Quote:
Originally Posted by Bay Kid
I have a gas hot water heater that AT TIMES overflows water when heated into the catch pan. The heater is 8 years old. Should I have the release valve replaced or the whole unit? I would prefer an electric hot water heater, but so much trouble to change. Is there someone that could do the complete change from electric to gas? Thanks
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Keep your gas water heater it is faster and runs cheeper then the electric heater. Has anything changed recently in your plumbing? Thermal expansion can cause a valve to open. It is sometimes caused when a backflow preventer or pressure reducer is installed on the cold-water line. The tank fires, the water expands and has nowhere to go, so pressure builds and forces the valve to open (it's partly what it's for). However, if nothing like that is going on, it may just be a bad valve. I suggest you have a plumber replace it. It is possible to do it yourself, but it's also possible any number of things could go wrong.