What does it mean when your faucet water is smoking?

Steam, Not Smoke

If you see what appears to be smoke coming from your faucet, don’t worry. It is likely not smoke — it is most likely steam. Steam that appears to be smoke can arise from faucets when hot water is running if there is a problem with your water heater. There are a few possible reasons for hot water to “smoke” from your faucet.

Too Much Pressure in the Water Heater

The most likely reason hot water is steaming when it comes out of the faucet is that the pressure relief valve on the water heater has failed and the pressure is too high.

The pressure relief valve is designed to release pressure when the water reaches a certain temperature. When the valve is working correctly, it will release water to lower the pressure and then close again. However, if the valve is not working properly, it may not release water at the right time, which can cause the pressure in the water heater to build up too much.

When the pressure in the water heater is too high, it can force hot water out of the faucet at a higher speed and temperature. This can cause the water to vaporize into steam when it comes out of the faucet.

Broken Dip Tube

Another possible reason hot water is steaming from your faucet is a broken dip tube. The dip tube is a pipe in the water heater that brings cold water into the tank and helps mix the hot and cold water.

When the dip tube is broken, cold water can rise to the top of the water heater and mix with the hot water, which can cause the water to become too hot and vaporize into steam when it comes out of the faucet.

Faulty Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve

There is also a faulty temperature and pressure relief valve that can cause your faucet water to appear to be steaming. If this valve is not working correctly, it can fail to release excess pressure or temperature from the water heater, causing the water to become too hot and steam to escape from the faucet.

If you are not comfortable diagnosing and repairing the problem yourself, you should contact a qualified plumber to have them look at the problem and fix it.