Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts
Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:
Author:
sum (FL)
A couple of weeks ago I punched a hole in my concrete exterior wall and found a path under the tub apron big enough to pipe outside.
So I got rid of the AC condensate pump and piped a 3/4" PVC condensate line out, I also piped a 3/4" copper line out for the T&P discharge.
Now I have everything connected and the wall patched.
From previous posts I understand that this T&P discharge pipe cannot be blocked or reduced in any way.
But I am in Florida and there are all kinds of critters around. Ants, lizards, roaches and whatever will crawl up there and get cozy.
Can I at least wrap the open end of that pipe with say 1/8" chicken wire? Will that be an issue?
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
If they are in there and the T&P valve discharges, they will have the "rapids ride" of their lives and think a tsunami has occurred. Don't worry about them. However, I would have put the condensate trap at the unit, which is the most common place, and not on the outlet.
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
mr leak (CA)
The water heater TPR discharge line is not to be reduced from inside diameter of 3/4 inches which also means that 3/4 flex which has less diameter is NOT allowed
as a short cut. Maximum allowed 90 elbows are 4 no trap is needed but your picture with the trap would essentially add 2 elbows
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
I think the trap is on the AC, the copper is the T + P. We can run them outside but there must be an air gap inside. It can't be piped straight from the T + P to the outside.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
quote; t there must be an air gap inside. It can't be piped straight from the T + P to the outside.
If that were the case, it would have to be enlarged, possibly to 1 1/4" to handle the "pressure" discharge by gravity. We MUST "pipe it straight" from the T&P to the terminal location, whether outdoors or to drain.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
KCRoto (MO)
You could use a piece of food grade plastic wrap and a rubber band on it if you wanted and it would blow off if it discharged. Nobody is going to throw a fit, it will keep your critters out, and it won't impede the operation of the t+p. If soldiers can rubber band a condom on the muzzle of an m-16 to keep sand out, I don't think anyone would begrudge you a piece of plastic wrap.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
Why do you want to prevent the critters from getting a hot bath and "water slide" ride by keeping them out. It is not as if they are epoxying their Kevlar webs to the pipe walls.
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
The 3/4" copper pipe with an elbow is for the T&P discharge. Previously the water heater was connected to a 3/8" soft copper line that leads under the slab and goes "somewhere".
The 3/4" PVC with a trap is for the central air conditioning discharge. Previously it was using a condensate pump to go up to the attic across and out.
I don't know if an elbow there at the end is necessary. The outlet there points straight to the back of the central AC compressor, so I added an elbow to redirect it sideways.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
WC (VA)
Scotch Brite pad - small piece rolled up and inserted.
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
bernabeu (SC)
to be obsessive compulsive:
use a piece of stainless steel 'wool pad' stuffed inside, NOT 'scotch brite'
==============================================
"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
HE was already OCD when he asked about keeping the bugs out.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
bernabeu (SC)
not as OC as me
==============================================
"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
hj, there is a reason I asked.
Just last week I had to repair a security light outside, and when I removed the light, the junction box behind it was PACKED with mud. I think it was a mud dauper wasp nest. it somehow got inside an electric box that is sealed shut and deposited mud inside and around it and the mud is hard and brittle like drywall joint compound. I had to chisel it out. If this stuff gets inside and mud up the T&P pipe it will constrict the pipe. You guys warned me about not using soft copper pipe as it may kink or no corrugated copper pipe as it's slightly constricted, so wouldn't it be dangerous if that pipe is sealed shut. South Florida has all kinds of bugs one time I opened up a weather proof electrical junction box, sealed with four bolts and found a frog inside...there is no way a frog could get inside that box, an ant wouldn't get inside that box because it's sealed shut and it's water tight. The only way I thought this is possible is if the underground conduit has cracked and a tadpole made it inside and travel up the conduit to that box. May be it's OCD but better safe than sorry.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
Grrrrrr...
My new water heater leaked yesterday.
It was installed for a week and no leak. I checked when it was initially installed.
But yesterday I went to put on some foam insulation around the hot and cold pipes feeding the tank, and in the process nudged the tank a little, soon after I noticed a puddle of water on top of the tank.
I shut the cold water off, turned power off. Dried everything. Then I noticed the leak is from the cold side, the nipple from the tank is leaking, water seeping up from the tank side.
I disconnected the SS supply pipes, and found out that the 3/4" nipple on the tank can be unthreaded with ease, with my two fingers I can remove it.
I never checked to make sure those nipples are tight! I thought they are supposed to be properly threaded in from the factory!
So I put some pipe dope on it and thread it back in and tightened it. Did the hot side to make sure.
Aren't these nipples supposed to be tight from factory?
Good thing it leaked when it did when I was there.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
During the 50's we used to install a lot of Sealed,through the wall gas space heaters. The year after they were installed, many of them would not be able to light the pilots. When I took them apart, I would find a spider web inside the gas supply line TO the pilot, and the only way into there was through the pilot's pilot orifice which was almost infinitessimal. So you really thing a mud dauber "plug" would withstand 50 to 80 psi of water?
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
YEs, but it should also have moved when you tightened the connector to it if it was that loose.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
I didn't notice if the nipple moved or not when I tightened the flex connector. I don't think it did because if it I would have removed it and re-tightened it. Those SS flex connectors have a rubber washer on the female end so I didn't over tighten, only hand tight plus a couple of more turns.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
quote; Those SS flex connectors have a rubber washer on the female end so I didn't over tighten, only hand tight plus a couple of more turns.
I KNOW what they have, but I still tighten them securely, especially the stainless steel ones. Using a "formula" i.e., "hand tight and a couple of extra turns" is a "formula for failure".
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
There is a warning on the hose saying to not over tighten. So I was careful not to do that, thinking the rubber washer when properly compressed will do it's job. If I over tighten I worry the metal nipple would grind or tear into the washer and cause a problem. So I tightened it till I feel is tight enough but not overly tight although I know I lack the experience to really have a good "feel".
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
quote; There is a warning on the hose saying to not over tighten.
And you really think some engineer who probably NEVER tightened one, knows what he is doing? It might even be the person with "English as a second language" who wrote the tag's idea. The washer does NOT "rotate" when you tighten it so it cannot "grind" when tightened. All you do is squeeze it tighter.
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
"And you really think some engineer who probably NEVER tightened one, knows what he is doing?"
that's not true, I have tightened dozens, including washing machine hoses, garden hoses etc...
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
But you haven't tried to write an instruction booklet telling others how to do it. ( but if you did it would probably have all kinds of caveats they should worry about)
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
sum (FL)
Nope, if I wrote it it would be completely useless but totally liability proof.
Such as "tighten the nut until the connection is sound and secured, consult a licensed plumber to ensure system and components are performing in accordance to their specifications blah blah blah..."
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
quote; if I wrote it it would be completely useless
Like the fellow who was herding his sheep when well dressed guy pulled up in his Mercedes. He told the farmer, "If I can tell you how many sheep you have, can I have one of them". The farmer said yes. The guy broke out his google map app, did some calculations and said, "You have 2,516 sheep". The farmer said that's right. Pick out your sheep". The guy did and then the farmer asked, "If I can tell you what you do and who you work for, can I have it back?" He said, "Okay'. The farmer said, "Your are a statistician, you work for the Government, in the census departmen". The guy said, "you are right, how did you know". Because you are good with numbers and only tell people what hey already know. Now can I have my dog back?"
|
Post Reply
|
Please note:
- Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
- Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
- Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
- Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.
Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:
Special thanks to our sponsor:
|