TPR Valves

Good morning, it has been a few days since I posted. So, let’s jump right in.

I would like to touch the topic of Temperature and pressure relief valves (TPR valve). This valve is a safety valve installed on the upper section of a water heater. This valve protects the home and home owner from overheated and over pressure tank explosions. The pressure setting for the TPR valve is 150 psi, though the tank capacity is around 300 psi. What this means is, with a functioning TPR valve the water heater tank should not reach anywhere near the pressure capacity of a good tank. Keep in mind, tanks age just like we do. As these tanks age, they begin to deteriorate and lose some of the pressure capacity. Look at your tank periodically for dents, ding, rust, or anything else that may affect the integrity of the tank. Now, moving on to temperature. Most of us know that water boils at 212° F. Most TPR valves are set at a temperature of 200° F. This is well below boiling point but well above the scalding temp of around 140° F. So, needless to say that water escaping through a TPR valve will be extremely hot and dangerous. There are requirements for proper plumbing of the TPR valve that I will go into at a later date. As a point of safety, DO NOT test the TPR valve yourself. Contact a qualified plumber or other qualified professional for assistance. I hope this shed a little perspective that a water heater can be a dangerous source of energy in the home.

Check out this video as a demonstration of potential danger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bU-I2ZiML0 As always, we are here for you. Please call us with any of your inspection needs, or if you just simply have a question about your home.