[daycathy]

I just signed a lease on an apartment with the water heater in a closet next to the bathroom. There are two pvc pipes coming out and over the top of the tank, one is labeled 'drinking water' and is constantly draining into a hole in the bottom of the closet. The other one just runs parallel and ends in free air. The sound of the water running constantly is driving me bananas, and I fear a water bill the size of the national debt. The landlord says it's a condensation drain for the overflow of the water heater, which sounds suspicious to me. Is this a real thing? If not, I plan to point out that it is the landlord's responsibility to fix, and that since he is in violation of the lease and I cannot afford both the rent and the water bill, the lease is void and I will take him to small claims to recouop my deposit and first month's rent.

[hkstroud]

I can't imagine what pipes you could be talking about. There is no overflow pipe for a water heater. There is no condensation pipe for a water heater. There is a temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve for a water heater. The T&P valve is a safety device that releases water if the temperature or pressure gets to high. The piping for T&P valve will come out of the top of the tank or out of the side of the tank close to the top. It will have a little spring loaded lever for opening it for test purposes. Sometimes, due to corrosion, or because trash has become lodged in the T&P, it can leak. They can also leak for other reasons but it is a periodic leak not a constant leak. The piping for the T&P valve will end above a floor drain which drains away any water should it "blow off". A constant leaking T&P valve will have a sufficient effect on your cost of water and heating.

The piping you describe may or may not be the T&P discharge pipe. Can you post a picture of the piping?

[massplumber2008]

Hi DayCathy

Do you have a forced air furnace in the same room as the water heater? If so, then you may have a condensate drain coming from the forced air heating system and that will drain water while the system is on. The other line would be the T&P valve coming from the water heater and if it isn't leaking then that is a good thing!

Anyway, let me know if you have a forced air heating system, OK?

The pipe labeled "drinking water" really has me confused... as Hkstroud suggested, a picture would really help!

Mark

[speedball1]

Thanks Mark for your input. Never thought of a forced air furnace. I learn something new from you guys everyday. Cheers. Tom

[massplumber2008]

Ahhh... we'll have to see here, Tom! I'm just guessing like you are... :)

[speedball1]

I was so sure you nailed I deleted my post. Makes perfect sense. Of course I've never seen a forced air furnace here. Most of our heat comes from heat strips or reverse air. Cheers, Tom

[jlisenbe]

I hope they can post a picture of this. The "drinking water" pipe is strange. I bet there is a history there that would be interesting to know.

[hkstroud]

Air condition system would have condensate line, not heat system. But I'm sure that's what Mark means.

[mygirlsdad77]

Harold, any gas forced air furnace that is 90% efficient or better will have a condensate drain. 90 percenters create condensation, just the nature of the beast.

Im also looking forward to pics.

[hkstroud]

I stand corrected.
Guess I'm just old and can't afford those newfangled contraptions.
Still on a fire place and an out house.

Thanks MGD.

[mygirlsdad77]

Hey, some days I wish we were all set up with outhouses and wood fireplaces. Sure would save a guy from them early morning weekend service calls.