Hot water heater pressure relief valve will not hold back water!!!

mx800 · 04-23-2012, 09:38 PM

I recently de-winterized my 2010 Berkshire 390bh and when I finished filling with water I noticed the pressure relief valve on the outside will not hold back water pressure from pump. So for $20 I purchased a new one thinking that it was faulty. After replacing with new one and pressurizing the system with the pump, it leaks too!!! I am assuming that the pump pressure is too high and therefore the pressure relief valve cannot hold the water pressure back. Anyone else have this problem? Can the pressure be turned down on the Shurflo pump?

Thanks,

TURBS · 04-23-2012, 09:40 PM

pressure from pump would never make valve leak .
Just by chance is it leaking around the threads ?

Normally you can open it and flick it closed several times to get it to stop .

**Herk7769** · 04-23-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx800

I recently de-winterized my 2010 Berkshire 390bh and when I finished filling with water I noticed the pressure relief valve on the outside will not hold back water pressure from pump. So for $20 I purchased a new one thinking that it was faulty. After replacing with new one and pressurizing the system with the pump, it leaks too!!! I am assuming that the pump pressure is too high and therefore the pressure relief valve cannot hold the water pressure back. Anyone else have this problem? Can the pressure be turned down on the Shurflo pump?

Thanks,

The water pump is a pretty low pressure source.
Does it leak when you are using city water?
Maybe the boiler has lost its air gap.

Deplete the pressure and drain the water out of the water heater.
Open and close the pressure relief valve.

open the hot water faucet in the kitchen and refill the hot water heater without using the pressure relief valve.

This should trap some air at the top of the boiler and should stop it from leaking.

mx800 · 04-23-2012, 10:09 PM

Thanks for the info, but I tried your solution from another post, and it did not work. I hear the pump going and then slowing down as the pressure builds and then I hear a squealing from the pressure valve then water coming out. Should the pump not stop sooner?
I did have the pump apart "pressure diagram part" thinking there was a problem a few days ago, but discovered that I had a power issue so I put it back together and that is when I noticed this relief valve problem. Do you think I did anything to the pump? I just opened up the one end and looked at it!?

Thanks,

**Herk7769** · 04-23-2012, 10:11 PM

I doubt this has anything to do with your water pump.
it IS possible you got a bad relief valve right out of the box.

mx800 · 04-23-2012, 10:36 PM

When you say drain the water from heater do you mean all the water? or just until the relief valve stops draining water?

Thanks

DAISY BOYKIN · 04-24-2012, 04:44 AM

To prevent the pressure relief valve from weeping, there has to be a AIR POCKET in the top of the hot water tank. Turn off the water supply at the faucet, water pump Etc. Open the hot water faucet in the kitchen, leave
open. Now go to the pressure relief valve, lift up on the leaver, Drain the water until it stops running. Snap the spring loaded pressure relief valve
open and close a couple times. Now go back to the kitchen, close hot water faucet. Turn water pressure back on at the supply faucet or pump.

You have to establish an air pocket in the top of the hot water tank to prevent the pressure relief valve from leaking.

When you have hot water on the pressure relief valve under pressure, the valve seat is heated unevenly therefore causing the valve to leak!!

Good luck!

**Herk7769** · 04-24-2012, 08:50 AM

What Sid said...

OldCoot · 04-24-2012, 09:16 AM

Explain something, if it will leak water, why would it not leak air? It should be seated and air or water should not seep. I have been doing it wrong for years, because I use the lever to release all the air. When the relief does trip because of excess pressure, does it not release all the air? I am thoroughly confused, which doesn't take much to do that anymore.

Triguy · 04-24-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Explain something, if it will leak water, why would it not leak air? It should be seated and air or water should not seep. I have been doing it wrong for years, because I use the lever to release all the air. When the relief does trip because of excess pressure, does it not release all the air? I am thoroughly confused, which doesn't take much to do that anymore.

You and me both

I pull the relief valve to check if I have water in the tank. I can only assume there is no air left in the tank after the water comes out of the valve.

Oakman · 04-24-2012, 10:22 AM

I guess I'm wrong but I was always under the impression that the small air pocket was just above the relief valve.

TURBS · 04-24-2012, 10:30 AM

I think some one needs to school me cause I have been flipping my valve for years to bleed all air out of tank and have never had it leak afterwards.
I just filled mine up last night till I had a steady stream with pump on and then shut it.
Its not leaking yet.
I do the same for city water but I open valve before turning on.

**Herk7769** · 04-24-2012, 10:35 AM

I have heard this so many times from so many people that I have never once questioned it. My relief valve does not leak; ever. I typically just pop the lever until water comes out and I am done. Releasing the lever stops the water from coming out.

What threw me was the valve leaking after a new one was installed.

Triguy · 04-24-2012, 10:38 AM

I looked up the manual for my Suburban HWH and think you guys are on the right track with the air bubble.

I learn something new everyday...

OldCoot · 04-24-2012, 10:40 AM

I think there might have been some debris of some sort still present that might have gotten into the new one also.

mx800 · 04-24-2012, 08:46 PM

Problem Solved!!!
I was the pump...when I had disassembled the pressure pump and then re-assembled I put all five screws in on the pressure switch side of the pump not knowing that the middle bolt is the pressure adjustment. Since I had screwed it all the way in the little diaphram on the inside could not actually shut off power to the pump, so the pump kept pumping and pumping till it could not physically pump anymore, which was more than the relief valve could hold.
When I figured out was happening I backed out that middle pressure bolt and VOILA the pump shut off and relief valve is acting normal. Only thing left to figure out is how far to have that pressure bolt in.
Thanks for everyone's help!!!

Brad