Water expands as it heats. If a check valve or another device prevents that water from flowing back toward the supply, pressure can rise inside the home unless the system can absorb the expansion. Dripping from a relief discharge pipe after a heating cycle is one reason to have the system checked.
Keep the discharge path open
Leave the relief valve and discharge pipe unobstructed. Note where the water comes out, whether it is occasional or continuous, and when the heater last ran. Keep clear of hot discharge and arrange prompt service for a steady release or signs of overheating.
Ask what caused the pressure rise
A technician can check supply pressure, the expansion tank if fitted, and the relief valve itself. Replacing a dripping valve alone may leave a pressure problem unresolved. Ask what was measured and how the repair will be verified.
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