How Much Should My Hot Water System Relief Valve Leak? – Hot Water System Perth

Introduction

Discovering a dripping relief valve in your hot water system can be a cause for concern. After all, relief valves are designed to release pressure and prevent catastrophic failures. So, why is your relief valve dripping? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the potential reasons behind this issue and guide you through the steps to address it.

Understanding the Relief Valve

Before diving into the reasons for a dripping relief valve, let’s briefly recap its role. Relief valves are safety devices installed in hot water systems to prevent excessive pressure buildup. When the pressure within the system surpasses a safe level, the relief valve opens to release water or steam, ensuring the system remains within a safe operating range so its likely to find your relief valve dripping when the system is heating. As the water heats it expands creating this excess pressure which is when the relief valve will open and begin to drip.

Possible Reasons for a Dripping Relief Valve

1. Normal Operation: As above, all relief valves will leak, its what they are designed to do after all. A great scenario is to imagine a kettle boiling with the steam created just from heating 2L of water, now imagine this is your hot water with 135L of water and no where for the steam to escape. Thats likely the reason your relief valve is dripping.
2. Faulty Relief Valve: Relief valves can wear out over time, leading to leakage. If the valve’s seal or internal components are damaged, it might not close properly after releasing pressure, resulting in a persistent run of water. Relief valves are required to be replaced every 4 years.
3. Sediment Buildup: Sediment, minerals, and debris from the water supply can accumulate inside the relief valve, affecting its ability to seal correctly. This can lead to a slow drip even when the pressure is within the normal range.
4. High Water Temperature: Extremely high water temperatures can cause the pressure within the hot water system to rise, triggering the relief valve to release a large amount of water.

Test your Relief Valves Every 6 Months:

It is imperative your relief valve is tested every 6 months to ensure it has not ceased and failed. To test the relief valve all that is needed to be done is lift the stainless steel lever located at the end of the relief valve which you should see a steady stream of water from the relief valve which indicates the relief valve is working perfectly normal. If a very small amount or no water at all leaks then your relief valve is faulty and its time to call Ember Plumbing.

How Much Dripping Is To Much Dripping?

So how much should a brand new relief valve leak? It’s difficult to put an exact amount of how much a relief valve should leak as there is many variables that can affect the amount of leakage, however, a relief valve can leak up to 12L in a single day and this is classed as normal operation.

Conclusion:

By understanding the potential causes and taking appropriate actions, you can ensure the safety, efficiency, and longevity of your hot water system. If you’re unsure about troubleshooting the issue on your own, it’s always wise to seek assistance from a qualified plumber who can diagnose and address the problem effectively. After reading this, if your still considering leaving your seized hot water system relief valve, we highly recommend watching the below video replicating just how much damage a relief valve can cause.