Q&A on Water Tank Pressure Relief Valves:

how to find buy, or where to install safety valves on water tanks and on well water systems.

We explain where a pressure relief valve is usually installed on well water pressure tanks, how the valve works, and why pressure relief valves are an important safety feature on well tanks.

Q&A on Tank Pressure Relief Valves for Water Storage Tanks or Water Pressure Tanks

These questions and answers about the requirements for pressure relief valves or safety valves on water pressure tanks were posted originally at WATER TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE - please be sure to see the advice given there.

Watch out: If a pressure relief valve is not installed on your water pressure tank ask your plumber to provide one promptly.

On 2020-03-21 - by (mod) -

Pat

Before requiring turning off the water I'd want to understand what problem we're having.
For example

IF the valve is dripping slowly - not a catastrophic leak -

AND IF the tank pressure is in the normal operating range (say no more than 60 or 70 psi and well below the maximum safe pressure on the tank label)

THEN you can live with the leak (catch it) until the valve can be replaced.

BUT if there is a gushing leak or if there is abnormally-high tank pressure then the system is unsafe and the water oyno should be turned off and pressure relieved by opening a faucet.

On 2020-03-21 by pat

Should water be turned off until valve is replaced?

On 2018-10-31 by (mod) -

Dan I'm not entirely clear on what is your situation, but

Watch out: if you have a 1" diameter pressure relief valve it is unsafe to downsize its discharge to 1/2" - one should never restrict the discharge opening of a safety pressure relief valve as doing so can cause a tank to burst, injuring someone nearby.

On 2018-10-31 by Dan

I have a well water 1 inch relief valve with a 0.5 inch output. It is leaking and would like to buy another, but cannot find one. Also my water tank holds 50 gal and the tank pressure should be 40psi.
Should I be looking use a reducer from 1: to3/4" and buy a 3/4" relief valve set for around 100psi

On 2017-10-26 by (mod) - why is my new relief valve leaking

Mike,

Take a look at the pressure and temperature in the system. If those are what is causing the relief valve to spill then the system is unsafe and it needs to be shut down immediately to avoid risking an explosion, such as a boiling liquid Vapor or bleve explosion

On 2017-10-26 by Mike E.

I replaced relief valve. New one is leaking.

On 2017-10-03 by Tim H.

No, that makes no sense, you would just be increasing the pressure in the piping from the well. So, if a pressure relief valve is going to blow, I am thinking it needs to be plumbed to an outlet or drain or risk a flood
So maybe the valve doesn't relieve the pressure but blocks any more incoming water from increasing the pressure?

If that is the case it would have to be between the well check valve and the tank, right? If this is correct ( and I'm not sure it is), then strictly speaking, wouldn't it be a pressure prevention valve and not a relief valve?

I'm totally confused. When the valve performs as intended and relieves the excess water pressure, where does the water go? If no one notices what has occurred your basement gets flooded?

On 2017-04-02 by (mod) -

H. West:

Thank you for commenting but you are seriously mistaken - an error that could result in a BLEVE explosion, property damage, even death to people nearby should such an explosion occur.

There are several concerns but a basic one is that water leaking from a pressure/temperature relief valve risks leaving deposits, often mineral scale as is shown in many photographs of leaky relief valves at InspectApedia.com.

Ultimately enough scale accumulates in a relief valve that the valve spring becomes jammed: the valve will no longer open at the proper temperature and pressure, and in fact may fail to open at all - thus a BLEVE.

On a cold water system whose relief valve is rated just for pressure - such as on a water supply system pressure tank, where temperature is not a factor - leaks can also deposit debris, silt, corrosive materials that could block a valve, though I suspect that the risk of blockage is reduced by the absence of heat. Heat speeds the deposits of mineral scale at points of leakage.

On 2017-04-02 by (mod) - TPR valves on HEATING EQUIPMENT are rated typically in maximum BTUH

Thanks for the comments, Tony. I agree and add that TPR valves are rated typically in maximum BTUH - a number that should be greater than the input BTUH of the heating device they are protecting.

But pressure relief valves used on water pressure tanks - i.e. not hot water vessels - are rated at an opening pressure that must be below that of the burst pressure or maximum rated permitted pressure of the water storage tank or pressure tank.

On 2017-04-02 by Tony V

Please read and follow the installation instructions on your tank relief valves. Most fluid (not air) system relief valves require that they are installed vertically. It does many a difference depending in the valve design.

On 2017-04-02 by Tony V

I see plenty of discussion about the set pressure of relief valves. Obviously that number is important, but just as important is the relief valve (rv) capacity rating. If a RV opens and does not allow sufficient fluid out fast enough, it still can allow the tank to build pressure.

Pressure that still may exceed the vessel. Cold water system RV's should be rated in gallons per minute (gpm) and beable to relieve the out volume of the supplying pump.

On 2016-09-21 by H West

Not a plumber but I respectfully question the statement that a "leaking" pressure relief valve is dangerous and should be replaced. The valve may be doing exactly what it was designed to do; bleeding off an overpressure condition. A neighbor replaced his irrigation system leaking 75 psi valve with one that was adjustable. He then adjusted the release pressire until it no longer leaked. Fortunately there was no one around when the tank burst.

On 2015-11-30 by (mod) -

Use a tank tee - that will give you typical placement of the components. In general always keep the relief valve close to the tank.

On 2015-11-28 by robertb

Hello! Does it matter the order in which the pressure relief valve and the pressure gauge are installed? If so, then which one should be "upstream", and which "downstream"? Thank you! Best regards, Robert B.

On 2015-11-17 by (mod) - valve still leaks after replacement

Look for

an over-pressure condition due to a faulty pressure control

water hammer damage

On 2015-11-15 by Art K

Replaced leaking pressure relief valve on well system . Valve is still leaking. What next?

 

Question: Can I screw a boiler drain valve into my pressure relief valve?

(Aug 22, 2014) Anonymous said:
Can't seem to find a pressure relief valve that operates as a cutout switch ONLY.

Want a 100# releif valve that will cutout a runaway pump but not cut back in at lower pressure.

(Sept 20, 2014) Larry G said:
Can I screw a boiler drain valve into my pressure relief valve? There is a threaded port available.

Reply:

Larry

NO!!

Watch out: What you describe could cause a BLEVE explosion destroying the boiler, building, and injuring or killing someone.

Question:

(Dec 18, 2014) Rick said:
After the pump runs several times the relief valve goes off. Is this due to too much air pressure or to less air pressure? When I press the air valve (where you would add air) water comes out no air. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Reply:

Rick you could be seeing an abnormal pressure increase in the system, e.g. if the pressure switch is not operating properly, or you could be seeing the effects of water hammer.

See WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

...

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