HWH pressure relief valve

[TWP723]

Is it me or are these relief valves on the Atwood HWH's a pain? The valve is an absolute bear to operate. I've done everything and it still is crazy hard to operate. I can get it to depressurize but it tears my fingers up. Anybody ever replace one? I'm afraid I'm gonna break it lifting on the lever.

[Tunce the traveler]

Mines is not hard to operate ( 8 years old now ) and their easy to change out.

[Jagiven]

Mine has never been hard to operate.

Might be well worth considering a replacement.

[stateboy]

I also have a very easy one to operate. My TT was a leftover 2016 but new from the dealer this past Feb for us. I found the nylon drain plug was out, laying next to the tank and all chewed up (looked like the work of pliers or channel locks). Not knowing if that drain was open for two years or not, I took the pressure relief valve off, power flushed the tank with my garden hose spray nozzle, teflon taped the relief valve threads and put it back in.

Get a new one. Just make sure it has the same pressure relief rating.

[bap]

If your pressure relief valve operates hard it should be replaced. If it works hard manually, it could allow too much pressure to build up before releasing causing a dangerous situation.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Is it me or are these relief valves on the Atwood HWH's a pain? The valve is an absolute bear to operate. I've done everything and it still is crazy hard to operate. I can get it to depressurize but it tears my fingers up. Anybody ever replace one? I'm afraid I'm gonna break it lifting on the lever.

Why do you need to open the relief valve ? turn water off and open your faucet...they really aren't designed to be opened repeatedly. Opening them could cause a leak. They are designed to open with high pressure over the rating.

Good Luck.

[jal0710]

I open the pressure relief valve before I drain the hot water tank, have done that since 1993 with our first FW and now the second one. Never had one leak and don't get near the blast of water out of the water tank when taking the plug out to drain it.

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by wags999

Why do you need to open the relief valve ? turn water off and open your faucet...they really aren't designed to be opened repeatedly. Opening them could cause a leak. They are designed to open with high pressure over the rating.

Good Luck.

I put a hose assembly with a ball valve on the drain for easier emptying and it runs slow. releasing the pressure makes it flow quicker. I do open all my faucets and LPD's and it's still slow. I noticed the relief valve is almost impossible to operate without force. Think I'm gonna replace it.