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Can I reset the Pressure Relief Valve in my Hot Water Heater?

Water is pouring out the Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve. The water heater had been set to "Vacation" mode for months. I turned it back to a normal temp setting and five minutes later water was pouring out through the relief valve pipe. I turned off the water to the hot water heater to control the water flow. Can I reset the valve or do I need to replace it? Can I do this myself?

8 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The pressure relief valve can be manually opened but cannot be reset. The spring inside is set to open and should close back up when the pressure inside the tank has been alleviated. With that being said and not knowing the age of your water heater, I think you should replace your exercised relieve valve. Its not too costly and can be obtained from places like Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Upon replacement, make sure to shut off heating source, water source and drain tank slightly to level lower than relieve valve location. You might want to let tank cool slightly to prevent getting burned. Also, don't forget to get "pipe dough" to give a tight seal between the tank and the relieve valve. Good luck!

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    How To Reset Water Heater

  • 1 decade ago

    Try turning down the temp. Depending on the age of the water heater, you may need to replace it. If the thermostat is bad the heater will keep heating the water and won't shut off this thermal pressure relief valve or T.P.R.V is to prevent the steam from causing damage to the plumbing and injury to you.

  • duque
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Nope. no longer something defective in any respect. As has already been defined, the flexibility of heating the water replaced into in itself what brought about the surplus tension accompanied by utilising the alleviation valve lifting. interior of many many aspects of basically approximately any united states of america, there are places the place the presented water tension is already commonly very near to the alleviation valve tension settings. upload to that the actuality that backflow preventers and water tension regulators are being mandated in many aspects and you have a recipe for the lifting of many a alleviation valve. interior the previous, and without those instruments (tension regulators and backflow preventers) because of the fact the water heated up and bigger, it ought to easily push the incoming furnish backward interior the direction of the pipes yet those greater moderen *upload ons* are designed especially to provide up that from happening. So now between the appropriate procedures to stay away from the subject is to place in a "thermal expansion tank" interior the chilly water line basically before the heater. this could now provide the increasing water a place to flow to and the alleviation valve won't carry anymore. there is an person-friendly setting up diagram interior the link and the tanks value *approximately* $20 to $40 money, yet they do artwork. Al Edit: the 2nd link explains it in plenty further factor, photographs and all. Al

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  • 1 decade ago

    The valve usually goes bad before the water heater itself. Unfortunatly many people do not check or replace it which can lead to failure of the valve when needed. I would recommend replacement. Yes, you can do it yourself. You should also have a drain pipe running from the valve to the floor or nearby drain. Check with your local home center for additional help.

  • 1 decade ago

    Yes you can replace it. Turn off the unit and drain it down (if the valve is on the side). It simply screws into the tank. Take the old one with you to a hardware or Home Center so you get the proper size. Buy a roll of teflon tape to apply to the threads when you install it.

  • Thomas
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    1

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  • 1 decade ago

    the only way to try to reset this is to quickly turn on then off the safety device,, its possible it could reseat itself,, if not,,, drain down water heater, take out insides and clean the safety device.

    me personnally, if it doesnt reseat itself,, id pop out and buy a new prv just so i would only need to drain down once.

    good luck.

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