Quote:
Originally Posted by rhood
It’s is the discharge from a a pressure relief valve. If system pressure rises, it opens to relieve the pressure. Probably a bad seat. Not sure if code requires a pressure relief, but if it doesn’t you could just plug it.
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The only pressure relief valve I know of is on the top of the water heater. It will open whenever the pressure exceeds 150 psi or the water temperature exceeds 210 degrees. You definitely do not want to cap it off. If you have an expansion tank on the water heater, it is unlikely that the relief valve has tripped. But, if you don't have an expansion tank, the valve can trip occasionally. One way to see if the relief valve is tripping, is to put a plastic cup under relief valve discharge pipe and check it daily for water. If the problem is the relief valve, it needs to be replaced, but not capped off. You may also need to install an expansion tank on the water heater.