Don't Let a Pressure- Packed Water Heater Put Your Home at Risk!

If you’ve ever jumped into a cold shower unintentionally, you know your water heater is a crucial component of your home! You rely on it to supply you with warm water for washing dishes, taking showers, and heating your food. Over time, your water heater can build up pressure and plumbers in Sugarland, TX, know all about this problem. Every time you go to heat up water to be used, the pressure constantly builds until one day, pop!It doesn’t have to end where your water heater explodes with too much pressure. Instead, there are ways of going about removing the pressure that continues to build up in your water heater. If you feel this is happening inside your home, you need to call your Richmond, TX plumbing company.

The Dangers to Your Home

As your water continues to heat up within the unit, the pressure also builds. The longer the pressure builds, the more risks you are taking with your water heater. It is important to relieve some of this pressure to avoid having the unit explode. You also have to be wary that the water does not continue to heat up on its own. As water heats, it also expands. If the water continues to heat up with no relief, you could end up with problems.

Locating the Relief Valve

Your water heater contains a relief valve that plays an important role in how your water heater performs and plumbers in Sugarland, TX, can certainly explain this in detail. But here’s the simplest explanation: When your water heater experiences too much pressure inside the unit, it needs relief. This is done through the T&P valve. In order to relieve the pressure, you need to find the T&P valve. This is connected to the drain line and can usually be found on top of the unit or on the side of the unit.

Relieving Pressure

In order to safeguard your unit from gaining too much pressure, you need to release some of it. This can be done by raising the test valve. You should hear the water draining from it and ultimately the pressure lessens in the unit. Part of maintenance on your unit is checking the valve to make sure it is working properly. Over time, it can break down just like any piece of equipment. You should check it once or twice a year to make sure it is working properly.

Replacing the Valve

As your unit ages, you will find that the T&P valve needs replacing periodically. The valve should be able to release the hot water slowly. When checking to see if the valve needs to be replaced, you should be able to feel whether it is warm or hot. If the valve is hot, it needs to be replaced because the water is seeping out too fast. If you have an electric water heater, then you need to turn the breaker off to the unit. If you have a gas water heater, you will have to set the temperature to the lowest setting.

If your valve is located on the side of the unit, you will need to drain the water until it is below the valve. When the valve is on top of the unit, you can replace it immediately. The valve is then removed using an adjustable wrench and replaced with a new one. If you don’t feel comfortable taking this on yourself, you can call your local Richmond, TX plumbing company, Howell Services, at 281.232.5292.

About Author:

Howell Services provides full service plumbing in Katy TX, Missouri TX, Richmond TX & Sugar Land TX. For plumbers in Sugar Land, TX, Missouri City TX, Katy TX & Rosenberg TX whom you can count on for dependable and fast service for your home and family call us at 281-232-5292 or visit us at www.howell-services.com

Howell Services offer plumbing services in sugar land, katy, missouri city, rosenberg, richmond tx, call us at 281-232-5292 or visit us at http://howell-services.com