Help with T&P for second floor water heater

[kma]

Hello,

My question is about what is required for a T&P for a water heater on the second floor of a condo (and general requirements as well). It's about a 30 year-old water heater. It's starting to leak. I plan to have this installed and permitted, but I've been told different things by different plumbers. Can the drain be combined with the T&P for the HVAC coil, or will an entire separate drain be required--and does that drain have to run all the way to grade? I know they will require a drain pan, what else should I expect and what does the code require?

Thank you in advance.

 

[frodo]

minimum 3/4 drain to an approved location.
it can, drain into the washing machine box, , a floor drain, into a utility sink, with an airgap

or be piped to the outdoors, and terminated within 12'' of the ground.

it cannot be tied into another drain such as the ac drain or the water heatr pan drain

 

[Mr_David]

minimum 3/4 drain to an approved location.
it can, drain into the washing machine box, , a floor drain, into a utility sink, with an airgap

or be piped to the outdoors, and terminated within 12'' of the ground.

it cannot be tied into another drain such as the ac drain or the water heatr pan drain

material requirements?
Here it has to be rigid pipe. Iron or hard copper
No soft or annealed copper.
You can NOT use flexible water heater supplies.
No plastic pipe

 

[frodo]

material requirements?
Here it has to be rigid pipe. Iron or hard copper
No soft or annealed copper.
You can NOT use flexible water heater supplies.
No plastic pipe

You only get the 50 cent tour for 50 cent.

you want the dollar tour, you need to reach a little deeper !!!!

 

[kma]

minimum 3/4 drain to an approved location.
it can, drain into the washing machine box, , a floor drain, into a utility sink, with an airgap

or be piped to the outdoors, and terminated within 12'' of the ground.

it cannot be tied into another drain such as the ac drain or the water heatr pan drain

So, I need more than one drain to within 12" of the ground? The drain pan and the T&P? The washing machine box is across the hall, I'm not sure if it's possible to drain to that. There is no floor drain, no sink. The floor is gypcrete and it's a condo so there is a unit below in this part of the unit. (Brilliant design.)

I might have to try to run the drain through the floor into the other owners garage? What a mess. Do they ever accept an alarm in the drain pan?--that was one plumber's suggestion.

 

[frodo]

..................

you can put an alarm in the pan, but you still have to run a drain

 

[kma]

you can put an alarm in the pan, but you still have to run a drain

Thanks. I was afraid of that. The T&P can't drain into the pan, so it looks like I have to run two drains to grade. (The existing water heater didn't have a drain or a pan.)

Which code and version are you citing?

 

[frodo]

Upc 2010

is your condo a 2 story? whats under you?

is your w/h in the attic or on the floor?

 

[voletl]

Listen it all depends on what your state or your local inspector goes by whether it's UPC for IPC code

 

[kma]

Upc 2010

is your condo a 2 story? whats under you?

is your w/h in the attic or on the floor?

My jurisdiction is using UPC 2009 and UMC 2009. Water heater is on the second floor, condo is 3-story, but directly under the water heater there is another occupant below.

The only existing drains are the for the AC coil and across the hall for the washer. The latter would have to go through ceiling, so that would require a pump. I'm not sure which is more expensive, I have to run roughly 30' feet of drain to get to exterior grade. A bit less drain to get to the washer, maybe 20'. (And I believe both T&P and drain pan have to be run separately, so double the lengths?)

There may be sink drains from floor above. If they are in the duct chase that runs behind the furnace that might be the best option--if those can be used?

Thanks for your help, really appreciated.

 

[KULTULZ]

IMO-

If you are getting a different song and dance from area plumbers (and they plan/agree to comply with local code), it might be best to consult your local inspector for the final word and then have the plumber work within his confines.

The leak alarm is a good idea if the WH is directly over another unit but also can be combined with a pressure shutoff valve/solenoid to stop water pressure on the failed WH.

 

[frodo]

how close is heater to the outside wall. run it down the outside of the building

op has stated their is an occupant under her water heater, to install a floor drain would mean working in that persons ceiling. according to op, that aint happening