International Association of Certified Home Inspectors

Rick Maday · #1 7/12/08, 8:21 PM

WH on 2nd floor.
TRP drain terminates above floor drain in pic 2.
In storage room in 1/2 bath downstairs.

James F. McKee · #2 7/12/08, 10:48 PM

hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Jae Williams · #3 7/12/08, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmckee

hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

What?...you don't know the words???

James F. McKee · #4 7/12/08, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

What?...you don't know the words???

speechless i guess Jae....what do You think about that picture....????

Dale Duffy · #5 7/12/08, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmaday

WH on 2nd floor.
TRP drain terminates above floor drain in pic 2.
In storage room in 1/2 bath downstairs.

Looks good too me Rick--------

Rick Maday · #6 7/12/08, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dduffy

Looks good too me Rick--------

Curious as to why they would run it all the way through the walls and down another floor when there is a floor drain in the room with the WH?

Jack L. Gilleland · #7 7/13/08, 2:09 AM

Because with the pressure from a TPR opening up and a grate on the Flr Drn, well Water Water everywhere.
Looks okay to me too.

Rick Maday · #8 7/13/08, 2:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgilleland

Because with the pressure from a TPR opening up and a grate on the Flr Drn, well Water Water everywhere.
Looks okay to me too.

Thanks for the responses.

I guess my biggest concern is that they wouldn't know (couldn't see) if it was discharging.

Also, don't know if it makes a difference but there was no grate on the upstaird Flr Drain.

Rick Maday · #9 7/13/08, 3:06 AM

Bold is what concerns me

Quote:

Originally Posted by TPR mini-course

The following recommendations regarding TPR discharge pipes are based largely on the 2006 International Residential Code P2803.61 as well as other building and plumbing codes.
The discharge piping serving a TPR valve should:

Be constructed of an approved material such as CPVC, copper, polyethylene, galvanized steel, polybutylene, polypropylene, or stainless steel.
Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve it serves (usually no smaller than 3/4").
Shall not reduce in size from the valve to the air gap (point of discharge).
Be as short and as straight as possible so as to avoid undue stress on the valve.
Be installed so as to drain by flow of gravity.
Not be trapped since standing water may become contaminated and backflow into the potable water.
Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor, or to the outdoors.
Not be directly connected to the drainage system to prevent backflow of potentially contaminating the potable water.
Discharge through a visible air gap (atmosphere) in the same room as the water heater.
Be first piped to an indirect waste receptor through an air gap located in a heated area when discharging to the outdoors in areas subject to freezing, since freezing water could block the pipe.
Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above the floor or waste receptor.
Discharge in a manner that could not cause scalding.
Discharge in a manner that could not cause structural or property damage.
Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by occupants because discharge indicates that something is wrong.
Be piped independent of other equipment drains, water heater pans, or relief valve discharge piping to the point of discharge.
Not have valves anywhere.
Not have tee fittings.
Not have a threaded connection at the end of the pipe so as to avoid capping.

David P. Valley · #10 7/13/08, 7:33 AM

I see these type of PTR valve installations in Condos.

I simply explain to my clients, why I like to see the PTR termination and note that the PTR valve can not be monitored.

Definitely make a note about the elbows in the PTR extension pipes.

cbottger · #11 7/13/08, 3:33 PM

Rick yours is not as cute as mine this one terminated within the shower stall just in case one needed an extra boost of good hot water

Multiple problems with this one installed by the local Drunk. Installed within an open area of the bathroom PVC on the relief valve into the shower stall, copper whip to the control valve no manual shut off at the appliance and single wall flue vent into the attic with no clearance to combustibles</IMG></IMG></IMG>

Russel Ray · #12 7/13/08, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmaday

Bold is what concerns me

4. Be as short and as straight as possible so as to avoid undue stress on the valve.
9. Discharge through a visible air gap (atmosphere) in the same room as the water heater.
14. Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by occupants because discharge indicates that something is wrong.

I would love it if that were the case here, but most, if not all, manufacturers approve of 4-6 90° angles. I guess that's "as straight as possible."
Rarely in new construction do I see the pipe terminating in the same room as the water heater. They now route them outside, which I don't like because of #14. Nonetheless, every AHJ in every city here approves of them being terminated outside.

Joseph Tribuzio · #13 7/13/08, 10:59 PM

Typical condo weirdness...
At one of my recent condo inspections in a well known large chicago building ( that looks like a setr of corn cobbs), I found the small tank water heaters TPR discharge was a copper flex ( kinked too) that was routed up to disharge into the small ss kitchen sink through what looked like the soap dispenser spigot. Of course i called it out as extremely dangerous and amateurish installation. It appears that every unit in this massive building that was converted was done this way.

I alerted the city plumbing inspectors office. They were pretty shocked and glad i called.

ccurrins · #14 7/13/08, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtribuzio

Typical condo weirdness...
At one of my recent condo inspections in a well known large chicago building ( that looks like a setr of corn cobbs), I found the small tank water heaters TPR discharge was a copper flex ( kinked too) that was routed up to disharge into the small ss kitchen sink through what looked like the soap dispenser spigot. Of course i called it out as extremely dangerous and amateurish installation. It appears that every unit in this massive building that was converted was done this way.

I alerted the city plumbing inspectors office. They were pretty shocked and glad i called.

I thought the plumbers union were the big boys up there.