Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
OP, if your house was built around 2006, that is the year the plumbing code changed and required an expansion tank on your water heater. If the water heater has been replaced, hopefully they added an expansion tank. If you don't have one, I would suggest having one installed to stabilize your water pressure and protect your plumbing fixtures from damage.
I don't know if the PVC pipe on the exterior wall is connected to a relief valve or not, but it seems strange that the builder would hide a valve inside the wall. If you can determine that there is a valve in the wall, I would suggest having a plumber either remove the valve or replace it with an accessible valve that actually works. But, I don't think you need a valve, and it is not required by code. There may be a pressure regulator in your meter box.
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As I stated in a previous comment , my first home was built in 2005 , Tall Trees . I was the original owner . We DID NOT have an expansion tank . Per code at the time , the pressure relief valve was installed by the water shut off in the garage….
After a few years, the valve was constantly dripping, probably 24 hrs a day so we had Kiley and Sons replace it ….
The valve was NOT visible as it was behind drywall a foot or so above the shut off valve.
The plumber had to cut the drywall to get to the pressure relief valve to replace it . He did a nice neat job by installing another access panel for the valve for future service needs …
So, there you have it !!
I do believe that the original poster’s picture is the outlet for the pressure relief valve .
If he or the previous owner has not installed an expansion tank when the water tank was replaced , he should immediately take a hack saw and remove that cap at the end of the pipe …. If water continuously drips , then he should have the relief valve replaced .
My guess is that based on the age of the house (17 yrs) the water heater has been replaced and an expansion tank installed with the new tank , hence making the pressure relief valve unnecessary.
To the OP …. Look at your hot water tank , do you have an expansion tank like this installed ??