Relief Valve Leaking
#1
02-21-09, 07:59 AM
Relief Valve Leaking
My Crown Boilers relief valve has been leaking for days. I am not sure if I just need to change it or if the PSI or Temp is off. The Temp after running is 210 and the PSI is 25. I have tried to open and close the valve to check for crud in it, but it won't stop. If the relief valve needs to be changed, how difficult is it or should I have a professional do it? Thanks in advance. Tim
#2
02-21-09, 11:18 AM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
Posts: 16,321
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If your safety valve is leaking or more than five years old it should be replaced.
You need to relieve all pressure on the system to change it and you may want to lower the water to below the point where the safety valve is installed although if you work fast you can do it with minimal water loss. You will probably need to bleed the air from the system after replacement.
If the stem of the safety valve is not now in a vertical position then you should install an elbow first to make it so. Whether or not you want to DIY it or have a plumber or heating professional change it would be determined by your toolbox and how comfortable you are with dealing with these things. Depending on how much it is leaking you may want to postpone the job for another month or two until heat is no longer a necessity.
Generally speaking 210 degrees is way hotter than necessary. Most systems work well at 180 degrees or less. A pressure of 25 psi is okay at the highest temperature but 18 to 22 is more common. Either your thermometer or pressure gauge (or both) could be reading incorrectly.
You need to relieve all pressure on the system to change it and you may want to lower the water to below the point where the safety valve is installed although if you work fast you can do it with minimal water loss. You will probably need to bleed the air from the system after replacement.
If the stem of the safety valve is not now in a vertical position then you should install an elbow first to make it so. Whether or not you want to DIY it or have a plumber or heating professional change it would be determined by your toolbox and how comfortable you are with dealing with these things. Depending on how much it is leaking you may want to postpone the job for another month or two until heat is no longer a necessity.
Generally speaking 210 degrees is way hotter than necessary. Most systems work well at 180 degrees or less. A pressure of 25 psi is okay at the highest temperature but 18 to 22 is more common. Either your thermometer or pressure gauge (or both) could be reading incorrectly.
