[ohman]

Dear all, first please take a look at this photo:

http://yfrog.com/0vwaterheaterlargej

We have a water heater in the basement that current there is no way for the discharge line to drain the water properly. The basement (and the whole house) is built with concrete so it's kind of difficult to dig a hole on the wall to allow water from the discharge line to drain properly. As a result, as you could see in the photo, is a damp basement and the floor is full of water stain/grease. Any idea how we could solve this problem? Thanks!

 

[Mike Swearingen]

That vertical "discharge" line is from the T&P valve that only opens to prevent steam explosion of a malfunctioning water heater. A water hose can be attached to the drain at the bottom of a water heater to flush it periodically.
Doesn't your basement have a floor drain?
Mike

 

[Plumber101]

You can place the WH in a drain pan made for WH and seal the drain hole in the pan. Then install a water sensor device with and alarm. So that if the WH starts to leak or the TPV starts to leak the sensor will make the alarm go of to alert you of a problem.

Hopefully the pan will hold the water to prevent damage.

Google water sensor alarm there are alot to chose from. There are ones that you install to the water entrance to shut off water to the house in case you are away from home.

 

[MACPLUMB]

Water heater discharge line

OR BEST OF ALL YOU CAN DO IT THE CORRECT WAY PER PLBG. CODE AND
INSTALL A THERMAL EXPANSION TANK ON THE COLD WATER PIPE BETWEEN
YOUR SHUT OFF VALVE AND THE TANK INLET TO ALLOW THE HOT WATER
TO EXPAND INTO TANK AND IT WILL NOT LEAK OUT OF THE DRAIN PIPE :thumbsup:

 

[ohman]

Doesn't your basement have a floor drain?
Mike

Hi Mike thanks so much for your reply, really appreciate that! :no:

Nope the basement does NOT have a floor drain. It is really weird, but I double checked it and really can't find one. The house was build in 193x (an art deco house in San Francisco), so...

 

[ohman]

Plumber101, that is a very good idea! Thanks again!