If temperature sensors and safety devices such as tprs malfunction water in the system may become superheated exceed the boiling point.
Water heater pressure relief valve discharge pipe.
1 the discharge pipe cannot be directly connected to the home s plumbing drainage system but an air gap located in the same room as the water heater can used to connect to the drainage system.
Just image the power that can be generated when the water starts to boil inside the tank.
Scalding water and steam escape the tank through the valve and tube to relieve the pressure.
Tprs are designed to automatically release water in the event that pressure or temperature in the water tank exceeds safe levels.
This is to prevent a potentially catastrophic failure.
If the temperature in the water heater reaches 210 or the pressure reaches 150 psi the relief valve will open reducing the pressure or releasing heated water to be replaced with cold water.
If the pressure in the tank exceeds 150 psi or the temperature exceeds 210 degrees fahrenheit the tpr valve opens to release the pressure.