Can someone help explain what this is?
Small apartment gas water heater. Only 3 years old, no previous issues.
On the cold water inlet side, between the heater and the shutoff valve, there is some kind of valve (a white plastic insert with a white corss-shaped knob) in the elbow where the pipe enters the tank. See pictures.
Water started spraying out after something heavy fell on the heater and probably hit the white knob. Water spraying out was hot. After shutting off the inlet valve, the leak stopped (presumably when the pressure subsided.) Then, after turning on the inlet valve, NO MORE LEAK!!
What is this thing and what happened? Can someone explain?
Small apartment gas water heater. Only 3 years old, no previous issues.
On the cold water inlet side, between the heater and the shutoff valve, there is some kind of valve (a white plastic insert with a white corss-shaped knob) in the elbow where the pipe enters the tank. See pictures.
Water started spraying out after something heavy fell on the heater and probably hit the white knob. Water spraying out was hot. After shutting off the inlet valve, the leak stopped (presumably when the pressure subsided.) Then, after turning on the inlet valve, NO MORE LEAK!!
What is this thing and what happened? Can someone explain?