I recently moved into a house with a 40 gallon gas water heater. The discharge pipe on the pressure relief valve is piped to recirculate to what I believe is the cold water supply to the water heater. There is a small cylindrical copper looking device that looks like it says "regulator" at a 90 bend in the pipe that returns the discharge to the supply.
Why would this be plumbed this way?
Is this setup safe?
I've always seen discharge pipes that are open at the end, about 6" above the floor.

Can you post a picture of your situation ?

Yes, at least in my area, the T&P discharge pipe has to be terminated 6" above garage floor, or drip pan, or if installed elsewhere, has to be lead to the exterior, and again, terminated 6" above ground

Back to you

Milo

Post a picture... sound very dangerous to me!

Thanks...