Can you use PVC for water heater relief valve?
Can you use PVC pipe for the water heater temperature pressure relief (TPR) discharge pipe? No. PVC pipe is not rated by the building code for use with hot water, so the installation shown above is wrong and unsafe. Pipe materials that are rated for hot water include CPVC, copper, galvanized, and PEX.
How many psi should my water heater be?
By releasing some of the hot water and air, the valve lowers the pressure back down to safe levels. For reference, the normal pressure of the water inside of the water heater tank is 50-100 PSI.
When to use a TPR valve on a water heater?
Building codes require temperature/pressure relief (TPR) valves with discharge pipes on all new water heater installations. If the pressure in the tank exceeds 150 psi, or the temperature exceeds 210 degrees Fahrenheit, the TPR valve opens to release the pressure.
What does PRV stand for in heating system?
One of the common things talked about is the Pressure Relief Valve or ‘PRV’, a small device that stops the water pressure from building up beyond the point that is considered safe. This is normally 3-bar on most heating systems, on old money that is about 44-psi, more than you put in the average car tyre!
Do you need a pressure relief valve for a hot water heater?
1. All pressurized storage-type water heaters and unfired hot water storage tanks shall be equipped with one or more combination temperature and pressure relief valves. The temperature steam rating of a combination temperature and pressure relief valve or valves shall equal or exceed the energy input rating in BTU per hour of the water heater.
Is it safe to see PRV discharge in a hot water system?
It is essential that, on a sealed heating or unvented hot water system, any PRV discharge can be observed and that passing water is safely directed to a point of discharge.
Building codes require temperature/pressure relief (TPR) valves with discharge pipes on all new water heater installations. If the pressure in the tank exceeds 150 psi, or the temperature exceeds 210 degrees Fahrenheit, the TPR valve opens to release the pressure.
Can you use PVC pipe for the water heater temperature?
No. PVC pipe is not rated by the building code for use with hot water, so the installation shown above is wrong and unsafe. If the temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve opens because the water heater is overheating, the water will be over 200º F.
1. All pressurized storage-type water heaters and unfired hot water storage tanks shall be equipped with one or more combination temperature and pressure relief valves. The temperature steam rating of a combination temperature and pressure relief valve or valves shall equal or exceed the energy input rating in BTU per hour of the water heater.
Can you use PEX as discharge pipe at temperature and pressure relief valve?
For more specifics on the correct installation of TPR discharge piping, see our blog posts Can you use PEX as discharge pipe at water heater temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve? and What are the code requirements for the discharge piping from a Temperature-Pressure Relief (TPR) valve at a water heater?
