Water Heater Plumbed To A Drain?

[xm4321]

Does FHA/HUD require that a water heater pressure relief valve be plumbed to a drain, I have an argument going with my brother in-law and I swear the guidelines required the water heater to be plumbed to a drain but cannot find the guideline. HELP - THANKS BRYAN

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

FHA is silent except I do think you have to have an approved hot water tank and that means compliance with local law. Most tanks have a "drain" plug but usually is simply routed to the exterior to keep from overflowing.

 

[Meandering]

The pressure release value of the hot water heater is supposed to be plumbed down, so that if it blows, it does not blow boiling water in your face, but no drain was required that I know of.

But check with Rex, because,
A floor drain can go dry, allowing sewage gas to come up through it.

So the drain might need to be to a dry well, instead of the septic or sewer.

Rex is the man to ask.
.

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Check with your local code for the safety requirements. The discharge has to be directed so that it does not create a hazard.

 

[Mark K]

Most codes require a 3/4" drain line from the T&P valve that extends downward and terminates within 6" of the floor, essentially spraying onto the floor it it blows off. It can go to a floor drain with an air gap at the end of the pipe. You might be able to plumb it directly to a 2" diameter or larger drain pipe. Local code may require running it to a drain but national code does not.

I think your B-I-L is right.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

The FHA requirement is that the pressure relief valve be routed to either unfinished area (garage, carport, crawl space, unfinished basement) or to the exterior of the dwelling.

Code requirement may vary, depending on locale. At a minimum (at least around here) the valve must be vertically piped to within 6" of the floor.

 

[glenn walker]

Tell your brother in law to cite the source. Doing FHA 25 years normally local code will prevail as FHA is the minimum but in my area it must be 6 inches off the ground or if located inside the house piped to the outside. I personally have never seen a water tank plumbed into a drain or sewer . When a water tank blows a pressure valve it's almost like a small bomb and unless it was plumed into a very large line ( IE sewer etc) a normal size pipe would get backed up. Also often lot's of mineral deposits come out from an old tank and that would clog up a pipe real fast . In summary I think your "brother in law needs to go back to contractor school"

 

[RSW]

The only thing FHA requires to be up to code is the water heater. What does your local code require?

 

[Mr Rex]

They are not required to be piped to a drain and doing so may create a bigger problem. Schedule 40 PVC is probably the most widely used drain piping used in homes today, and is not rated for temperatures over 140 degrees.

 

[LordofTexas]

IT AMAZES ME THAT THIS CAME UP TODAY. I am having a new water heater installed under my home warranty today by a plumber that wondered if he could do the exact same thing. I looked this up yesterday as I was pretty sure you shouldn't!

The code that most smaller towns in Texas goes by is the 2012 International Plumbing Code. Here's what that states:

**Section 504.6; change to read as follows:
504.6 Requirements for discharge piping.
The discharge piping serving a pressure relief valve, temperature relief valve or combination thereof shall:
1. Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
2. Discharge through an air gap. located in the same room as the water heater.
3. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve served and shall discharge full size to the air gap.
4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
Exception:
Multiple relief devices may be installed to a single T & P discharge piping system when approved by the administrative authority and permitted by the manufactures installation instructions and installed with those instructions.
5. Discharge to an indirect waste receptor or to the outdoors. Where discharging to the outdoors in areas subject to freezing, discharge piping shall be first piped to an indirect waste receptor through an air gap located in a conditioned area.
6. Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal injury or structural damage.
7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by the building occupants.
8. Not be trapped.
9. Be installed so as to flow by gravity.
10. Not terminate less than 6 inches or more than 24 inches (152 mm) above grade nor more than 6 inches above the waste receptor.
11. Not have a threaded connection at the end of such piping.
12. Not have valves or tee fittings.
13. Be constructed of those materials listed in Section 605.4 or materials tested, rated and
approved for such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1.