Pop Off Valve Leaking on Water Heater?

Bucit

Bucit

New Member
Mar 12, 2010
3,144
St. Petersburg Florida
Boat Info
2005 280 Sundancer
2004 SPD-104 Achilles w/ 8hp Yamaha
Engines
Twin 4.3 MPI's with Alpha drives.
Sunday we wnet to our local sand bar and hung out with the locals. While I was in the water I noticed my bilge kick on (which it never does). On the ride home I nnoticed the FW pump continually cylce every 30-60 seconds. I got in the ER yesterday and it seems to be coming from the Pop Off valve (pressure relief valve) on the hot water heater. Is this common? I've never seen a Pop Off valve leak before. The second question is how in the heck do you get it off? There is no room in there along with blue (cold water) lines right up against it with no play. I can't even get a wrech in there.:smt100
 
I haven't experienced firsthand but have read about it here. Yes, they sometimes leak/ go bad. Quick fix is to work the valve relief up and down to re-seat whatever seal is inside and that will (probably) fix the problem temporarily. But long term you will need a new one... and you won't be able to find the exact pressure rating (gathered from these forums).
Try R.V. stores for a replacement and you may have to start pulling water hoses to free up some space... They(should) be quick disconnects and fairly easy to take off/ put back on.
Hope this helps.....
 
They looked like quick disconnects but I couldn't get them free. I also tried working the valve to see if it would seat properly but it only leaked worse. Would a standard valve from Home Depot work (one made for a smaller hit water heater)?
 
You need to go to an RV store to get the correct valve. You may also need to remove the heater to install the new one from the sounds of your post. These do fail. I've had it happen in my home's water heater.
 
I have a spare one. I had to replace mine this summer and ordered one online. When the weekend approached and the replacement valve didn't I went to a RV center (spent more on gas then I did on the d__n valve) and got another to save the weekend. So if anyone wants it PM me and we can work out a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Henry
 
Thanks HB, I might take you up on that although I wanted to fix this tomorrow. What's the difference between the HD one and one from an RV store? I've done some plumbing but haven't had to deal with a PRV before. How do the quick disconnects come apart (the blue and red lines coming out of the tank)? Do you need a tool or are they a push and release type?

Thanks!
 
If you put a non-marine pressure relief valve in you will most certainly either sink instantly, blow up, or inhale ungodly amounts of CO and turn blue in seconds. DON'T DO IT!!!!:grin:

I have no idea if there's a difference but the general consensus around here is that you should make every effort to overspend on marine stuff whenever possible
 
rondds said:
If you put a non-marine pressure relief valve in you will most certainly either sink instantly, blow up, or inhale ungodly amounts of CO and turn blue in seconds. DON'T DO IT!!!!:grin:

I have no idea if there's a difference but the general consensus around here is that you should make every effort to overspend on marine stuff whenever possible
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:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043
 
Bucit said:
Thanks HB, I might take you up on that although I wanted to fix this tomorrow. What's the difference between the HD one and one from an RV store? I've done some plumbing but haven't had to deal with a PRV before. How do the quick disconnects come apart (the blue and red lines coming out of the tank)? Do you need a tool or are they a push and release type?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

look at the hose where it goes in the fitting you should find white sleeve. the fitting on one side and the hose on the other.
in a gap between the white and fitting there should be a gray ring. this ring is a lock ring and has a split in it.
gently remove this gray ring. this will leave you free to slide the white part into the fitting. this will release the hose and allow you to pull it out of the fitting.
 
The blue/red hoses were attached to a black fiiting that went into the hot water heater. I didn't see any white or grey on the fitting?
 
they only stick out of the black 1/8 of a inch if that. thats what locks the hose into the fitting.
its a simple push pull deal with the gray split ring serving as a safety to prevent accidental un-locking.
it could be ours a re different from yours. on ours there is also a O-ring in there that seals the fitting
 
just looked and i dont have any pix to help
 
Bucit said:
Thanks HB, I might take you up on that although I wanted to fix this tomorrow. What's the difference between the HD one and one from an RV store? I've done some plumbing but haven't had to deal with a PRV before. How do the quick disconnects come apart (the blue and red lines coming out of the tank)? Do you need a tool or are they a push and release type?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Valve is a Watts 1/2 150 psi 210 degree 1XL valve Probe is 4" long. I don't know if you can get it at HD, but I would bet a large plumbing supply house might carry them. Watts is a generic plumbing component manufacturer.

To remove the quick connect fitting take a look at the pic below. Sorry didn't have one of the heater, but its the same thing The red arrow points to a gray circlip. Pry that off. Now push the white collar in. While holding the white collar in against the fitting you can extract the tube. The installation is the reverse. Just remember to seat the tube fully at the bottom. Also if you remove the fitting from the copper nipple on the heater you will want to clean up the copper with emery cloth before putting it back together.

plumbing.jpg


Henry
 
Wow, you guys are lucky with the quick connects. Us old timers have regular pipe thread fittings. Every fall, when I bypass the HWH to winterize I'm very careful to not screw up the plastic threads on the fitting that screws into the nipple on the HWH.
 
Thanks for all the info Henry. I'll let you knwo how things go on Friday. Have to take care of my 17 month old tonight so no work but I'll get to it tomoorw.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Valve is a Watts 1/2 150 psi 210 degree 1XL valve Probe is 4" long. I don't know if you can get it at HD, but I would bet a large plumbing supply house might carry them. Watts is a generic plumbing component manufacturer.

To remove the quick connect fitting take a look at the pic below. Sorry didn't have one of the heater, but its the same thing The red arrow points to a gray circlip. Pry that off. Now push the white collar in. While holding the white collar in against the fitting you can extract the tube. The installation is the reverse. Just remember to seat the tube fully at the bottom. Also if you remove the fitting from the copper nipple on the heater you will want to clean up the copper with emery cloth before putting it back together.

plumbing.jpg



I just replaced my pressure relief valve this past spring. I could not order the 1XL from Watts. My Sea Ray dealer told me to use the 10XL. Same size, just has a higher pressure release. This seems to be working, but I do wonder about the increase in pressure.
Click to expand...
 
Bucit said:
Thanks for all the info Henry. I'll let you knwo how things go on Friday. Have to take care of my 17 month old tonight so no work but I'll get to it tomoorw.
Click to expand...

I found it was easier to take the sheet metal box off the front of the heater to get the relief valve off. One big caution - DISCONNECT the Shore Power as the sheet metal covers the 110 VAC connection.

Henry
 
Doesn't say MARINE. I wouldn't risk it!
 
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