Cannot find the drain pipe on the water heater. Is it common?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Cannot find the drain pipe on the water heater. Is it common?

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#177175 24-Jul-2015 23:13

I can identify the cold water inlet pipe, the hot water outlet pipe and the expansion relief pipe. But where is the drain pipe?

Is it not installed? Is that common in NZ?

So in case the tank need to be drained empty, the extra pipe need to be installed?

grant_k

3539 posts

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#1351419 24-Jul-2015 23:58

It looks like your cylinder is sitting on a wooden floor so the drain could well be underneath the house. I have seen several like that where the cold water inlet, or the drain pipe, or both are connected to the bottom of the tank.

gzt

17157 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1351423 25-Jul-2015 00:04

Btw, looks like you have, or have had, a leak on the outlet. Maybe clean off that residue and see if it come back. Residue is left from water collecting and evaporating at the same time.

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#1351424 25-Jul-2015 00:05

grant_k: It looks like your cylinder is sitting on a wooden floor so the drain could well be underneath the house. I have seen several like that where the cold water inlet, or the drain pipe, or both are connected to the bottom of the tank.

Thanks. I don't quite think there is space underneath, as it is on the 2nd floor.

Will go have a good look tomorrow. Thanks.

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#1351425 25-Jul-2015 00:08

gzt: Btw, looks like you have, or have had, a leak on the outlet. Maybe clean off that residue and see if it come back. Residue is left from water collecting and evaporating at the same time.

Thanks for pointing out that. I never find the pipe above the tank leaking, though I didn't look really carefully into that either. We just moved into the house recently.

Will do a good clean and look tomorrow morning.

Bung

6496 posts

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#1351428 25-Jul-2015 01:29

Take another photo down below the pressure reducing valve showing the fittings on the blue tap.

Lee13

33 posts

Geek

#1351448 25-Jul-2015 05:54

ok three inlet low pressure water heater drain should be at the bottom centre just like the outlet at top some times you just drain the cylinder by the inlet valve if its a concrete floor the cylinder should not be sitting on the floor it should be raised up on platform also like someone has pointed out there has been a leak get that looked at

Niel

3267 posts

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#1351466 25-Jul-2015 09:15

It is stupid that in NZ it is (or was) not a requirement to fit a cylinder in a pan with a drain pipe, as has been law in South Africa for ever (or mount it above a bath).

You can never have enough Volvos!

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FineWine

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Nurse (R)

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#1351467 25-Jul-2015 09:25

Do you not have to lag your hot water pipes in NZ?, you do in AussieLand (lived there for 30 years). I have noticed this in my just bought Tauranga house and it is very annoying having to wait till the hot water comes through.

Being raised in a 1940's demob house in Wellington in the 50's/60's I remember the pipes in the hotwater cupboard being wrapped in that stringy stuff, can't say what happen after the pipes left the cupboard though, but my present house is a 1999 built wood frame, concrete pad, you would think in this country, which is colder than AussieLand, would legislate for lagging though out the entire house. In Aussie it is just copper pipe wrapped in garden hose.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

grant_k

3539 posts

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#1351475 25-Jul-2015 10:15

Niel: It is stupid that in NZ it is (or was) not a requirement to fit a cylinder in a pan with a drain pipe, as has been law in South Africa for ever (or mount it above a bath).

I'm pretty sure it is now mandatory to fit a tray below the cylinder with a drain pipe attached. This requirement only came in fairly recently though.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1351477 25-Jul-2015 10:17

Huchiz:
gzt: Btw, looks like you have, or have had, a leak on the outlet. Maybe clean off that residue and see if it come back. Residue is left from water collecting and evaporating at the same time.

Thanks for pointing out that. I never find the pipe above the tank leaking, though I didn't look really carefully into that either. We just moved into the house recently.

Will do a good clean and look tomorrow morning.

It was very common after the Chch quakes for the crox fitting on the outlet pipe to start leaking (The water runs down under the external jacket, and comes out underneath - most people assumed that the cylinder itself was borked/leaking, when the fix was just to tighten the nut and re-check). And speaking of EQ, that cylinder isn't restrained - which looks like it should be a very easy job as you've got good access. Even if you're not in a part of NZ considered to be at major EQ risk - you may as well do it. A small or distant quake could be be enough to cause problems. You've also got good access if you want to add an extra insulation wrap to the cylinder.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1351815 26-Jul-2015 09:33

grant_k:
Niel: It is stupid that in NZ it is (or was) not a requirement to fit a cylinder in a pan with a drain pipe, as has been law in South Africa for ever (or mount it above a bath).

I'm pretty sure it is now mandatory to fit a tray below the cylinder with a drain pipe attached. This requirement only came in fairly recently though.

For ages the requirement for cylinder trays has only been if leaking water would leak into a different household unit. Which means a tray is not required in a standalone house. Also in alot of places you cannot retrofit a tray as there is nowhere to run the drain line from the tray to.

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#1351818 26-Jul-2015 09:38

Lee13: ok three inlet low pressure water heater drain should be at the bottom centre just like the outlet at top some times you just drain the cylinder by the inlet valve if its a concrete floor the cylinder should not be sitting on the floor it should be raised up on platform also like someone has pointed out there has been a leak get that looked at

The HWC is on upstairs, there is no visible pipe in downstairs, unless the pipe is hide in hide in the wall, but then there is no access to the valve or anything.

en.......I'm lost.

Huchiz

221 posts

Master Geek

#1351824 26-Jul-2015 09:39

Bung: Take another photo down below the pressure reducing valve showing the fittings on the blue tap.

Here you are.

gzt

17157 posts

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#1351871 26-Jul-2015 11:19

The specs say this is a 'triple inlet' model. Does that mean a connection on the bottom also?

Bung

6496 posts

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#1351875 26-Jul-2015 11:28

I think it will be as crude as undoing the reduction valve connection to the blue tap and connecting a hose. The cylinder is apparently sitting on the 2nd floor.