QUESTION FROM jtoddy25

I have an electric hot water heater and I just started to use the my wood stove. I noticed that the wood stove also has a line to heat the hot water. Ever since I started using the wood stove the pressure relief has been draining water into the bucket consistently. It drains about 2 gallons. Is this normal?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

jtoddy25:

I would suggest that you immediately stop using your wood stove to heat hot water, and have your system inspected by a qualified service technician.

The reason that your pressure relief valve is draining water is that your water lines are over-pressured. This is a typical risk of using a wood stove to heat domestic hot water. The water gets too hot from the wood stove, and when it over-heats it raises the pressure too high in the pipes, which is why your pressure relief valve is opening up to let off the excess pressure, that is, draining the water out that you are seeing.

If your pressure relief valve fails, the high pressure steam that builds up in your hot water system can potentially even cause your pipes to burst.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com