| Above is an illustration of an [American Standard] electric water heater installed with a drain pan - notice the relief valve discharge pipe routing. (3) The discharge pipe cannot be readily plugged or otherwise obstructed. Water heater rocket myth: Mythbusters water heater explosion video produced in 2007, web search Sept 25 2010, original source: Both of these installations are improper and unsafe. In my opinion, the safest design, especially where we're avoiding a very dangerous catastrophe (BLEVE) is the simplest one with fewest parts that need to work to protect the building and its occupants. - white plastic discharge tube not to code? There is water FLOWING from the DISCHARGE TUBE on my Triangle Tube, indirect fired water heater. Watch out: a discharge tube is required on TP valves to avoid scalding burn hazards. 7/11/2013. 5 (f) The discharge pipe for a water heater shall terminate within the same room or enclosure within which the water heater or hot water storage tank is located. 3. The temperature steam rating of a combination temperature and pressure relief valve or valves shall equal or exceed the energy input rating in BTU per hour of the water heater. My new tankless water heater is in a place in my basement (finished) where there is no floor drain. 2022/01/12. Watch out: in our OPINION this installation may not be safe nor reliable in all water heater installations. On 2020-02-21 by Eleni thanks. That passage of water leaves scale that ultimately blocks the valve. As you can see from the example I give below, a typical residential boiler relief valve costs less than $100. Recently we replaced our 14 year old Ultra 310 Boiler with a new Evergreen 399 Boiler. (happened already). We now have a new Evergreen Boiler and the copper was removed and replaced with a blue plastic discharge tube. Be installed so as to flow by gravity. I am in the process of selling a condo I own. That would mostly eliminate the need to dry the pipe out, or at least reduce the consequence. may discharge through the cover of a clear water sump so as not In our OPINION that is an unsafe and questionable relief valve design in that any TPR that drains "up" is at risk of ultimately depositing mineral salts that can lead to the valve refusing to open in response to an over-temperature or over-pressure condition in the boiler, risking a catastrophic BLEVE explosion. Really? My client burst into tears. To "stop" an annoying boiler drip at the pressure temperature relief valve, the mechanic installed a short length of pipe capped by a drain valve which he could simply shut. Water heater video #2, Mythbusters exploding water heater demonstration, a 50 gallon water tank explosion, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. You might detect a clogged pigtail drain on an upwards-piped relief valve drain during an annual test of the TPR valve: the valve is opened to discharge and then closed; afterwards you should see a small volume of water exiting from the pigtail drain as the remaining water in the up-piped larger diameter TPR discharge tube drains out through the pigtail. The small diameter and flow resistance of the coiled tubing causes any significant volume of TPR valve discharge to be routed up through the vertical TPR valve drain line from the tee, and the combination of tee and short copper nipple connected to the wound copper tubing are probably intended to prevent standing water or debris accumulation at the mouth of the TPR valve itself. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. Such scale might easily clog the small-diameter copper pigtail "drain" tubing itself, leading to a relief valve malfunction. I can't say that I understand it nor what that pigtail is doing as shown in the illustration (though I make some guesses) - what is it? The photos above illustrates this unsafe installation practice: a 1/2" copper tube has been installed through a reducing fitting into the mouth or piping of a 3/4" diameter TPR valve. Perhaps if I explain the concern in my own words it will be more clear:The temperature/pressure relief valve on a water heater is connected to a drain line so that if the valve opens someone nearby is not shot in the face with hot water. U.S. An hour of plumber's time to install the tube costs $50. OPINION: If the small diameter pigtail drain clogs the homeowner will never know it. OTHER PEOPLE's MONEY, On 2021-01-18 by (mod) Here we describe the installation specifications for TPR valve drain line piping and we include an extensive list of discharge tube installation or condition defects, most of which are unsafe. A "P" Trap could be installed about 10" under the T&P. I looked through the code book (IRC) and can't find any where that states it must be mechanically attached. Water trapped in the discharge line may cause the T & P Working together may make us smarter. Incidentally, that water heater insulation is not required and in some installations can be itself unsafe, e.g. 7.
Less dramatic but scary, at a different inspection I found that a string tied through a small hole in the end of the TPR valve's test lever. A water-heating device connected to a separate storage tank and having valves between said heater and tank shall be provided with an approved water pressure relief valve. (The concern is if the water overheats and turns to if the installation for my boiler said use 50psi and the tech put in 30psi relief valve. The plastic Reliance -brand T&P discharge pipe I show here is sold by plumbing suppliers locally and on-line for about $12. Thanks again for the head's up on the up-pigtailed TPR. Plastic discharge tube extensions may be unsafe if the plastic is a type that may deteriorate, melt, or rupture when exposed to hot water. A visible location, or if to a not-visible location, search Inspectapedia for TUNDISH and use one of those at the heater. Or where can I find it in writing? (Search InspectApedia.com for that term)Turn off the boiler to avoid damaging it. Smith Water Products Company - hotwater.com/lit/training/4800r9.pdf 800-433-2545 - 01/07/2009. [11] "Four hurt as water heater explodes", Elaine Porterfield, Paul Shukovsky, Lewis Kamb, [12] 4. The result over time could be that the valve becomes clogged and would then fail to open in a true emergency - risking, ultimately a dangerous BLEVE or water heater explosion.Watch out: ALSO, I suspect from the photo that your water heater has a discharge tube that directs the valve outlet into a wall and going to who knows where. While TPR valves may come with an instruction to test the valve annually, in five decades of building inspections of thousands of buildings we have not found more than a handful of building owners who ever test a relief valve nor even know of that requirement. The reasoning is simple: discharging the TPR tube end in a more-remote location increases the risk that a leak goes un-attended and the system becomes unsafe. Is there any requirement that the fitting and pipe extension is required to be made from copper? 4778* All about Deliming Coil-Type/Tube-Type Commercial Water Heaters and Hydronic Boilers *Normally supplied when ordering Part No. accordance with subs. Discharge pipe shall discharge independently by gravity through an air gap into the drainage system or outside of the building with the end of the pipe not exceeding 2 feet (610 mm) and not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the ground and pointing downwards. The house's main sewer line is right next to the water heater but about 28" above the base of the water heater (ie not a floor drain). Could the same be done with the condensate line? This looks to me like a "good idea" that has not yet seen long-term testing in real-world conditions. 4800 Rev. Practically - adding another messy detail, if your water heater sits in a drip or spill tray then the bottom of the discharge pipe will have to jog out and over and down to get past the outer edge of the drip tray, so the drip tray itself is going to space the heater and most of the discharge pipe a bit more-distant from the wall. When a relief valve continues to leak it may become damaged and then fail to operate when an unsafe pressure or temperature occurs. were told that the white plastic was not to code and should be replaced with copper. Doug. Only a complete fool would do what we found on this boiler. U.S. 4930 Motorized Deliming Pump Kit, [8] Rheem Electric Water Heater "Owners Guide and Installation Instructions", (Australian models) rheem.com.au/images/pdf/owners_dom-elec_121996C_0707.pdf, [10] 52 Questions and their Answers [about] Hot Water [Heaters, Explosions & Water Heater Safety], Watts Regulator Company (1973). Below the reducer from 3/4" to 1/2" was installed at the TPR valve opening. This is an unsafe condition as the operation of the temperature or pressure relief valve may be interfered with by the insulation and also because the valve cannot be inspected for evidence of leaks or failure. Temperature and pressure relief valves shall be installed so that the sensing element of the valve extends into the heater tank and monitors the temperature in the top 6 inches of the heater or tank.


Zurn Engineered Water Solutions, retrieved 12/23/12, original source: http://www.zurn.com/Pages/ProductsList.aspx?NodeKey=398872, [1] "Residential Electric Water Heater Installation Instructions and Use & Care Guide", American Water Heater Co., October 2001, American Water Heater Co., Johnson City, TN, [manufacturer of residential & commercial water heaters, also manufacturer of Polaris/Commercial water heaters], Tel: 800-999-9515, web search 1/12/2012, original source: americanwaterheater.com/support/manuals/res-elect.pdf [copy on file] [Technical review requested 1/25/2011], [2] ANSI Z21.22 - 1986, provides requirements for pressure/temperature relief valves I have a T&P that is just inserted into a PVC drain line that goes to the outdoors. (many handyman people could also do this job). (Probably the appropriate approach but rather difficult given rocky soil condition and distance.) 7 and 4813-100. Maybe to get it out of the way of a basketball or something. Take a look at where the TPR valve is connected to your water heater; if it's on a side (near the top of course) then you need working space for the valve. I much appreciate the discussion and polite well-intended argument. And depending on the kind of water heater and its fuel you will need to meet clearances from combustibles (that includes your wall). (Probably not permitted because it is above floor height?) Just how fast that unsafe condition occurs depends on variables including. So, which should it be? A water system containing storage water heating equipment shall be provided with an approved, listed, adequately sized combination temperature and pressure-relief valve, except for listed nonstorage instantaneous heaters having an inside diameter of not more than 3 inches (80 mm). They consider it legal under the California Plumbing Code, and thus not an AMMR, just an accepted method. Is there a legal option of looping the relief valve discharge tube up through the band board of my house so it can drain to the outside? Hi there just wondering why my TPR doesn't discharge at all and i tested it by lifting the lever and it was flowing freely outside and stopped when i released it back?Is that normal?Thanks. At left we see a typical TPR valve installation (by the author) including the vertical 3/4" copper drain piping that will discharge any T&P valve spillage to the floor. I like the pigtail approach because it offers a better chance for the owner to notice if there's a drip drip leak
You'd probably find these same instructions in the installation manual for the water heater.The COST for this repair should be no more than a simple plumbing service call and perhaps a few piping connections. The local waste piping serving a water heater temperature Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal injury or structural damage. (d) Safety devices: Water heaters shall be equipped with safety devices as specified in this paragraph. You said: "the cost to cure is trivial" Yes, but I'm thinking it might/should be a little more--based on the opinion of a couple of plumbers I've spoken with--and the tank's age. You can pipe a tp valve down and to a floor drain provided the end of the extension remains visible. The other solution to this same problem would be TPR's rated for two way immersion. It's a similar hazard to the one that occurs even in a down-piped TPR valve when the valve is constantly dripping or leaking. The indirect or local waste piping serving a water heater 13. Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca, Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, COMMONLY USED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODES, IRC 2009, WISCONSIN PLUMBING CODE, Chapter SPS 382, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION, SUPERVISION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF PLUMBING, CALIFORNIA 608.3 EXPANSION TANKS, AND COMBINATION TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE-RELIEF VALVES, CALIFORNIA 761. On 2020-07-15 by (mod) - can I just dump the T&P valve into a crawl space under a slab? The Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve or TPR Valve on any heated appliance that contains water, such as a heating boiler, hot water tank, water heater, water cylinder, must have a drain line or discharge tube properly installed, routed, and made of proper materials.


"T&P and ASME Safety Relief Valves", (2011), retreived 10 Dec 2012, original source: http://media.wattswater.com/PG-TP-ASME.pdf, In sum, a relief valve discharge tube that is not pointing downwards may become unsafe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmJoyuUJj2Q, [13] Compare the actual boiler pressure when leaks are seen with the valve rating. But I might not object to use of the same tubing connecting properly between a valve's discharge opening and a proper destination.
On 2019-11-11 by (mod) - is it ok for the TP valve to drip or leak? Those would be most helpful. Does TP valve on residential water heater use a p-trap - Xavier, No Xavier, the discharge from a TP valve should not be trapped it's discharge end should be visible. Pipe the T&P and condensate lines to a sump with a float to pump outside. 5 (a) The discharge pipe and fittings shall be made of a material acceptable for water distribution piping in accordance with s.Comm 84.30 (4) (e) 1. Smith's Form No. On 2020-07-15 by Doug H This except [adapted for clarity] from the Uniform Plumbing Code is excerpted from the U.S. state of Utah's adoption of the code: The [TPR valve] discharge piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperature-relief valve or combination valve shall: 1.
[3] Pounds of lime deposited vs. temperature and hot water usage: see Purdue Bulletin #74 (also provided by A.O. I think your photo of the water heater shows rust at its bottom; an old water heater and especially a rusty one that has suffered leaks over its life is at greater risk of bursting - a BLEVE explosion risk.
Be constructed of those materials indicated in Section P2906.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1. "A substantial amount of money" worries me. Call your service company as this is va safety concern. Discharge to the floor, to the pan serving the water heater or storage tank, to a waste receptor or to the outdoors. These loadings could affect or prevent the proper operation of the device including proper reclosure after operating, Most descriptions of safe and proper TPR valve discharge piping presume that there is no copper pigtail drain and will specify, "The discharge piping should be sloped from the outlet to facilitate drainage."
Every relief valve which is designed to discharge water or steam shall be connected to a discharge pipe. 5 (e) The discharge pipe shall be installed to drain by gravity flow to a floor served by a floor drain or to a receptor in accordance with s. Comm 82.33 (8).

The cost to cure is trivial: a few dollars in plumbing parts and, of course, the plumbers labor charge. Similarly, discharging a relief valve leakage or drip to a location where the leak or drip cannot be observed is a dangerous practice because the leak can go unnoticed, causing failure to recognize an unsafe condition. Where a hot-water storage tank or an indirect water heater is located at an elevation above the fixture outlets in the hot-water system, a vacuum relief valve that is in accordance with CSA Z21.22 shall be installed on the storage tank or heater. They don't seem to care to look as closely at things like temperature and pressure relief valves as your inspection website does--but I wish. 2. No, Gina that is NOT a safe nor an approved installation. It's way better than the method of putting a manual drain valve there, which of course will be left in the wrong position. Discharge piping connected to the device must be supported so as not to impart any loadings on the body of the device. from the TPR. temperature and pressure relief valve, water treatment device, There is a drop of water at the discharge tube mouth that may be telling us that this valve leaks - which risks valve clogging by mineral scale and again risking that it cannot work safely if called-on to do so. Her son, playing with friends in the basement, lost an eye when he and a pal opened the discharge lever on a heating boiler, scalding his face and ruining his left eye forever. I inferred from the product design in your photo that an engineer or someone had added a temperature sensor intended to detect spillage as heat and thus to act as a different method of shutting off an unsafe hot water heating appliance. Even though the discharge of water into an area may not, in your opinion, cause damage to the building, the point of discharge must be visible so that someone can spot trouble (leaks) before a catastrophe occurs. Example: here is an excerpt from Wisconsin's Plumbing Code ( WI Comm 82.40 (5) (d) (1) and (2) 1-5 (a-f)).
10. - Kevin 7/26/2011. The discharge pipe may not be threaded. This might have been installed on a system for other reasons, such as connecting a hose to permit easy draining of pressure off of the boiler through the TP valve. (Hellemans 2009). [6] A.O. When I spoke to the lead inspector in Berkeley CA they said they copied from San Jose CA. Terminate not more than 6 inches (152 mm) and not less than two times the discharge pipe diameter above the floor or waste receptor flood level rim. Not be directly connected to the drainage system. His son and friends liked to play steam boat. U.S.
to adversely affect floats by means of a fixed air gap installed in The discharge piping serving a pressure relief valve, temperature relief valve or combination thereof shall: 9. if you are an inspector or plumber who wants to be credited as a technical contributor I can add your contact info there.
Hi I would appreciate if you could advise where I should direct the relief valve pipe to.The 45 litre electric hot water unit is installed under the kitchen bench inside the cupboard in a unit.
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