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Old 12-09-2012, 08:33 AM   #1
K&Gs3400RL
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Water Heater

I have been having problems with the water heater leaking out of the over flow valve off and on. When the electric side went out I replaced the electric element and re did all the wiring in the box when it burnt up. It kind of subsided and then started up again. So I replaced the overflow valve. Well its still leaking any ideas?
 
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Old 12-09-2012, 08:43 AM   #2
Ozz
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The seat in the valve may be compromised, it may have a little something under it, I pop them (Lift the lever) then close them and rap on the stem with a screwdriver handle, or small hammer. The spring in the valve may be weak as well.
If all else fails, replace it. It is the safety, and needs to be operational as in, we don't want to have it fail.
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Old 12-09-2012, 10:00 AM   #3
racerjoe
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did you check the temp at the tank? with 2 valves doing the same thing I would look at high limit being a tad too high so the valve is doing it's job.
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Old 12-10-2012, 02:54 AM   #4
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I got tired of fooling with it. Dealer said a little seepage/dripping normal (BS). So I took an air bleeder I used for bleeding air out of the water lines, forced it into the pressure relief valve, (both threaded, but not quite the same) cut off the tip and ran tubing from the tip through the screen. Now if/when I get drippage, drains out through the tube.
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Old 12-10-2012, 04:45 AM   #5
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Old 12-12-2012, 05:06 PM   #6
RonD
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First, that is not an overflow valve, it is a over temp, high pressure valve, referred to as a T&P, it will leak if the pressure or temps are to high, my guess you have a piece of crud stuck in the valve seat, try removing it, wash it out, and blow some air in it, then drain and flush the water heater out real well, if it still leaks I would just replace it
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Old 12-13-2012, 06:42 AM   #7
mtheo
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It is a safety valve. I would not stick any thing in it. As a fireman I have seen what they will do it they can't open all the way. It is designed to let off pressure when the tank over heats. It will create what is know as a "BLEVE", "Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion"
Please don't put any thing in the outlet that is any small than the diameter of the outlet, which is 3/4" pipe tread.
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Old 12-13-2012, 07:35 AM   #8
Irlpguy
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For someone to say this relief valve dripping is normal is absolutely wrong.

Does this condition occur when you use propane alone, and electric alone, or does it matter.

The valve is designed to release under two conditions, those being when the water reaches a temperature of 210 degrees and/or the pressure reaches 150 psi.

You can use your wife's candy thermometer to check the temp of the water by running hot water from the nearest tap into a cup with the thermometer in it. Although this may be a few degrees less than in the tank it will be close. If it is not up to the 210 degrees, then it is likely pressure buildup. The water heater has a high temp limit switch which may have gone south...

Overheating and pressure rise in a HW heater is often caused by the heating elements becoming caked in crud from the chemicals in the water, sometimes we can clean/flush that out and it will solve the problem. Check your water pressure to the heater as well, in some parks it can be quite high.

As has been previously mentioned there might have been something under the seat of the original valve, however you have replaced the valve and nothing changed, so I doubt that is the problem. Also mentioned, don't restrict the relief valve. In a small tank like these it does not need to release a lot of water, but it is best to not restrict it.

This seems to be a common problem and the Building codes here in BC have been changed so that in all new houses you must install an expansion tank in the water line. I installed one in my home after having the same problem with my hot water heaters relief valve.

Hope you get to the bottom of your problem.

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Old 12-18-2012, 04:13 PM   #9
Irlpguy
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I was just looking over some of the manuals that came with my Monty and happened across this interesting bit of information relating to “water weeping or dripping from pressure relief valve”

To begin with it states that this condition does not necessarily mean the valve is defective, it is a condition created by the heating of water in a closed system. As the water is heated it expands and will sometimes reach the max pressure of the R & T valve causing it to momentarily release water pressure. It goes on to state and I will quote from the manual.
Quote:
quote:
One way to reduce the frequency of this occurrence is to maintain an air pocket at the top of the water heater tank. This air pocket will form in the tank by design. However it will be reduced over time by the everyday use of your water heater.

To replenish this air pocket.
1. Turn off water heater.
2. Turn off cold water supply line.
3. Open a faucet in the RV
4. Pull out the handle of the pressure Relief ( P & T) Valve and allow water to flow from the valve until it stops,
5. Release handle on P & T – it should snap closed
6. Close faucet and turn on cold water supply, as the tank fills, the air pocket will develop.
Repeat this procedure as often as needed to reduce the frequency of the weeping.

Thought I would bring this up in case anyone else runs into this situation again. It might save you some time and money.
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