My water heater has more connections than normal. At the drain, why is there an extra valve and beyond the valve goes into the wall? If I'm draining water heater is this valve open or closed? Why is there a valve off of the Pressure relief valve that also goes into the wall? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.


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The house has a recirculating loop. The hot water leaves the tank from the tee under the relief valve, rises up through the house and as it cools, returns back to the heater at the drain valve location. You should close the return valve when draining the heater. The tee under the relief valve is not legal, unless the relief valve has an extra long sensing probe.

A "recirculation loop" connected to the tank and then returning at the bottom would be COMPLETELY USELESS. It may be a connection for some added area. The circulation occurs between the water leaving the tank through the left hand outlet and returning to the tee on the drain valve, usually by use of a pump, but your photo is cut off at the bottom so cannot see what is there.

and why pray tell would that set up not circulate?
hot out of the top of the tank and return cold to the bottom..
C'est magnifique..