Water Heater T&P Valve Water Discharge Help

[virgamanda]

I have a Rheem 50 gallon electric water heater that I have had a problem with few a few weeks now. I have lived here for two years with no problems. All of a sudden the t&p valve began discharging a small amount of water(about a gallon a week). I have replaced the valve twice, replaced both thermostats and elements and it is still discharging about the same amount of water. I have both thermostats set at 125 degrees and thats what it reads coming out of the faucet. I dont know what else to do. What else could be causing this. Could this be a pressure issue coming into the house? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[phishfood]

Did the municipality just install backflows on the water service by chance? When you use hot water, it is replaced by cold water. When the cold water heats up, it takes up slightly more room. If there is no place for the excess pressure that this creates to go, the T&P valve will end up releasing.

 

[joey_vega7]

Sounds like you may need to install a small thermal expansion tank on the cold line just after your shut off valve to the water heater, you will most likely fix the problem by doing this,