How often should you be checking the pressure relief valve on your water heater? I’ve talked to a number of people who have no idea what this does, so let’s take a look at it and see if this is something you need to think about.
A water heater with a temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve works in conjunction with the temperature and pressure (T&P) safety relief valve to protect against overheating or excessively hot water in your home. This happens when sediment accumulates in the bottom of the tank causing the water to not heat properly or causing hot spots (elevated temperatures). When such conditions occur, it can cause pressure buildup inside the tank. All this information is about water heater emergencies.
To prevent possible overheating and the resulting water pressure from causing a tank explosion, that’s where T&P valves come into play. A valve is installed to relieve this excess pressure and heat safely before it becomes critical. In addition, T&P valves often incorporate a mechanism that opens when the heater is not firing to allow air into the tank as well as releasing water to reduce pressure should other safety devices fail or cause possible rupture of the tank. If you want to know more about our plumbing services in Cedar Park visit our home page.
The working theory behind the operation of a T&P relief valve says it will open when water entering its housing reaches a predetermined temperature and/or a preset pressure level. This allows potentially dangerous hot sediment-filled water from the bottom to be released at a safe rate. That then gives you time to fix or replace the heater before the sediment causes overheating.
The safety limit for operating temperature is generally set at about 210° F or 99° C, while some manufacturers’ standards call for a maximum of 180° F (82° C). A T&P relief valve can open at either 170° F (77° C) or 200° F (93° C). However, if the heat produced by the water in your tank exceeds that produced by surrounding objects, it’s possible to see venting at temperatures lower than these limits.
As mentioned above, the pressure level begins to rise when there is not enough air in all areas of the tank and when hot spots develop from mineral-laden water becoming superheated. Pressure within a tank can reach levels of 125 pounds per square inch (psi) to 150 psi before the relief valve opens. The normal maximum for a T&P relief valve is set at around 150 psi or 10 bar, but some models are designed to open under lower pressure.
Many heaters have “test” buttons that must be pressed periodically with the power on to test the operation of both types of valves. While this isn’t always required by code, manufacturers recommend it because it works the valves and helps keep them in good shape. If they don’t operate properly when called upon in an emergency, you’ll know about it right away when hot water starts pouring out!
When replacing your water heater, make sure any new model has two valves – one for temperature and one for pressure. When shopping, compare the manufacturer’s information on what temperature and pressure level the valves are set to meet or exceed before opening. Look at both limits because you want to be absolutely sure your family won’t suffer scalding burns if it opens while you’re taking a shower. You can also find us on Google maps visiting water heater emergency.
While T&P valves aren’t considered life-saving equipment like smoke detectors or carbon monoxide alarms, they certainly help keep water heaters safe by releasing potentially dangerous amounts of hot sediment-filled water when needed. Because most folks don’t realize how critical this safety function is, I suggest that everyone who has an electric resistance heater should know exactly where their relief valve is located in case you ever need it!
We have helped families that live near Cedar Park Middle School with their water heater emergencies.
Being the principal of Cedar Park Middle School is no easy task. It calls for dedication, organizational skills, and above all else leadership. And with over 800 students in her charge, Principal O’Neal has more than enough to keep her busy at school.
Here are just a few of the things that Mrs. Dina O’Neal brings to the table:
*”I really enjoy coming into work every day knowing that I can make a difference.” – Mrs. O’Neal
1) She was raised in Austin- not by choice but by necessity since she was unable to travel on her own until she was 18 years old due to unknown circumstances surrounding her birth.
2) Despite having only lived here for over thirty years, Mrs. O’Neal has still managed to keep her Texan roots firmly in place. “I love my BBQ and sweet tea” she says with a smile.
3) She feels that one of the most important things she can do is listen to her students when they have something to say, hence the open door policy at Cedar Park Middle School.
4) Mrs O’Neal currently lives in South Austin with her husband Lamar and daughter Maya. Their two dogs Cricket and Buddy round out their family unit nicely.
5) Mrs O’Neal enjoys spending time on weekends catching up on some much needed shut-eye but relishes any opportunity to get out into nature either by herself or with her family. Does that mean she’s a nature fanatic? “Oh, no, believe me when I say there are plenty of things to do outside in Austin.”
6) The most important lesson Mrs O’Neal tries to teach the CPMS student body is how to be a leader not a follower. “Don’t just sit around and wait for someone else to solve your problems,” she says, “you have it in you to be great.”
Enchanted Learning is an online educational website offering 7th grade study guides, 8th grade study guides, vocabulary worksheets for kids , unit tests, homework assignments and more . All of their content has been created by teachers from across the country and they have been carefully screened for quality. They also offer a unique homework help service where students can get support from tutors online as well as additional worksheets and links to helpful resources . Enchanted Learning is a great place for kids who don’t like doing their homework because they have hundreds of engaging activities for students at all levels.
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The school is located at 2100 Sun Chase Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613. The phone number is 512) 570-3100.