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Installed a new pressure release valve on electric water heater because old valve was dripping water on floor. New valve also dripping water. Any ideas? Suggestions? Water temp set at 110F, so it's not because of excess heat. Water pressure regulator on incoming water main set at 50 lbs. I'm out of ideas as to what could cause valve to seep water.

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  • Have you tested your home water pressure, especially when other faucets are closed and the hot water heater is heating? Do you have an expansion tank?
    – BMitch ♦
    Mar 21, 2012 at 17:56
  • Have you measured the water temp at the tap?It is possible that the thermostat is bad allowing pressure to build and the safety to vent.Any big changes in the electric bill? Is the replacement part rated the same as the orignal?
    – mikes
    Mar 27, 2012 at 2:37

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Did you test the valve after you installed it? If so you'll need to replace it again. The moment you test the valve you allow calcium and dirty water that can again make the valve lose its seal and continue to leak. They are very temperamental!

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  • This is not true. Relief valves are meant to be tested at least yearly.
    – Andrew Kozak
    Oct 6, 2015 at 1:06
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TPR valves open on high temperature or pressure. Check the pressure by hooking a gauge onto a garden faucet, run the hot water until the heater turns on, and then close all other fixtures except the garden faucet. Check the pressure at the start and again when the water heater finishes it's cycle. If you see a significant climb in pressure, you need an expansion tank, or your existing expansion tank is failing. If your pressure is always high, you need a pressure reducing valve. The target pressure should be 45-60psi.

If the water pressure is not high, then verify the water temperature. Using a cooking thermometer in a cup of hot water should work. An IR thermometer on the hot pipe after water has been running for a bit may also work. The target temperature should be 120-140F, or 130-140F if you have a dishwasher.

If neither the temperature nor the pressure are high, then your valve has failed or is defective and you should replace it. While it's possible to get some dirt in a valve after testing it, it's still a good idea to periodically test it and be sure it works. A valve that fails closed is dangerous while a valve that leaks is annoying. You may want to flush any sediment from the tank before testing it to minimize the risk of a stuck valve.

Here is some of the equipment mentioned.

Pressure gauge:

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Expansion tank:

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Pressure reducing valve:

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IR Thermometer:

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How the pressure reducing valve will reduce the pressure in case there is no flow. I think it is a matter of one minute tell the pressure downstream the valve equals the upstream pressure when all water taps are closed. I think the pressure reducing valve starts to reduce the output pressure when there is flow. That's why I heared from some people who have the same problem that installing the pressure reducing valve did not solve the problem.

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    The OP is asking about a "pressure release valve" - not a pressure reducing valve. So I suggest you reword your answer to address the question, or delete it and move on.
    – SDsolar
    Apr 9, 2017 at 3:53

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