Water Heater Relief Valve Extension Pipe

Apply ptfe tape or your preferred pipe dope to the threads of the pipe.

Water heater relief valve extension pipe.

Connect the pipe and elbow to the pressure relief valve. Guidelines concerning these valves and their discharge pipes reflect real hazards that every homeowner and home inspector should take seriously. Most residential water heaters have a 3 4 threaded opening for the discharge pipe. The pipe must be no more than 6 from the floor to prevent a scalding injury should the valve open.

8 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. Measure the distance from the relief valve to the floor. The water heater s temperature pressure relief valve tprv discharge pipe is too short. Place one wrench on the tpr valve to prevent the valve from moving a pipe wrench works well.

By code you have to run the same size as the opening which means the pipe needs to be 3 4 in diameter. Another common issue issue identified by our inspectors. The temperature pressure relief valve on a water heater is connected to a drain line so that if the valve opens someone nearby is not shot in the face with hot water. Use the first wrench to hold the tpr in place when you use the other to unscrew the drain pipe.

Tpr valves with missing data plates should be replaced. 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. The water heater s temperature pressure relief valve tprv extension pipe is routed upwards. The pressure relief valve extension is plastic and has a couple of elbows leading it to a drain.

The pipe itself needs to be either copper cpvc or galvanized water piping. The relief valve on your water heater has a pipe attached. Cut the new pipe to length. Cut lengths of cpvc pipe to match the ones you re replacing as long as they extend to within 3 inches of the floor.

Connect the relief valve to the opening in the water heater with a pipe wrench or an adjustable wrench. I explain that it was routed to a drain to prevent a mess if it discharges but that you would want to see water on the floor if it was dripping or pressure had blown off so that you know. If the tpr valve is on top of the water heater install a short piece of cpvc from the valve to the side of the water heater then use a 90 degree fitting to make the turn towards the floor and add a second pipe to carry the discharge down to the catch pan. The discharge drain extension is typically taken to just a few inches above the floor or in some jurisdictions it may be directed outdoors a solution that i think is risky.