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Another Close, But No Cigar, Job

Below is an electric water heater with an installation that is close to right. But close is not good enough. There is a temperature pressure relief valve and the drain line from it is even routed down and out of the home. And the lower section of the drain is CPVC tubing which is a plastic that is approved for hot water. If you look at the vertical section that goes up to the valve, well that is plain old PVC. PVC works with cold water but is not approved for use with hot water and that includes at the TPR drain. This tank requires a qualified plumber to come in and upgrade the TPR drain. A TPR drain should be 3/4" pipe or plastic tubing and must be rated for hot water. Around here we see copper and CPVC in this application. Also, the drain cannot be a flexible tubing of any type, including copper flex that might be bent in a manner that would change, or get away from, the level to downward slope that is mandatory for safety. A TPR drain cannot go up for even one teeny weensy centimeter.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector on 04/17/2008 10:15 PM

Comments (4)

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4 Comments on Another Close, But No Cigar, Job

Enough with water heaters!! I'm wearing out the floor covering going in to check mine!!! LOL

04/17/2008 10:31 PM

by Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR (RE/MAX Advantage)

HHmmmm, That is a bummer. At least the PVC is white like the rest f the pipe and fashionably matches the water heater for style.

Sean Allen

04/18/2008 07:44 AM

by International Financing Solutions

There are SO many things that can be wrong with a water heater---we ought to be able to keep Barbara running for a long long time:)

04/18/2008 11:44 AM

by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com)

Flex TPR line going up! Hi Steve, I thought I would give you a photo of why flex lines for TPRs are not okay. With a little work this one could have been alright. The rigid section that goes into the wall is below the level of the TPR. Stupid, stupid stupid! . . . And yes, the unprotected romex is also not okay.

04/21/2008 12:36 AM

by David Helm, Bellingham,Wa. Home Inspector (Helm Home Inspections)

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