Copper, glavanized steel, CPVC, and PEX or PE-RT are all approved. For some reason, the installer of the water heater shown below decided that the TPR drain piping needed a vent pipe.ġ1) Pipe should be of approved materials. Nothing should impede or split the direction of the flow. Threading at the end appears to make it acceptable.ġ0) No valves or tee-fittings in the piping. Multiple instances of water heater explosions have been caused by a handyman capping the end of a nuisance drip from TPR piping. The example shown below, with the pipe almost touching the floor, will impede the water flow and cause it to splash upwards.ĩ) Must not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping. Again, for safety of anyone nearby when it goes off. ![]() A trapped TPR dischage pipe is a common defect when a replacement water heater’s TPR valve is lower than the original one, and the installer connects to the exisitng discharge piping at the wall.Ĩ) Termination of the TPR drain pipe cannot be more than 6-inches, or less than two pipe diameters, above the floor, ground, or waster receptor flood rim level. ![]() Because this stagnant water could sit for months and possibly drain backwards into the tank if the TPR valve is opened manually and there is no water pressure at the time, introducing bacteria into the tank, the pipe must completely drain by gravity. A plumbing “trap" is a part of a pipe where water remains in place after gravity has drained the rest of the water. Also, sometimes the valve fails by opening partially and leaking a continuous small stream of hot water, like the one shown below, under an older mobile home.ħ) The piping must drain by gravity and not be trapped. If the water heater thermostat fails to turn off at its temperature setting and continues to heat the water indefinitely, the TPR valve will open and let the overheated water out but, if the termination of the piping is not readily visible-such as if it is located under the house-the water will continue to drain until the homeowner gets an amazing electric or gas bill and goes searching for the reason. When there is no TPR discharge piping, or it terminates horizontally, anyone unlucky enough to standing in front of the water heater when the valve opens will be severely burned.Ħ) Must terminate in a location that is readily observable by the occupants of the home. ![]()
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