In my condo, I have what appears to be a water relief valve of some sort right after my water inlet pipe. It's after the water cutoff valve. It's not the water heater relief valve. It has a leak, not bad, just a drip right now. It looks like a half baseball sticking out of the main inlet pipe with a bolt in the center of it. I've tried to tighten it but that makes the leak worse. First, what is this. Second, Is there an obvious fix to this. Third, if I have to get it replaced, what model/manufacturer can I get so that this doesn't happen for a long while. My plumbing is short of fifteen years old.
It sounds like a pressure reducing valve. As you tighten that bolt it increases the pressure and made it leak more.It's probably not any good. I think if you go to a home center you'll find one . probably a Watts brand. They seem to be more prolific. Not hard to change.
Sounds like a pressure regulator, cause, relief valves don't have a bolt, they have a lever. If, it is the regulator, and its leaking, it needs to be replaced. Good luck with that.
It sounds like a cold water relief valve, also known as a thermal expansion valve. It leaks when your city pressure exceeds 100psi (factory setting) or the set pressure. Code requires pressure to be below 80 psi. A Watts 530C will do the trick. It is adjustable. It will cost you about $30.00 - $40.00 + labor to remove old install new. If it is a pressure reducing valve, a new one will cost about $125.00. It lowers your pressure when it exceeds max allowable per the plumbing code, 80 psi here in Florida. I use the Watts 1 25AUB-Z3 Pressure Reducing Valve for these applications and set it at 60 psi.
