Just realized most people don't know how to check a simple pressure relief valve

I was helping my brother-in-law with his water heater in Cincinnati, and he had no idea the little lever on the valve needs a manual test every six months. He thought if it wasn't leaking, it was fine. That's a huge risk because scale can jam it shut. How do you guys make sure homeowners actually understand this stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason_reed4712d ago

Oh man, that's so true. It's scary how many basic safety things just get missed.

quinnm7712d ago

That "huge risk" idea feels a bit overblown in my experience. I've been in plenty of houses where the valve hasn't been touched in a decade and it still works fine when you finally test it. The bigger issue is people testing it wrong and causing a leak that never stops, then they panic. I tell folks if their water heater is getting regular maintenance, just have the pro check it. Most people have enough to remember without adding a pressure valve test to the list.

the_jenny12d ago

Honestly I kinda agree with you. I've seen those valves stick open after a test way more than I've seen them fail closed. It's not like they're just gonna explode one day out of the blue.