Leaking TP Valve on 2yr old water heater.wmv

http://www.inspectdelaware.com
During an inspection we found a leaking pressure relief valve.

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Education

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• Delaware Home Inspector
• Delaware Home Inspectors
• Delaware Home Inspections
• Leaking Water Heater

[askdeinspector]

If a spike in water pressure were to hit the home then that would not necessarly cause the trp to spit out, However if the home is equiped with a regulator then there should not be a spike in pressure.

[askdeinspector]

Hey dave,

Do me a favor take a picture of what you have and send it over to me, The tpr could spit out water if the pressure or temperature was to high. Then once pressure went below manufactures set point it would not spit out any longer. Also Several things could cause that, The water heater gas valve or thermocouple would not react when the water was at temperature setting causing the water to boil much like a tea pot.

[daveosc]

I see a very little bit of water staining on my attic floor (water heater is in the attic) but its not from the spigot on the bottom. I wonder if this means my TPR is bad? the water leak is coming seemingly from directly beneath the heater. The water heater sits right on the attic floor.

[askdeinspector]

@daveosc With out looking at what you have I will give you my most educated guess. The best and most simplist way to tell if it is your TPR valve is look at the pipe extension if if it is any type of metal IE copper, Galvinezined etc the bottom of the pipe will have surface corrosion, It will look green in color. If it is Plastic material IE CPVC then you will have to disconnect the pipe at the TPR and if you see water at the vavle body then you found your problem.

[daveosc]

I looked at it and I don't even see a long pipe coming from the TPR. all I see are the in and out for water. the leak appears to be coming from the bottom of the water heater. I have a ruud pes 40-2.

[daveosc]

Thanks for the reply. One question: if pressure or temp causes the tpr to go off will it "spit out" some water and then stop when temp/pressure normalize? Also could a spike in water pressure cause it? Thanks!