Atwood water heater pressure relief valve dripping while using hot water

melida

Member
Apr 1, 2009
897
Istanbul-TURKEY
Boat Info
Sea Ray 2007 375 DA
Sea Ray 2005 315 DA Sold
Engines
2xYANMAR 6LPA-STP 315 HP V-drives, 4kw Onan gen, radar, gps, autopilot, bow&stern thrusters, sat tv
As title says, my (2007) water heater pressure relief valve is dripping and making noise, and while using hot water it drips more and making louder noise. Hot water is coming 1-2 seconds really hot then starts to get warmer to coolish but not cold so I can have my shower.


20181212_164315.jpg

I played with the valve to clear out if there is air pocket but no luck, it is visibly closed but seems not internally therefore dripping. I use my boat year round and have my morning shower every day at boat so the water heater is almost always powered 7/24/365 except freezing/snow days. I use the dockside water inlet as water source and water tank is empty and no running the water pump and I have good water flow and clean shower handle aeriator.

So is there any seal/gasket/o-ring inside of the valve that is shot of age as the boat is 2007,or should I uninstall it from HWH and soak in vinegar etc. to clear out any debris, or it's telling me that game over insert coin ?

TIA.
 
Had a similar problem with my hot water heater. I unscrewed the relief valve and soaked it in a glass of vinegar overnight to remove the calcium buildup. No leaks after I put it back on the tank. Think a new valve is about $25 if that doesn't work.
 
Had a similar problem with my hot water heater. I unscrewed the relief valve and soaked it in a glass of vinegar overnight to remove the calcium buildup. No leaks after I put it back on the tank. Think a new valve is about $25 if that doesn't work.

Thanks Mike, gonna uninstall it in the afternoon and take to home to do that tonight and check tomorrow if it'd salvaged.
 
$22 on Amazon - replace it. Widely available in US at RV stores.

Thaks TT, I looked to amazon and saw that is $22 and good news that amazon sends it to Turkey which recently almost anything is not shipped to Turkey.

If the vinegar trick won't help I'll order it.
 
In North America It is a standard sized plumbing item available at most plumbing supplies store. Maybe not in Europe though.
 
Creekwood beat me to it, but there is nothing special about this valve. 7 bucks at any hardware store.

Josh
 
In North America It is a standard sized plumbing item available at most plumbing supplies store. Maybe not in Europe though.

Thanks, yes it's not common in my country but not sure of other European countries.
 
Creekwood beat me to it, but there is nothing special about this valve. 7 bucks at any hardware store.

Josh
Haha, seem that he is ten finger typing.
$7 I'd buy and sell here for $27 to the local marine stores:)
 
Except it's 75psi and I could only find 125psi at the hardware stores.

Thanks for the heads up, I'm not sure what I have.
 
Had a similar problem with my hot water heater. I unscrewed the relief valve and soaked it in a glass of vinegar overnight to remove the calcium buildup. No leaks after I put it back on the tank. Think a new valve is about $25 if that doesn't work.

I went to the boat yesterday and tried to uninstall the valve but no luck it's rock solid and not sure if it is reverse threaded, I tried to move it either to clockwise and counter clock wise but couldn't even looosen it.

So I took the hose off from the valve which is routed to the port side vent outside of hull, and emptied the water heater. A few desert spoon of water came from the hose and I poured some descaler liquid (contains HCI) (which I use to clean my exchangers of the engines) in to the fitting of the valve and it started to buble and I played with the valve handle to soak the acid fully in and when bubling stopped I reconnected everything, filled the heater with fresh water and ran the faucets to clear the acid and debris a few minutes then powered the heater but had to go home, so today I'll check and update if I saved the valve.
 
Update

I went to the boat to check the hot water and it is up to now running really hot but haven't looked to the valve if its dripping.
Thanks to everyone for help and giving info.
What a great forum.
Cheers.:cool:
 
IMG_2098.JPG
I went to the boat yesterday and tried to uninstall the valve but no luck it's rock solid and not sure if it is reverse threaded, I tried to move it either to clockwise and counter clock wise but couldn't even looosen it.

So I took the hose off from the valve which is routed to the port side vent outside of hull, and emptied the water heater. A few desert spoon of water came from the hose and I poured some descaler liquid (contains HCI) (which I use to clean my exchangers of the engines) in to the fitting of the valve and it started to buble and I played with the valve handle to soak the acid fully in and when bubling stopped I reconnected everything, filled the heater with fresh water and ran the faucets to clear the acid and debris a few minutes then powered the heater but had to go home, so today I'll check and update if I saved the valve.
Plumbers always seem to have trick for dealing with these mundane issues. I wonder what a trades person would do to free a stubborn relief valve. Must be a common problem.
 
View attachment 63051
Plumbers always seem to have trick for dealing with these mundane issues. I wonder what a trades person would do to free a stubborn relief valve. Must be a common problem.

It's in the boat for 11 years in salt water year round and outside temp is around 10 C nowadayds. I didn't want to force it as its "yellow" brass or bronze and didn't have time to heat it with heat gun.
Up to now the descaler solved the problem, hope I won't have to deal to free it.
 
I have nothing to add to your water heater problem... glad it's fixed for now. I just wanted to say hello to a guy in Turkey. That is one place I have never been to... The only frame of reference I have is the movie Midnight Express that I saw in high school... that movie messed me up with respect to Turkey for a while..
 
I have nothing to add to your water heater problem... glad it's fixed for now. I just wanted to say hello to a guy in Turkey. That is one place I have never been to... The only frame of reference I have is the movie Midnight Express that I saw in high school... that movie messed me up with respect to Turkey for a while..

Thanks, yes it seems it's fixed.
That movie is a shame of our country even it's not 100% correct but I don't want to argue or discuss it because its gonna turn to a political discussion which doesn't belong to a wonderfull boating forum and great people of CSR.
But times changing, our country is a good place and you may have a summer visit and see it in person especially the south western coats which is our boating heaven like what is Florida called in USA.
 
That movie is a shame of our country
Producers/directors do the same thing to the USA as well... and then we have our politicians ...I cant imagine what the rest of the world thinks of us when that's all you hear and see..
 
Producers/directors do the same thing to the USA as well... and then we have our politicians ...I cant imagine what the rest of the world thinks of us when that's all you hear and see..
Its same everywhere, just change the names of country/politicians etc.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,861
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top