How
To Replace a Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) on a Hot
Water Tank:
Step #1: Go to your hardware
store and buy a PRV which is set for 150 psi. It
will be the same whether you have a gas or
electric hot water tank. Also, buy a roll of
Teflon tape.
Step #2: No matter whether you
have gas of electric, you do not need to drain
you tank. Just shut-off the cold water valve that
feeds the tank. For safety, turn off the gas, or
electric to your tank.
Step #3: Okay here's the tricky part: Unscrew the
overflow pipe that's connected to the relief
valve. If the pipe isn't straight---or doesn't go
directly outside--such that you can actually see
it, you may have to cut the pipe and re-solder
it, if it's copper. Or hopefully, the plumber
installed a "union" in the pipe below
the PRV and you will disconnect the union first,
then unscrew the pipe that goes to the PRV.
Step #4: Unscrew the old relief valve. Wrap
Teflon tape around the male threads of the new
PRV. Go clockwise as your are wrapping and go
around 5 times. Install the PRV in the tank.
Tighten it as hard as you can leaving the
discharge opening facing the existing overflow
pipe. Connect the overflow pipe to the PVR, also
using Teflon tape on the male threads of the
pipe.
Once again, the tricky part is
re-connecting the discharge pipe (overflow.)
Step #5: Turn on the cold water valve to the tank
"Slowly." Then, turn the
gas or electric back on.
That's it...You're done!
If it looks too hard, call a plumber. It can be
tricky hooking up that overflow pipe.
|