Hot water heater overflow pipe dripping full#

It rises slightly less than the original water heater because the new one is taller. The vent rises about 1/2 inch in 10 inches into a brick chimney. I'm thinking this may be some sort of spill from the vent, but I can't figure it out. I have it currently turned off at the valve on the gas line. I've double checked the gas connections, and this definitely doesn't seem like a natural gas smell. I have a CO monitor down there and it hasn't gone off and when tested it reports 0 ppm. Today I noticed a smell in the house that seems to be stronger near the basement. I hooked it up and turned everything on after checking connections, etc. I was planning on getting this inspected this week. I recently installed a 40 gallon GE natural gas water heater in my basement. If you already have such an expansion tank then it has ceased to function properly and either needs the air charge adjusted or the tank needs to be replaced.Īnother, less likely cause could be defective thermostats on the heating elements or even a 'grounded element that is causing the water to overheat. If this is the problem the cure is installation of a potable water expansion tank on the cold water supply to the water heater. Merely opening a valve, either hot or cold should cause this excess pressure to be immediately dissipated and causing the safety valve to close.

Hot water heater overflow pipe dripping full#

Here's what I think is happening: Initially the tank is full of cold water, as it is heated it wants to expand but since water is virtually incompressible it instead causes the pressure to rise dramatically until it reaches the pressure setting of the safety valve causing that valve to open and relieve the excess pressure. Second, the water heater tank does not go through a fill and empty cycle, it is ALWAYS full of water and is pressurized to the same pressure as the rest of the water supply system in your house. I suspect that what you are seeing is a discharge from the Temperature & Pressure safety valve, commonly referred to as a T&P valve.

First of all, water heaters in the US do not have 'overflow' pipes.