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Author:
pdiy (--)
by turning off the cold water supply to the hot water tank. Does it also shut off the hot water supply to the home? I want to add a tee to the hot water line but I don't see any shut off valve.
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Author:
jimmy-o (CA)
Well, it does, if that valve does not leak by. Also, if someone opens the hot and cold on a tap, or turns a single handle faucet to the warm,
then cold pressure will cross over to the hot pipes. It is safer to turn off the main water supply.
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Author:
fixitguy7533 (MI)
"Also, if someone opens the hot and cold on a tap, or turns a single handle faucet to the warm,
then cold pressure will cross over to the hot pipes"
Call me weird, but I have shutoffs on cold AND hot @ my tank. I have made sure I have them on both water lines whenever I replace the tank!!
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Not a great idea! Hope the T&P is a good one!
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Author:
rjones0281 (MO)
shut off main water supply and shut off the cold supply. your water should be stoped dead. do your handy work and your problem is solved. ad shut off valve after water tank and before tee. good luck with your project!!
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Author:
pdiy (--)
Thank you guys for your inputs. Much appreciated!
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Author:
dlh (TX)
add a valve to the branch line you are installing . not before the tee. shutting both sides of a water heater down still does not stop the cold water from crossing over to the hot if there is a leak on a single handle valve from hot to cold or if as mentioned valve you open the hot and cold on a valve
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
fixitguy7533 (MI)
This crossing over of water topic...why is this of any concern? If it is, please educate me. Also, why would there be any concern in having shutoffs b4 and and after the water heater? When working on it or replacing it, you can isolate it from the rest of the plumbing. What harm is there in that? Granted, both valves need to be open to get hot water and, yes, you should always have them open when operating the unit, but why is there any concern at all? Sure, if both are closed and it overheats and the T&P fails you'll have major issues, but disregarding that, what gives?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
well do what ever with the valves we just wont and cant do it for safety and of course liability.
as for the cross over, we were talking about soldering a tee into the hot line. hard to solder with water coming out of the pipe!
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
fixitguy7533 (MI)
dlh: Why is an additional valve an issue? Why is it any different than, lets say, having downstream shutoffs for the kitchen, bath, laundry, and whatever else you have all shut off? It's just another valve that is in the same line as all the other shutoffs, that could all be shutoff as well. I don't see liability. If you're referring the pressure build up in a tank, then, yes, there is a higher probability that one valve is closed than all the others downstream, but those could be closed as well. Is this your thinking?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
because you may turn both valves off and forget to turn the heater off and create a potentially hazardous condition with the water heater. it is best not to give most people the option
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Fixit, it have a look see at the video below. When you close those 2 valves you are placing 100% reliance on a T&P valve... A device that should be operated and tested often. Many we see have never been tested in years and are not working.
[www.youtube.com]
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Author:
fixitguy7533 (MI)
I realize what you are saying. My perspective is that:
1. if the valves are shut off you get NO hot water, so that would be out of the norm.
2. You'd have to have both valves closed AND a non operating T&P AND an overheat situation at the same time
3. I open/test my T&P every 6 months.
I see what you are saying. My reason was to keep residual water from flowing back on the hot while working/replacing the unit. Sure, it may be a waste of money to you guys who do things 5x faster than me, but I put it in as a convenience item. Maybe if I have a plumber do some work down the road he will thank me for the valve...but maybe not. I'll thank myself and leave it open!!
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Author:
redwood (CT)
We have ways of dealing with water in a line. Rest assured bread is not one of them. We choose not to have that valve installed to eliminate the possibility and liability. Testing your T&P you are in a minority there.
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Edited 1 times.
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Author:
fixitguy7533 (MI)
I understand. I'm almost anal about preventive maint. I'm also in minority in draining 2-3gal monthly and a full flush every 6months, too!!
It may be a waste, but why not try!!
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Author:
dlh (TX)
you are in a minority that more people should be in. the t&p will keep you safe and the flushing will make your heater last longer
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
rjones0281 (MO)
i would hope that inyone who takes on this type of project would be smart enouph to shut of the power or the gas to do this type of project in the first place.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
As plumbers we have to protect people with limited mental resources, who if injured by something we install, would spare no effort in attemping to have us make them extremly wealthy, for their stupidity!
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Since 1995 (3 years before Google started) PlumbingSupply.com has been THE best plumbing supplier on the web. Please visit our sponsor [www.PlumbingSupply.com]
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Author:
davefoc (CA)
I put a valve in the outlet side of a hot water heater in a building I own. I thought it would be a way of reducing the amount of water that comes out of the pipes when work needs to be done with the water turned off.
Jeez, if I hadn't read this thread I would have never had a clue that I had done something dangerous, at the worst I thought I might have done something useless. I still have visions of the mythbuster's video of the hotwater heater rocket dancing in my head.
Do codes specifically preclude the practice? I think I'm going to remove the valve the next time I have the water off.
I also have rarely tested a T & P valve. Do you just lift the lever up and let a little water out to test the valve?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
most codes specifically mention installing a valve on the cold side but i dont think it mentions the hot side in either respect since most plumbers wouldnt put one on the hot anyway.
yes, and if it leaks after then it needs replaced
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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