How to Repair a Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve
The Temperature Pressure Relief valve (TPR) keeps dangerous levels of pressure from building in the water heater. If stuck closed, the pressure can cause the water heater to explode. If the TPR valve sticks open, the water leak caused can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Leaks normally develop due to minerals in the water that deposit on the valve when it opens to relieve pressure now and again. Follow the steps below to remove and clean the TPR valve. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Pipe Wrench
- Teflon Tape
- Replacement Temperature Replacement Relief Valve (if needed)
- Garden Hose
- CLR Cleaner
- Bucket
- Scrub Brush
- Gloves
- Protective Eye-Wear
Instructions
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1
Turn the water heater off. The water heater control unit is located at the bottom of the box. Turn off the unit according to operating manual instructions.
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2
Turn off the cold water supply. Attach a garden hose to the bottom drain valve and then open the valve to empty the tank. Direct the flow of the super hot water to an area that will not cause damage. Run the end of the hose as far out into the yard as possible.
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3
Use a pipe wrench to disconnect the drain pipe from the TRP valve and then remove the TPR valve from the tank fitting. This will be the most difficult part of the job as they are tightly bonded and have been attached for years. Use a long handled wrench and a cheater bar to get a better torque. A cheater bar is a hollow piece of steal that you slide over the end of the pipe wrench. Turn the wrench in a counter-clockwise motion to remove the valve from the fitting.
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4
Mix together 1/2-half cup of CLR cleaner and 4-cups of hot water in a bucket. Place the TPR valve in the mixture and let it soak for two minutes. Use a scrub brush to gently clean the mineral deposits off the valve. Work the valve open and closed with a push-pull motion while it is still immersed in the cleaner. Rinse with clear water and pat dry. Inspect the valve for any obvious damage or defect such as cracked or warped threads and replace if needed.
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5
Wrap the threads 2- to 3-times around with teflon tape. This tape is inexpensive and can be purchased at any hardware store. Insert the TPR valve into the tank fitting and then tighten by turning it in a clockwise motion using a pipe wrench. Wrap the teflon tape on the drain pipe threads and then attach it to the TPR valve. The teflon tape will help prevent leaks.
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6
Close the bottom drain valve and then remove the garden hose. Turn the cold water supply back on and allow the tank to fill. Check for any leaks from the TPR valve or drain. Turn the gas back on to the unit and relight the pilot according to manufacturer instructions. Turn on the circuit breaker if the unit is electric.
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Tips & Warnings
Use CLR cleaner in a well-ventilated area.
Shut off the water heater before working on it. Give the tank some cooling time before pulling the TPR valve.
References
- Photo Credit All images courtesy of Photobucket photo pool.
