pans and reduced tprs

[Jerome W. Young]

I see this all the time and I always recommend changes but what is the requirement on an old building that did not have drained pans under the water heater and had the old small copper line.

This condo built 1971, redone in 1994 had a water heater under the cabinet with no pan and reduced tpr. I would rather have the tpr discharge than heater explode, but the pan is not drained so a pan really is not going to matter. Any thoughts on this?

[Richard Stanley]

Report what you find. Maybe they'll make the changes - maybe not. You did your part.

[Matthew Barnicle]

I would probably mention the pan as an upgrade...like "For maximum risk reduction against water damage in case of water heater failure, we recommend install overflow pan by licensed plumbing contractor." I do call out the reduced TPR's as a repair no matter how old. If the client is there, I tell them verbally how the TPR is really important and then let them decide if they are going to do it now, wait until the heater is replaced etc. I make sure the client knows my reports are conservative.

[Jim Robinson]

Get used to it. I may see a pan once every six months in my area. It's in the report, along with smoke detectors in the bedrooms, GFCI's, etc. Does anything change? Not very often, but you do what you can.

[Scott Patterson]

I would probably mention the pan as an upgrade...like "For maximum risk reduction against water damage in case of water heater failure, we recommend install overflow pan by licensed plumbing contractor." I do call out the reduced TPR's as a repair no matter how old. If the client is there, I tell them verbally how the TPR is really important and then let them decide if they are going to do it now, wait until the heater is replaced etc. I make sure the client knows my reports are conservative.

An upgrade? Be careful with this. It is not our job to decide if an item is an upgrade. As for a water heater pan, if it does not have one it needs one. No ifs ands or buts