Occasionally a home owner is lucky enough to get his water heater to turn into a missile, such as this home owner previously did.

It can be quite exciting if one's day is on the boring side. On the other hand, it can cause your days, weeks, months, and even year to be anything but boring as you begin salvage operations on your home and look for a new one.

I never know whether or not home owners do it on purpose, but perhaps purposefully not doing at least annual maintenance around the house means that they purposefully wanted to personally witness a missile launch since the economy precludes them from traveling to North Korea.

Recently I did an inspection where the TPR valve on the water heater (red arrow in picture) was leaking. There also were nine elbows (three indicated in the picture by yellow arrows) in the discharge pipe, and after the pipe went almost completely around the garage, traveling about 50 feet, it teminated a mere 17 feet from the water heater, definitely the longest discharge pipe I've ever seen.

The reason why the pipe traveled around the garage was because if it took the most direct route, it would have to go up and over the exterior side door to the garage, definitely a no-no. TPR discharge pipes should never go up, as I explained to my Client. I also told him all the problems and potential problems with a leaking TPR valve, all those elbows, and an extraordinarily long discharge pipe, and recommended that he have a licensed plumbing professional check the TPR valve and replace it if necessary, and shorten the pipe.

This morning's emails brought a note from my Client thanking me for taking the time to discuss the TPR valve and water heater with him because everything I said was confirmed by the "yellow thingy" that came with the new TPR valve (numbered items copied from his email):

1. "No restrictions in the discharge pipe.
2. "Discharge pipe must slope downward and terminate 6-12 inches from the ground or approved drain.
3. "No threads at the termination point.
4. "No more than 30 feet in length [my note: can vary by state codes].
5. "No more than four elbows [my note: can vary by manufacturer].
6. "The valve lever "MUST be operated AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR" to ensure that waterways are clear.
7. "TPR valves "should be inspected AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS."
8. "Failure to reinspect the valve couls result in unsafe temperature or pressure build-up which can result in serious injury or death and/or severe property damage.
9. "If discharge occurs, CALL A PLUMBER IMMEDIATELY."

I can only make four things of this email:

1. My Client listened to me as I was discussing the ramifications of the installation.
2. My Client followed my recommendation to have a plumber look at the installation.
3. My Client actually read the "yellow thingy" that came with his new TPR valve.
4. My Client was appreciative of my efforts on his behalf.

*****

Last week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. Happy Flag Day! (flags included) - 6/14/09
2. The air conditioner is still hibernating - 6/13/09
3. How does a cat know? - 6/13/09
4. "There were rodents in the attic...." - 6/12/09
5. Foto Friday: Ground squirrel invasion slide show - 6/12/09
6. It's only a fix depending on your viewpoint - 6/11/09
7. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): One-month old flamingo at the San Diego Zoo - 6/10/09
8. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Bottoms up! - 6/10/09
9. Refrigerator recall - Admiral, Amana, Crosley, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef, Maytag, Performa - 6/9/09
10. The house I want to inspect, but I'm not qualified - 6/8/09

Previous week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): Cat eyes - 6/7/09
2. Camera seller review - 6/6/09
3. Walter Andersen's Garden Nursery garden railroad - 6/5/09
4. Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Foto Friday - 6/5/09
5. Home inspectors could learn from the National Association of Realtors - 6/4/09
6. WWW (Worldless Wednesday with Words): San Diego Zoo cats have it made - 6/3/09
7. Another great Seller disclosure: "There's a leak by the chimney...." - 6/3/09
8. I love it when Clients follow up with me.... - 6/2/09
9. Manic Monday pop quiz: "There is a small roof leak...." - 6/1/09