Why Water Leaks from a Water Heater's Safety Valve: Debunking Myths

When water begins to drip from the opening of a water heater’s safety valve, it often causes concern among homeowners. Many people perceive this as a sign of a malfunction and try to «fix» the problem on their own. However, in the vast majority of cases, this is not a malfunction but a normal part of the operation.

Why does this happen?

A storage water heater works by heating a large volume of water. According to the laws of physics, water expands when heated. In a closed system, this inevitably leads to an increase in internal pressure.

When the pressure in the tank reaches a critical level, the safety valve opens to release excess water, thereby preventing damage to the boiler’s inner tank. In other words, the presence of water droplets indicates that the safety mechanism is working properly and performing its function effectively.

FADO BK01 Relief Valve: Reliable Protection for Your Equipment

To ensure the safety of storage water heaters, FADO offers a safety valve BK01. This device is set to activate at a pressure of 6 bar, which is the optimal value for residential water supply systems.

Technical advantages of the BK01 valve:

• Materials: The housing is made of high-quality nickel-plated brass, which ensures durability and corrosion resistance.

• Stability: The operating pressure at which the device activates is set at 6 bar, which meets the technical requirements of most household water heaters.

• Ease of installation: The presence of internal and external threads makes it easy to integrate the device into the water heater's connection system.

Important Safety Precautions

Engineering systems do not tolerate negligence, which is why there are strict rules for operating safety valves:

1. Prohibition on replacement: Safety valve strictly prohibited Do not replace it with a plug, a ball valve, or any other fitting that does not have a pressure relief function. This could cause the boiler tank to rupture and flood the room.

2. Professional installation: The valve is a key safety component. It must be installed strictly in accordance with the water heater manufacturer's instructions.

3. Maintenance: Although a valve is a passive safety device, it must always remain accessible for visual inspection.

If you have any doubts about whether the valve is working properly—for example, if water is leaking constantly or the system pressure is significantly higher than normal—we recommend that you contact a professional.

For advice on selecting equipment or for reliable products, please contact official FADO dealers or specialty DIY stores in your city.

FADO — The safety of your engineering systems is our priority.