Plumbers?

Jim Baker

Moderator
Staff member
Who knows? Either way that t-p needs to be open to atmosphere for safety,,,, strange,,,,

Looks to me like the popoff is plumbed into a copper drain line.
The tee to the 1/2 line is pressurized as long as the hose bib at the bottom is closed. So the pop off is still functional.

The question is what is the 1/2 in. line into the wall and back out then plumbed into the tank drain with a hose bib on the end of the line.

That line would be putting out hot water. The 1/2" line could be teed to another line in the wall. It would be easy enough to remove a little drywall and peek in to see.

If the gate valve on the 1\2" line is open hot water is flowing somewhere. I can't really think of any reason for the line being plumbed back into the tank unless it was some attempt to keep the hot water mixing in the tank. But in reality that would not occur either.

I assume you have opened the hose bib to see if it plumbed into the other 1/2" line in the wall.

That said that is some mangled up plumbing on the top of that heater.
 

Crakajak

Daily Driveler News Team
Could be a DIY bypass if the original drain at the bottom was clogged from sediment so you could get hot water access thru the hose bib..
 

Jim Baker

Moderator
Staff member
Could be a DIY bypass if the original drain at the bottom was clogged from sediment so you could get hot water access thru the hose bib..

It is just a pass thru. It would still be clogged. Plus the drain has a built in hose bib. Unless the built in bib was leaking. But even then you would not need to plumb from the popoff to get hot water. Just plumb in the hose bib.

The secret is in the wall. That gate valve on the 1/2 in. line is there for a reason.
 

Lukikus2

Senior Member
The secret is in the wall. That gate valve on the 1/2 in. line is there for a reason.

My thoughts exactly and why a year and a half later I have not cut into that wall yet. All great observations guys and I do appreciate the responses. I explained the connections to a service tech in the area the other day and he knew exactly what it was piped for. Ready?

For a water source heat pump.
 
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