PSI that is too high for the spring on the temperature and pressure valve to handle. If this is the case, we will need to replace the pressure-reducing valve to accommodate the PSI. We will also install a T&P valve at the same time as we cannot reinstall used parts. In addition, the old temperature and pressure valve would have been exposed to a higher-than-normal pressure which can cause the spring to go bad soon afterward.

Hot water heaters have a safety device called a temperature and pressure relief valve (a.k.a T&P valve). The T&P valve literally prevents the tank from exploding at high temperatures.

The last and most expensive possibility is that there is a check valve on the water main in the yard that is locking the system. This would mean that as water heats up at the water heater and expands it has nowhere to go and thus drips out of the T&P valve. When this is the case, an expansion tank will need to be installed at the water heater.

In some neighborhoods around Gainesville, all three of these are an issue at once and need to be addressed together. However, we always try not to make repairs that are not necessary so that the customer is not overcharged.

If you see a drip coming from the T&P valve, give us a call. We can point you in the least expensive solution.