Residential Hot Water Heater PRV Leak

Don Yerks

When my wife does the laundry, my pressure reducing valve releases leaking water in the floor of the basement in a small but almost steady stream. It continues until I open the valve and drain water out. It then will usually stop or go to an occasional drip. Is there anything I can do about this besides replace the valve? The valve is only about 3 years old.

Robert O'Connor_7

Don

Try checking the incomming water pressure to your house. My guess is its a tad high. If your pressure exceeds 80 psi you might want a PRV on your incomming main (just before the meter) and also install a potable expansion tank on the cold side near the water heater(properly sized for your aplication). The selinoid valves inside your washer snap shut and create water hammer thus exceeding the spring rate of your relief valve. Another possible cause could just be the relief valve is bad or the size of the domestic distribution system may be too small causing the water to move too quickly through the piping. If all else fails, a water hammer arrestor may be in your future...Robert O'Connor/NJ