We have had our hot-water cylinder replaced along with the pressure reducing valve a few months ago. I turned down the temperature to 55 to save power and now the hot pressure is changeable. Sometimes the shower drips, sometimes its ok but now nothing is coming out. I have been fiddling with the pressure reducing valve trying to get it right but several hours later its changed. I want to have the lowest pressure possible so the tank will last longer, last time the tank was bulging out of its casing and subsequently started leaking. In the past we have had water dripping out from the relief valve pipe everyday, but I suspect now its not happening since I turned down the temperature. I have been reading things on thermal expansion how a water cylinder needs 3L/12m of pipe to expand. Do I need to fiddle with the relief valve to get the correct pressure?

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/q-and-a-hot-water-cylinders/44/low-hot-water-pressure/597/

Mate, there is a reason why the temperature is set to 65 - 70 deg that's to prevent bacteria growing in your tank. I don't know how long ago you set it to 55 deg, but if longer then 3 weeks then that's why you now have diarrhoea  . I strongly recommend not to play around with the thermostat as it could be that you have already damaged it. Please call a local certifying plumber to have a look at it and I'm sure he will sort the problem for you. By the way if you damaged that thermostat it will not be covered by your warranty.

Plumber

Ooh my god...WTF!...ROFL...well at least you cant put him down on his williness to be a stingy bas**rd("I turned down the temperature to 55 to save power")... and put his family and house at risk!.

"Do I need to fiddle with the relief valve to get the correct pressure? "...Na mate you need to fiddle with your phone and ring a real professional fiddler called a plumber...you have already broken the law by turning your cylinder below 60 degrees celisus and also have in doing so provided the right enviroment for the legionella bacteria to grow endangering you and your family!. I sugesst you do some reading on that!

"In the past we have had water dripping out from the relief valve pipe everyday"...BUT when i capped the valve it stopped leaking all good now ROFL...But now the "tank was bulging out of its casing and subsequently started leaking."...hahahahahahahaha.

Mate you are a classic...

Hey PLUMBER you should start up a "F**ked up Questions from idiots that are a danger to themselvs thread!."

No insult to the poster intended just you arnt even close to getting things right.

I am not a plumber so I had no idea what all these parts did. After talking to a plumber friend he explained everything it to me.

@Thunderhead, you have quoted me wrong and taken my post out of order. To make things clear I had the old water cylinder replaced 12 months ago, it was leaking and bulging due to the previous owners neglect/too much pressure/worn parts who knows. Everything was replaced incl NEFA pressure reducing valve by a local company. Asked them to check the relief valve and they said it was all good. The 55deg comes from various sources on the trademe forum, yes I know, one the worst places to ask, especially when they are a bunch of DIY guys.

I originally thought that the relief valve could be adjusted but after having a look at it today and reading about it discovered its just a preset device to provide necessary water head. Mine is a common NEFA set at 7.6m. I did not cap the overflow pipe like thunderhead said, in my mind this could cause a explosion. I did not touch it. However like our last one cylinder (previous owners) it expanded to the point where microholes were forming causing the leaks (as said by the plumber). However as people have said the more serious risk is the bacteria.

I just thought I could help save power in Christchurch(not because I am a cheap arse), there are alot of people worse off than our family. Some are still without power and water.

I am not a plumber so I had no idea what all these parts did. After talking to a plumber friend he explained everything it to me.

@Thunderhead, you have quoted me wrong and taken my post out of order. To make things clear I had the old water cylinder replaced 12 months ago, it was leaking and bulging due to the previous owners neglect/too much pressure/worn parts who knows. Everything was replaced incl NEFA pressure reducing valve by a local company. Asked them to check the relief valve and they said it was all good. The 55deg comes from various sources on the trademe forum, yes I know, one the worst places to ask, especially when they are a bunch of DIY guys.

I originally thought that the relief valve could be adjusted but after having a look at it today and reading about it discovered its just a preset device to provide necessary water head. Mine is a common NEFA set at 7.6m. I did not cap the overflow pipe like thunderhead said, in my mind this could cause a explosion. I did not touch it. However like our last one cylinder (previous owners) it expanded to the point where microholes were forming causing the leaks (as said by the plumber). However as people have said the more serious risk is the bacteria.

I just thought I could help save power in Christchurch(not because I am a cheap arse), there are alot of people worse off than our family. Some are still without power and water.

Yea i know i took some of your post out of context mate and for this i appoligise...i was just poking some fun at your post...so im sorry i took it out of context.

...BUT you have illegially without the correct qualifications or knowledge tried to do your own work because you dont want to pay the correctly qualified person to do the job in the correct manner!!!(which only means MONEY SAVED!.) which i will never excuse myself for!...The 55 degrees you talk about from trade me is all about the continous gas/electric water heating units...WHICH IS NOT A HOT WATER STORAGE CYLINDER!...as the water is heated on DEMAND! and therefore most of the units are safety set to deliver water NOT hotter than 55 degrees...like i say mate your out of your depth and i dislike it when people such as your self DEVALUE my trade by thinking you know what your doing...and in doing so you take money from my familys mouth!...look at it this way you wouldnt like it if i side stepped your line of work(taking money from you!) trying to do things myself cus i was too stingy to employ the correct proffesional to do the right job!

And im glad you did talk to someone with a bit more indepth knowledge...

But again no insult intended mate this is only my personal view so please dont be offended by what i have said.