Why does my hot water heater overflow keep discharging water

Q: How do I stop my hot water from leaking overflow?

Its normal for the overflow pipe on a copper cylinder to drip when your water is heating. But if you find its running with water, causing your tank to overflow, then your water could be getting too hot. To fix this, simply adjust the temperature on your thermostat down a little.

It’s never a good sign when you find water on the floor around your water heater. But before you panic, it’s important to figure out where it’s coming from.

Table of Contents Show

What does the relief valve do?
Reasons for water discharging from the relief valve
Professional plumbers in Amarillo, TX
Troubleshooting
Replacing the Overflow
How do I stop my hot water from leaking overflow?
What causes a water heater relief valve to discharge water?
Why does my overflow pipe keep dripping?
How do I stop my overflow pipe from running?

Upon further investigation, if you find the water is being discharged from a small tube that comes out of the top or side of the unit, runs down the side of the tank, and ends near the ground, then the source is likely the temperature pressure relief valve, or relief valve, for short.

What does the relief valve do?

The relief valve is an important safety feature on the water heater. If the water inside the unit gets too hot (usually above 210 degrees) or pressure builds up too high (above 150 psi), the water heater can become damaged or even explore.

A good solution to this risk is the relief valve. If at any point the temperature or pressure reaches an unsafe level, the water heater triggers the relief valve to open and release water out of the tank until the temperature and pressure return to normal.

Reasons for water discharging from the relief valve

When you see water coming out from the water heater release valve, there are two most likely causes.

The relief valve is working the way it’s intended, and water drained to reduce the pressure inside the tank.
There’s a problem with the valve, such as a faulty seal, and the water is unintentionally leaking.

Both circumstances should be taken very seriously. If the relief valve is needed frequently, that means there’s an issue with your water heater that is causing unsafe temperatures or pressure.

On the other hand, if the relief valve is stuck or has another problem, it needs to be fixed or replaced right away so it can do its job properly when necessary.

Professional plumbers in Amarillo, TX

If water is coming out of the relief valve of your water heater, don’t ignore it. Bring in the expert team at Pratt Plumbing to inspect your water heater to make sure you don’t have a potentially dangerous situation in your home. To schedule an appointment, call (806) 373-7866 today.

by Contractor2020
Published at February 17, 2020
Category: Water Heaters

Also called the pressure relief valve, the hot water heater overflow is a safety device that will vent the water heater if the pressure within becomes too high, which is why this component should not be compromised or replaced with a plug. However, the overflow would develop a leak on its pipe over the years, especially when it is opened for the first time, though you can try opening and closing it a few times to see if it would properly re-seat itself. Now, if you have tried this method and there is still a leak, you might want to troubleshoot it more and replace it if needed. As far as plumbing repairs go, this task is not that difficult to perform. Just follow these steps:

Troubleshooting

1. Check the status of the pressure relief valve if there is little or no water in it and then look at the surrounding floor of your water heater. If there is saturation of water on the floor, then there is no water in the tank and the overflow has blown. If this is the case, you should turn off your water heater immediately by flipping the breaker to the off position or turning the actual gas valve off. In this type of problem, the valve will need to be discarded, and there are certain cases where similar had to be done with your heater.

2. Check the overflow for leaks around its threads where it is screwed into the heater, and if there is a leak, you will need to re-coat the threads using a plumber’s pipe compound. First, you have to turn the heater off and then release the pressure inside by pulling the handle up on the valve. Afterward, place a pipe wrench on the extension tube that leads from the valve and then unscrew it. After unscrewing, you can then coat the threads with the pipe compound and rethread the valve in, tightening it in a firm but gentle manner. Then, reattach the extension tube.

3. Try to see if the leak from the overflow is the main seal or if a piece of dirt has compromised the seal. Turn off your heater and then open and close the valve several times, where you will see that water will splash from the overflow tube and onto the floor, which is why you need to put a bucket underneath. Flush water through the valve to free any particle that may have lodged itself beneath the seal, which might have caused the leak. Turn the heater back on and wait for 2 days to see if the valve reseals itself. If not, then you have to replace it.

Replacing the Overflow

1. Turn off the gas to your water heater or flip the breaker if you are having the electric type. Then, close the cold water cut-off valve that goes into the heater.

2. Open the overflow at the bottom for about 60 seconds to drain the water out of the tank and relieve the pressure. Then, remove the overflow pipe from the valve, which may have been soldered or glued in place, so you might have to cut it off.

3. Using a pipe wrench, unscrew the old valve and replace it with the new one by screwing it in until tight. Reattach the valve drain pipe with Teflon tape on its threads. Open the cold water cut-off and then check for leaks around the overflow.

There you have it. You have fixed the leak from your hot water heater overflow!

How do I stop my hot water from leaking overflow?

It's normal for the overflow pipe on a copper cylinder to drip when your water is heating. But if you find it's running with water, causing your tank to overflow, then your water could be getting too hot. To fix this, simply adjust the temperature on your thermostat down a little.

What causes a water heater relief valve to discharge water?

If at any point the temperature or pressure reaches an unsafe level, the water heater triggers the relief valve to open and release water out of the tank until the temperature and pressure return to normal.

Why does my overflow pipe keep dripping?

An overflow pipe leaking or dripping is most likely due to a faulty cistern ball valve. You can fix this by replacing the valve or some of its internal components. A dripping overflow pipe can also indicate a fault somewhere else on your plumbing system. This guide should help you diagnose the problem.

How do I stop my overflow pipe from running?

Tips on fixing a leaking toilet overflow pipe Check the float valve isn't obstructed. Adjust the position of the float as it might be set too high to turn the water off. Check the water supply pressure isn't too high causing the overflow pipe to leak. Lower it by turning the isolation valve on the water supply pipe.