water heater is leaking out of drain pipe into yard

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Neil Goldsmith

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The hot water heater in the garage has been running for a few hours. I went outside and against the house where the heater is, there is a PVC drain where hot water is leaking out in a steady stream. There is a hissing noise near where the hot water exits the hot water heater into the PVC pipe where I guess it is a pressure release valve? Not sure if this drain is from the drain pan? I'm far from knowledgeable in this area. Anything I should do? Is this something I can fix or do I need a pro?

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Neil Goldsmith

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One other note, we put in a new AC about 8 months back and they did work on the hot water heater when removing our old system. The hot water heater is about 14 years old. Should I call the AC guys first or is this probably unrelated?
 

Neil Goldsmith

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Ok, just educated myself (ain't the internet grand :) ) . I opened the pressure release valve and let some water flow and the hissing noise as well as the draining water ceased. I'm hoping I just resolved some debris in the line, but should I change the pressure release valve to be safe or just monitor it to see if the problem comes back?
 

Jadnashua

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If you did not open that valve, it may have opened by itself which indicates a problem. That T&P valve can open itself because of either too hot (somewhere around 205-degrees) or too high pressure (over 150psi). If you have a PRV and an expansion tank, the expansion tank may need replacing. If the water wasn't excessively hot, I'd look for high pressure. You can check that with a cheap (about $10) pressure gauge you can attach to a hose bib, washing machine, or the drain valve of the WH (careful, it will get hot); or, with adapters, anywhere else in the water system you wish. Get one with a second, tattle tale hand to show peak pressure. If it is expansion, it will do it again after someone uses a bunch of hot water and the WH gets turned on. While the WH is on and no water is being used, the heated, expanded water has to go somewhere - and, that can be out the T&P valve in a closed system with a failed expansion tank.
 

Neil Goldsmith

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Thanks for the detailed information. So far I'm monitoring it. We've taken a few showers and run the washing machine and I haven't seen it leak since last night. I haven't taken any pressure reading yet though.
 

Jadnashua

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If it is pressure, it will be most evident when you've used a lot of hot water, then, do not use ANY water while the WH is recovering. Otherwise, each time you use a little water, it will drop the pressure back down, and it may not get high enough to open the T&P valve on the WH. Depending on the WH, the thermostat setting, and your incoming cold water, the expansion is in the range of up to maybe a quart or so, often less. But, that's enough to be annoying plus, the T&P valve is not designed for regular use...it is a safety device that should not be regularly opened (as in daily - maybe check it once a year).
 
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