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Don’t Bogart that drain my friend…..

I have been accused of being “clever” myself on occasion, so I tend to recognize it when I see it. When it comes to home repairs being clever can be a good thing---but without enough information it can be dangerous. Typical TPRV

Take TPRV drains for example.

There is a TPRV (Temperature, Pressure Relief Valve) on every water heater. It should have a drain on it that runs to an appropriate location without running up hill. While these valves may harmlessly leak a little water now and then, they are designed as a safety relief valve where tremendous amounts of very hot water may need to be drained away in a hurry.

The installation of the drain termination pictured below (copper pipe entering from the top, right) will likely be satisfactory for minor leaking of the TPRV, but it will not be satisfactory in an explosive relief of pressure. Very hot water would likely be sprayed everywhere in the room before it found its way into the drain with a washing machine hose stuck in it.

TPRV drain terminated at the laundry hook-up

The odd thing about this installation is that it would have been way easier to have routed the drain to a more appropriate location.

Charles Buell

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PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

DeCroe, is my "ethereal" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.

Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group

PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

DeCroe, is my "ethereal" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector on 10/13/2009 10:10 AM

Comments (23)

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Originally posted at: Seattle Home Inspector's Blog: Don’t Bogart that drain my friend…..

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23 Comments on Don’t Bogart that drain my friend…..

OCT

Quackers

Don't bogart that drain? And it was just yesterday, my friend, that you did not think I was paying attention. Kate

Kate, so glad to see that you are more awake than me today:)

What do you mean? Half the day is over.

Kate

PS Everybody sing along this time!

Charles - I so need a guy like you to "make over" my house. It was built in 1930 and I severly lack in the handy department.

Charles, sounds a bit dangerous. I wouldn't want to be the person standing near the washer when that explosive sprays initiates. I had to go look on my own water heater to see what you talking about. Great information!

Kate---no way---can't be

Jason, what you could do is move to the NW:)

Jan, I love the visual of everyone scurrying around their homes looking for TPRV's. My friend Barbara Duncan from Arkansas is used to it:)

Hello Charles, you seem to be a magnet for these strange and dysfunctional installations. Thanks for sharing! John

Charles, That just appears to be painful if some is washing clothes at the time it decides to blow, heaven forbid!
Tuesday, is for new opportunities...
Paul

John,----probably like most inspectors:)

Paul---a new type of "steam bath"

Well Charles, I didn't have to make this run either. Water heater in crawl space, properly vented to outside... out and down as a matter of fact. Plus, I've always kept my water heaters on the low side. I don't know exactly what the temperature is set on, but it doesn't scald. Had that happen to a child in my family years and years ago... it's just a thing with me.

"I have been accused of being "clever" myself on occasion"

Mr Charles,

As one who knows you, I would never accuse you of that, not never, not once. You are not all that cleaver.

Nutsy

Tammy---I had one that was 150 degrees the other day----way too hot.

Nutsy, be careful around them "cleavers" my furry little nemesis. Didn't you do a stint in the circus on one of those spinning wheels with the knife thrower? Just thinking about the missing ears is all.

Well Charles, only sometimes his ears are missing. He craves attention that badly.

We just came across one that had a rubber garden style hose attached to the TPRV.....As a representative of the buyer on this transaction, we asked for it to be changed.

Great job with the "Little Feat" reference in the title Charles!

Kate, I know you will find this as no surprise but she has "falsies":)

Craig, thanks---sounds like someone needed to be beat with a hose:)

Water heaters again?? I'm tired of the hustling. I see TPRV drains in my sleep. : )

Barbara, I am sure you count water heaters instead of sheep:)

OCT

Mr Charles,

The judge would like proof that anyone anywhere ever called you cleaver. Mrs Kate is hardly support for your cause. She cannot even grasp the concept of ears being tucked under a cap. Duhhhh

Nutsy