[mindybeth]

I'm hoping someone will recognize these symptoms and help me out. My husband would never dream of asking someone and I can't afford for him to "wing it" First about two days ago I noticed an increase in the water pressure in my entire house, wrote it off to good luck for a change. Then this afternoon found water pooling near my water heater in my garage also notices that my hot water seems hotter than is was before. Now I can't turn the water off in my kitchen sink. I'm thinking these oddities must be related somehow, please tell me someone knows one problem that would create all of these symptoms.....then tell me I don't need a plumber and that my husband can do it. :help:

 

[faucetman886]

YOU NEED A PLUMBER, YOUR HUSBAND CANT DO IT.
Sounds like you have a stuck thermostat on your hot water heater or an element(if the HWH is electric) that is frying out. The water pooling is likely where your temperature and pressure relief valve has blown off and drained some of the pressure build up. The hot water out of control is the overheating caused by the thermostat or element which caused the T&P valve to pop. It is very important that you get this checked, especially if you are still experiencing high pressure in your water lines. Your T&P valve may now not be working and can cause the HWH to explode. Turn the HWH off and call a professional. As to the faucet problem may of the valves in faucets can be damaged or react with high pressure exerted on them.
Good Luck

 

[Just Bill]

If the increased water pressure is only on the hot side, I agree the water heater is at fault. If the cold side also has increased pressure, that is a different issue, but the heater could still have problems. The safety valve on the heater is for "T"-temp&"P"-pressure. One or the other can cause it to operate. Check the actual temp of the hot water, ideally it should not be much over 125 deg.

Increased water pressure, over 60-70 lbs, will cause lots of things to happen to plumbing, valves washers failing, toilets runnig, T&P valves opening or leaking. Are you on city water or a well?? If city and this is a new problem, call the water company. If a well, there is a valves in the tank that requlates the pressure and that could be a problem.

 

[breid]

prv

if both side are to high you might want to get your pressure reducing valve looked at by a plumber. if only hot, shut off water heater then call plumber. breid

 

[Yoyizit]

then tell me . . .that my husband can do it. :help:

He can do it, at a level of risk that depends on his knowledge, skills and abilities.
What are his knowledge, skills and abilities?

You may want to Google "boiler explosion".

 

[micromind]

If you're on city water, there's a good chance that the pressure regulator has failed. Almost all city water mains have higher pressure than needed, and regulators are installed on laterals.

The reason for the higher pressure is to keep pipe sizes smaller (reduces installation cost), keep the flow rate higher (reduces sediment), and to provide enough water at enough pressure for firefighting.

If the regulator has failed, the resulting higher pressure will make it seem like hotter water when in reality it's just more of the same temperature water.

The pooling of water around the water heater is because that's the only place there's a pressure relief valve. If the relief valve opens due to high pressure, it'll usually seal back when the pressure is lower.

The other scenario, as described above, is that the water heater has failed to shut off. If so, it'll certainly cause the relief valve to open, and it'll usually trip the high temperature limit. This can be confirmed by having no hot water after a while. If the relief valve opens due to high temperature, it doesn't re-seal. Water keeps coming out. The relief valve opens at 210 F. Was the hotter water that much hotter?

If the pressure regulator has failed, find out who owns it. Usually the city does, and if so, they'll fix it free of charge.

Rob

 

[Plumber101]

YOU NEED A PLUMBER, YOUR HUSBAND CANT DO IT.
Sounds like you have a stuck thermostat on your hot water heater or an element(if the HWH is electric) that is frying out. The water pooling is likely where your temperature and pressure relief valve has blown off and drained some of the pressure build up. The hot water out of control is the overheating caused by the thermostat or element which caused the T&P valve to pop. It is very important that you get this checked, especially if you are still experiencing high pressure in your water lines. Your T&P valve may now not be working and can cause the HWH to explode. Turn the HWH off and call a professional. As to the faucet problem may of the valves in faucets can be damaged or react with high pressure exerted on them.
Good Luck

Right on the money your water heater thermostat sencing bulb is more than likely caked up with calicum which acts as an insulator and the bulb thinks the water is colder than what it really is..Simply put replace the water heater..

The reason you have high water pressure is as temp increases pressure increases and expandes to the hot and water cold feed to the WH and thank goodness the TPV is working.
THIS IS SERIOUS.

Watch this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGWmONHipVo&feature=PlayList&p=rNT01AMikEs