After using an electric water heater for so many years, do you know the purpose of this' small valve '?
Release date:
2025-11-25
Nowadays, most friends use electric water heaters at home.
Electric water heaters have a relatively large water storage capacity and are also convenient for using hot water.
Have you noticed that there is a "small valve" at the bottom of the electric water heater that everyone has been using for so long?
After using an electric water heater for so many years, do you know the purpose of this' small valve '?
I didn't expect the small valve under the electric water heater to be so useful.
Everyone should also get to know about it.
Pressure relief valve for electric water heater
Many friends may not have paid attention to the electric water heater they have been using for so many years. There is a small valve under the water pipe of the electric water heater, which is called the "pressure relief valve".
Although this small valve may not look particularly eye-catching, it still plays a very important role.
The function of pressure relief valve
① Relieve pressure
The electric water heaters we use at home usually come with a water storage tank, and the pressure bearing capacity of this type of water storage electric water heater is limited.
If the pressure inside the tank of a storage type electric water heater exceeds the maximum pressure that the inner tank can withstand, there is a possibility of explosion, and in severe cases, it can also endanger our personal safety.
The reason why electric water heaters are designed with a pressure relief valve is to avoid the occurrence of such dangerous situations.
When the pressure inside the electric water heater tank reaches a certain value, the pressure relief valve will be pushed open under the action of high pressure, automatically opening the pressure relief mode.
When the pressure relief valve starts to release pressure, water droplets will flow out.
At this time, don't think that the electric water heater has malfunctioned, and don't block the water outlet.
If this water outlet is blocked, it will prevent the pressure inside the water heater from being released, which can easily lead to accidents.
It is precisely because of the existence of a pressure relief valve that the pressure inside the electric water heater can be maintained within a relatively safe range.
This way, the electric water heater will not explode due to excessive pressure.
② Check back
Above the pressure relief valve of the electric water heater, there is also a small arrow marked, which is consistent with the direction of water flow.
That is to say, the pressure relief valve of the electric water heater can also serve as a check valve during the pressure relief process.
During the operation of an electric water heater, there must be water in the tank to avoid dry burning.
If there is no check design, the water flow of the electric water heater into the pipeline for a long time will cause no water in the inner tank, resulting in dry burning and posing a significant safety hazard.
The pressure relief valve can also function as a check valve.
This can prevent water from flowing into the pipeline from the water heater, allowing water to flow into the electric water heater. Even in the event of a sudden power outage, there will be no dry burning problem, which can reduce some safety hazards.
Note:
One manifestation of a pressure relief valve during pressure relief is that water will flow out.
What everyone needs to do is not to easily trigger the pressure relief method, let alone block this water flow.
If you feel that there is a lot of water flowing out of the pressure relief valve of the electric water heater at home, it is easy to affect the environment of the bathroom.
So you can choose to connect another small drainage tube and let the water flow slowly down the wall, so you don't have to hear the ticking sound of water anymore.
How to maintain a pressure relief valve
To ensure the normal operation of the pressure relief valve and protect the safety of the electric water heater.
So everyone must regularly maintain and check the status of the pressure relief valve.
Every once in a while, it is recommended that everyone touch the switch of the pressure relief valve with their hands to see if it can be lifted.
If it can be lifted and there is water coming out after lifting, it means there is no abnormality.
But if the switch is too tight to lift properly, it needs to be replaced.
Some pressure relief valves cannot function properly, which may be due to rusting inside or due to excessive scale blocking the valve.
So everyone also needs to regularly clean their electric water heater at home to avoid excessive accumulation of scale, which can affect the normal operation of the pressure relief valve and cause safety issues.
How to replace the pressure relief valve
If you find that the pressure relief valve at home is not working properly, it needs to be replaced.
Replacing the pressure relief valve is relatively simple, but for safety reasons, it is still recommended to choose a professional technician for replacement.
The load-bearing capacity of water heaters varies, and the pressure relief valves they are matched with are also different.
Everyone must purchase a pressure relief valve that matches their own electric water heater and cannot buy it at will.
Summary:
The small valve at the bottom of the electric water heater is very useful and also a safety device.
Do not block the leakage port of the pressure relief valve at will, and regularly check whether the pressure relief valve can work properly.
Small device, big safety!
Today's Kitchen Electrical Tips
Have you learned?
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