PTR Valve is Leaking - Solar hot water system troubleshooting advice

Is your solar hot water system leaking, costing you money and wasting precious hot water? You may have an issue with your pressure and temperature release (PTR) valve.

What is a pressure and temperature release (PTR) valve?

All hot water systems have a PTR valve. It is a safety feature which enables the system to release steam and hot water when the pressure or temperature inside the unit builds up too high, preventing it from exploding.

Problem

It is normal for PTR valves to leak slightly during water heating cycles. However, excessive amounts of hot water overflowing from your PTR valve can be a sign that your system needs repairs.

Symptoms

Things to look for:

• water dribbling or flowing down the roof into your gutters.
• Water is trickling or flowing down via a drain line attached to outside wall ( or concealed in cavity and protruding out near bottom of wall.
• If a lot of water is overflowing from the system, you may have no hot water or only lukewarm water (as it passes through the system before it has time to heat up).
• Steaming hot water pouring out of the PTR valve.

Diagnosis

An overflowing PTR valve usually indicates one of two issues:

1. The seal on your PTR valve has failed. When the PTR valve opens up, small particles of sand and grit pass through it. As the valve closes back down, these small particles can become trapped. When the valve activates again, the grit is flushed out leaving pits in the seat. When the valve closes again, these pits prevent it from sealing properly.
   Most solar hot water system manufacturers recommend having your PTR valve checked every six months. If the seal on your PTR valve fails, it will need to be replaced.
2. There is an issue with your system’s thermostat. The thermostat on your solar hot water system is designed to shut off once it has reached 60°C - 65°C. If the thermostat element keeps heating the water and the temperature exceeds 99°C, the PTR valve will activate, expelling steaming hot water to regulate the temperature.

If your system regularly releases significant volumes of steaming hot water it could mean that:

• the system is over specified for your household’s needs,
• it’s the peak of the summer and the hot weather means your system is over efficient; or
• the thermostat has jammed on and is faulty.

We recommend you have the thermostat and element checked to determine if they are causing the PTR to overflow.

Solution – Same Day Hot Water can help

If you experience any of these problems with your solar hot water system, Same Day Hot Water can fix it. When you book your solar hot water system repairs with us, we’ll send an experienced and licenced plumber to diagnose the issue. They’ll then provide the best and most cost effective solution for you.

Book your 5 year solar hot water service today

Most hot water system manufacturers recommend you have your system serviced every five years. If you’ve owned your system for a few years, we also recommend you have it serviced to ensure it is operating as powerfully and efficiently as possible.

As part of our 5 year solar hot water service we:

• replace the PTR valve
• replace the sacrificial anode
• check and amp draw test the electric booster
• check the function and clean the filter on in-line gas booster
• check fluid levels where applicable
• clean and maintain the solar collector glass; and
• provide a solar check list condition report.

Fill out the form below to have your system serviced for just $275 (for a single story metropolitan home). Or call us on 1300 683 701 to speak with one of our customer service representatives about your solar hot water system problems today.