Check those T/P valves folks!

[alia176]

After watching the exploding water heater video on Mythbusters, I went to the basement to check the T/P valve on the water heater and the P valve on the radiant heating boiler. The Pressure valve on the boiler has been shot for a long time I'm such a dumbass for not checking this annually.

A word of caution: if you see scaling on your valve or it just looks plain jacked up, do yourself a favor and get a replacement instead of operating the tiny lever on top to see if it operates smoothly. In some cases, it may just stay open and boy, would you be pissed off

Anyway, just a holiday reminder to check your over Pressure/Temp valve for the sake of your loved ones. Also, make sure that the hard pipe that is attached to these valves drain the water *away* from the valves. Some jurisdictions require that this drain pipe takes the hot steam outside the home, others have you direct the hot steam right above the floor. In my case, the slope wasn't correct and the boiler Pressure valve was sitting in water since 1985. Again, I feel like such a dumbass.

These valves can be found in most big box stores but I found the price to be much better in a true plumbing supply house ($38 vs $24 for the same exact model).

Happy Thanksgiving to all

 

[PAToyota]

While you are at it, pull the anode rod on the water heater or boiler and check that too.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20047047,00.html

 

[Spook50]

Good idea to check those annually just for the sake of being cautious. Our new water heater is almost a year old so I'll be giving it a looksee before long. Our water has a buttload of minerals in it so yearly draining & flushing is kind of a requirement for us anyway. Pain in the butt though it is. But since our old one was just annihilated and about a third the capacity it should have been (due to being so full of scale and deposits), I want to be absolutely sure that doesn't happen with the new one.