Water heater problem early this morning??

[pdq67]

About 4:00 AM or so this morning, our water heater pop-off valve stuck open???

It was in the shut-off position so what happened?

Our neighborhood water pressure isn't all that high, plus we keep it set at about 130 degrees F., so how did this happen?

Water heater isn't all that old too.. Maybe 5 to 7 years old? We had to replace our house's original water heater because it finally started leaking at the bottom of the tank. House built in something like 1998??

What happened?

Plumbers please come right on in!!

Thanks in advance for any possible answers.

pdq67

[Kevin Johnson]

The new monitor (metal, fire) has disturbed the water feng shui of the house.

Seriously, it simply sounds like your water heater should be replaced.

[6.50camaro]

Pdq what was in the shut off postion ? The inlet water valve , the gas valve if gas fired ,the eletrical supply if electric . The relief vavle is triggered by one of two thing ,pressure or temperature . Or it just is a faulty relief valve they don't make them like they use to . Being a plumber - pipefitter hvac service tech for 35 yrs have seen alot of new stuff that was faulty in a short time. Dan

[pdq67]

How can a water heater's pop-off valve be set in the correct position so it seals right but then pops off??

I turned/jiggled it in the sealed/seated position and it works fine now??

pdq67

[Kevin Johnson]

Paul, look up the expected life-span of a new water heater. You are right at the lower part of that range.

Anyway, a longitudinal study.

[Kevin Johnson]

... Or it just is a faulty relief valve they don't make them like they use to . ...

Wow, is that true.

[6.50camaro]

How can a water heater's pop-off valve be set in the correct position so it seals right but then pops off??

I turned/jiggled it in the sealed/seated position and it works fine now??

pdq67

The metal tag under the trip handle is stamped with the relief pressure and temperature. 5to7years is about about how long they last now a days . They use to go 25 to 30 years the same as the heater . As Kevin said from here on out the tank could go at any time . The sad part is us oldtimers remember when companies built things to last not be replaced to kee cash flow going. Dan

[pdq67]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Right.

My Mom lived in a trailer after we moved off the farm because there weren't any houses to buy in town.

Anyway, she bought her trailer new back in '66. And after some years went by, (probably like 20 years??), she had a trusted handyman in town check her furnace and water heater every year. And finally, she asked him if she should buy a new water heater only because of age. He said she don't need to unless it leaked and several years later, it did leak.

I'm talking like 30 years or so!!

And now you guys are telling me 5 to 7 years!!

Gimmie a, eh, er, break!!

I will definitely watch it close from now on..

And thanks for all the helpful comments.

pdq67

[pdq67]

Back again with another ol' pdq67 story!

Back when we lived in the old neighborhood, we lived all the way in the back down not to far from the creek.

Any, I had to go over a couple of hills and then down to our house.

Now once a year, the county would come though and flush the water hydrants.

And several times some sh*thead would shut them off BANG, not slow like you should.. You know, "water hammer"!!!

Ended up breaking my big clear plastic water filter one time and another time, a 1/2" copper 90 solder fitting!!

I could tell something was up because several of the water meters out front of the houses had water running down the street!

Not fun at all. Back-hoes showed up to dig them up to fix the leaks!!

Just MAYBE my water heaters pop-off valve had a one time pressure spike??

pdq67

[lefty o]

doubtful. either the pressure valve is shot, or your water heater built too much pressure for some reason. water heaters make nice bombs if they dont vent, at least you know your valve relieves pressure.

[pdq67]

lefty,

You saying that I might have had a one time runaway water heater??

Makes since..

pdq67

[lefty o]

lefty,

You saying that I might have had a one time runaway water heater??

Makes since..

pdq67

it is possible. how much crud and corrosion is in the tank? when is the last time it was drained?

[pdq67]

I don't know?

I have never drained it, but like I said, It's only like 5 to 7 years old.

pdq67

[gmrocket]

It’s called a T&P valve for a reason...it probably went off on temperature, very rarely do they go off on pressure

It may have just over heated enough to set it off..turning temp back jus a few degrees usually helps

The issue once it blows off is the seal may not seat again as good ..so you have to give it a few quick snaps to bang the rubber seal against the seat to clean it..or just replace it..it’s cheap

[pdq67]

It is set on the 2nd out of four notches temperature-wise.

I'm thinking 130 degrees??

I know that it is low enough that I always watch the dishes being cleaned properly in our dishwasher.

pdq67