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  1. #1
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Visually interesting plumbing

    Nine year old construction. Water heater was same age as the house.

    Plumber decided to add some visual interest to the water heater plumbing.

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  2. #2
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    That visually interesting plumbing serves as a heat trap. Really.

    That expansion tank is improperly supported off the side of the tee fitting.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    And my understanding is that those sharp U turns slow the flow a bit.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    And my understanding is that those sharp U turns slow the flow a bit.
    Not any more than any other elbow.

    Before heat traps came with water heaters, and before heat traps which come with water heaters were even thought of, and after some plumbers don't realize that those heat traps come with water heaters or are available ... heat traps had to be made with the piping - like you see there.

    Their intent is to trap the heated water from circulating up and around the hot water piping, and that upside down U does that to a great degree.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Not any more than any other elbow.

    Before heat traps came with water heaters, and before heat traps which come with water heaters were even thought of, and after some plumbers don't realize that those heat traps come with water heaters or are available ... heat traps had to be made with the piping - like you see there.

    Their intent is to trap the heated water from circulating up and around the hot water piping, and that upside down U does that to a great degree.
    To clarify for myself, you don't have a problem with these loops, do you?
    And btw, I wouldn't write them up as a problem, although I don't think I've ever seen this.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    To clarify for myself, you don't have a problem with these loops, do you?
    And btw, I wouldn't write them up as a problem, although I don't think I've ever seen this.
    Nope problem with them at all.

    In fact, if the heat trap couplings are not installed, then those made-up heat trap loops would be required.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Jerry
    Maybe I'm wrong but I was thinking the inlet and outlet have plastic one way valves that makes the trap shown unnecessary.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  8. #8
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    Feb 2009
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Now that the heat is trapped, they need to add the circulation pump to get the hot water flowing again.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    Jerry
    Maybe I'm wrong but I was thinking the inlet and outlet have plastic one way valves that makes the trap shown unnecessary.
    That's why I said:
    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Before heat traps came with water heaters, and before heat traps which come with water heaters were even thought of, and after some plumbers don't realize that those heat traps come with water heaters or are available ... heat traps had to be made with the piping - like you see there.
    I tried to cover all the bases for the various options they may have run into, including "and after some plumbers don't realize that those heat traps come with water heaters" ...

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    That's why I said:


    I tried to cover all the bases for the various options they may have run into, including "and after some plumbers don't realize that those heat traps come with water heaters" ...
    I didn't recognize that's what you were saying.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  11. #11
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    I didn't recognize that's what you were saying.
    Possibly because I was trying to be politically correct and not say that the plumber didn't know what they were doing
    If they had those heat trap nipples ...

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Possibly because I was trying to be politically correct
    Sorry, I'm having trouble typing with all my coughing...........is this a new JP?

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Washington State
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    Sorry, I'm having trouble typing with all my coughing...........is this a new JP?
    Ditto on the coughing, nasty bug floating 'round the country.


  14. #14
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    Nov 2010
    Location
    New Westminster BC
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    To clarify for myself, you don't have a problem with these loops, do you?
    And btw, I wouldn't write them up as a problem, although I don't think I've ever seen this.
    There were traps on both the inlet and outlet pipes. On most water heaters the heat does not convect up the water in the inlet pipe probably because the inlet feeds the water down to the bottom of the tank, away from where the heat rises, so I don't think you would normally need a heat trap on the inlet pipe.

    Agree it's not a problem having traps on both pipes rather than just on the outlet pipe even though the extra trap has little or no benefit. I wouldn't comment on it in the report.


  15. #15
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    Mar 2007
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    Georgetown, KY
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    Default Re: Visually interesting plumbing

    B4U032.jpg

    People do some strange stuff with piping!

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