If the valve was calibrated to the wrong set pressure, it could simply be releasing early. If your system isn’t reaching pressure, this could be a sign of pressure relief valve failure. Here are 3 signs of pressure relief valve failure to watch out for when you’re troubleshooting your facility’s system: System Cannot Reach Pressure

That said, pressure relief valves can and do fail, and it’s important to be able to recognize the signs in order to quickly solve the problem, and keep your facility safe. When maintained properly, a pressure relief valve can stay in service for up to 30 years, and if you’ve been having your valves tested regularly, it’s likely that there’s something else in your system that’s to blame. If a pressure relief valve experiences failure, is releasing pressure before a system reaches maximum pressure, or is constantly leaking or chattering, it’s always best to assume that there’s something wrong with the system. Isolating valves must not be located between the heat source in the system and the relief valve.In the manufacturing industry, we’re taught to look at the big picture when it comes to troubleshooting. Thus, relief valve blowdown will occur regularly in hot-water production. The rising pressure will therefore result in blowdown from the relief valve. It is not possible to have expansion in this system, as the hot-water tank intake is protected against backflow by a non-return valve. When water is no longer being drained, the temperature in the tank will rise again as it is heated. When water is drained from a hot-water tank, the water temperature will fall. In heating and cooling systems, blowdown from the relief valve will therefore only occur when a failure in the expansion tank system occurs.Ī relief valve is also used in the production of domestic hot water.

The relief valve is fitted with a pre-set release pressure, equivalent to the highest operating pressure within a system plus an additional amount for safety purposes.

A weak link, in the form of a relief valve, is built into the system to protect against failure of this function. In heating and cooling systems, this additional volume is stored in an expansion tank. The liquid in a closed system changes volume when the temperature of the liquid changes. Pressure safety valves, or pressure relief valves, are used to protect against the build-up of excessive pressure in a closed system.

Pressure release valve