Finding your hot water heater’s temperature relief valve. Hot water tip #10

hot water tank temperature relief valve

In our ‘hot water troubleshooting tips’ series, we try to provide solutions to the most common problems people encounter with their hot water heaters.  Hot water heating is one of a households biggest running expense so it pays to ensure your hot water system is running efficiently, is maintained correctly and serviced regularly. 

Why is your temperature relief valve leaking?

A temperature relief valve is installed on all hot water tanks. It protects the tank by relieving pressure that may build up and allowing it to escape. This is because the water inside the tank expands as it heats up.

Click here to view a PDF indicating where to find your hot water tank relief valve »

Under normal operation, a small amount of water may discharge from the relief valve during the water heating cycle. If this discharge amounts to more than a bucket full of water within a 24 hour period, we suggest you contact your Cheapa Hot Water plumber as it may be a sign of a problem with your hot water tank.

If your hot water heater is experiencing a continuous dribble of water this may indicate that a small particle of foreign material may be caught in the relief valve.  To fix this, try gently easing the relief valve lever for a few seconds. This may dislodge the foreign material or matter, thereby clearing the blockage. Then lower the level gently. If this doesn’t fix the problem, contact us for more troubleshooting advice.

If there is a steady flow of water, this may indicate the water mains pressure is rising above the designed pressure of your hot water tanks relief valve.  This often occurs at night. If this is the case, contact us and we can assist by installing a pressure limiting valve. Please note that you should never replace the relief valve with one of a higher pressure rating.

Finally, if you are encountering heavy flows of hot water until the water is cold which then stops until the water reheats then you should contact your Cheapa Hot Water service technician as soon as possible. This usually indicates a bigger problem and we will need to repair your hot water heater, often with replacement parts, or your hot water heater may need replacing.

Still having hot water system problems?

If these steps don’t provide any solutions, we suggest you contact our service department on 0410 693 532 for advice. Our hot water service centre is open 7 days a week from 7am – 6pm. 

Hot water is our business – it’s not a sideline. Each year we install over 4,000 hot water systems in Sydney and Central Coast homes and businesses. As one of Sydney’s largest hot water system suppliers, our enormous buying powers and ability to buy direct from the manufacturer means we can pass attractive savings on to our customers.  Our fully qualified, licensed hot water heater installers have over 20 years experience each so don’t hesitate to contact us direct for advice and assistance.

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