Hot Water Heater Overflow Pipe - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Derwood · 05-02-2006, 12:36 PM

We have a pretty new (less than 2 years old) hot water heater. Every time someone takes a shower, washes dishes, etc., the tank refills (obviously) but the overflow pipe always ends up dripping. We put a container under the pipe and I would say we are dripping about a pint of water a day. Is this normal? Is there an adjustment that can be made to make it stop refilling before it overflows?

newtx · 05-02-2006, 01:17 PM

Try snugging up the shutoff valve on the overflow. If that doesn't stop the leak you may have to have a new washer. Be sure your overflow pipe is plumbed to the outside. I had an overflow valve blow on my water heater and it blows out steam and near boiling water. Very dangerous. Buy some pvc pipe and send it outdoors. If not corrected the dripping will get worse. (and it could be the popoff valve itself leaking)

cj2112 · 05-02-2006, 04:13 PM

DO NOT try "snugging up the shutoff valve on the overflow" this is a temperature/pressure relief valve specifically designed to release if the pressure gets to high, not an "overflow valve". Try turning you're hot water heater down to between 120 to 140 degrees farenheit.

steveincolumbus · 05-02-2006, 06:42 PM

check water pressure in house, the valves are made to releave pressure at 150 lbs. If pressure when leaking is normal its the valve, if high, likely to be a one-way-valve or regulator in line preventing backflow, and then you would need a pressure tank of sorts to have a place to expand to.... sence water expands when heated

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepa...sureRelief.htm

Derwood · 05-03-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveincolumbus

check water pressure in house, the valves are made to releave pressure at 150 lbs. If pressure when leaking is normal its the valve, if high, likely to be a one-way-valve or regulator in line preventing backflow, and then you would need a pressure tank of sorts to have a place to expand to.... sence water expands when heated

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepa...sureRelief.htm

Thanks, that's exactly what the pipe looks like. I'm not sure if i'm qualified to fix it myself, but at least I know what to tell a plumber.

newtx · 05-03-2006, 06:53 PM

My bad. cj2112 is correct. I don't know what I was thinking. But do plumb the overflow outside for safety.

Derwood · 05-31-2006, 08:01 PM

so it magically stopped overflowing. Or did it....

It may be a coincidence, but I recently fixed a toilet that shares it's plumbing with the washing machine and hot water heater (common wall). The toilet's water was turned off in the bathroom for several months while I put off fixing it. Seems that the water heater has stopped overflowing since I turned that shutoff back on. Could that be the case?

Charlatan · 06-01-2006, 04:37 AM

You might want to have it looked at. When mine started doing this it was because the dip tube inside the tank was broken.

05-02-2006, 12:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	Hot Water Heater Overflow Pipe We have a pretty new (less than 2 years old) hot water heater. Every time someone takes a shower, washes dishes, etc., the tank refills (obviously) but the overflow pipe always ends up dripping. We put a container under the pipe and I would say we are dripping about a pint of water a day. Is this normal? Is there an adjustment that can be made to make it stop refilling before it overflows? __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

05-02-2006, 06:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
steveincolumbus Psycho Location: BFE, Kentucky	check water pressure in house, the valves are made to releave pressure at 150 lbs. If pressure when leaking is normal its the valve, if high, likely to be a one-way-valve or regulator in line preventing backflow, and then you would need a pressure tank of sorts to have a place to expand to.... sence water expands when heated http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepa...sureRelief.htm Last edited by steveincolumbus; 05-02-2006 at 06:48 PM..

05-03-2006, 06:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
newtx Addict	My bad. cj2112 is correct. I don't know what I was thinking. But do plumb the overflow outside for safety. Last edited by newtx; 05-03-2006 at 06:54 PM.. Reason: spelling

05-31-2006, 08:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	so it magically stopped overflowing. Or did it.... It may be a coincidence, but I recently fixed a toilet that shares it's plumbing with the washing machine and hot water heater (common wall). The toilet's water was turned off in the bathroom for several months while I put off fixing it. Seems that the water heater has stopped overflowing since I turned that shutoff back on. Could that be the case? __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

06-01-2006, 04:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	You might want to have it looked at. When mine started doing this it was because the dip tube inside the tank was broken. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

05-02-2006, 01:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
newtx Addict	Try snugging up the shutoff valve on the overflow. If that doesn't stop the leak you may have to have a new washer. Be sure your overflow pipe is plumbed to the outside. I had an overflow valve blow on my water heater and it blows out steam and near boiling water. Very dangerous. Buy some pvc pipe and send it outdoors. If not corrected the dripping will get worse. (and it could be the popoff valve itself leaking)

05-02-2006, 04:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	DO NOT try "snugging up the shutoff valve on the overflow" this is a temperature/pressure relief valve specifically designed to release if the pressure gets to high, not an "overflow valve". Try turning you're hot water heater down to between 120 to 140 degrees farenheit.