TP Valve

Unknown

Pat, there is <i><b>always</b></i> a chance the RV blew-off on its own, besides thats what it`s there for.<BR>The operation of the valve should not be hampered by removing the handle,,but the ability to test <i>certainly is!</i><BR>I would replace-it, and find another warm place for the cats,,,<BR>Perhaps make a nice little radiant bed for them?<BR><BR>Dave

Pat McEnroe

For several weeks, I had noticed our black cat enjoying the relative warmth of the top of our wall hung tankless boiler. I was concerned that he might chew on the low voltage wires, but there was no sign of any damage, so I let it be. Then one morning I stepped onto cold tiles in the bathroom - my radiant heat was not radiating! I went to investigate - the basement was like a tropical rain forest - nice and warm and quite humid! It turns out that the black cat (it couldn't be the grey one, as my wife believes that cat can do no harm) played with the handle on the TP valve and it was wide open, putting hot water onto the floor!

I put some tape on the handle, but this morning was round two. The cat had managed to pull the handle again - at least I think so.

So my questions: Is there any chance that the TP valve actually tripped on its own (it is mounted such that the stem is vertical - I found it with the handle pointed straight up - this seems to defy gravity unless it was pulled)? The second question - I removed the handle from the valve - is there any problem with this (I know I should test the valve on some basis, but I can reinstall the handle for that.)

Please note that even if the cat is convicted of the crime, there will be no punishment for him, so you can rest easy!

Thanks,

Pat

Pat McEnroe

Thanks Dave - I figure I can use a paper clip to attach the handle to allow me to test the valve (annually?)

I don't know why they don't sleep on the bathroom floor - they are only down in the basement because they insist on meowing outside the bedroom door all hours of the night!

jp_2

cats

I'd be surprised that the cat is opening this valve.

sounds more like you are having troubles with this tankless.

Pat McEnroe

Dear JP:

I was surprised as well. The first time, I shut the boiler off, closed the valve, let the system pressure come back up, bled the system of air, then re-started the boiler without issue. The second time the system pressure was still at 12 psi so I simply closed the valve and everything was okay - if the boiler was over-firing the valve would have opened again, unless the problem is intermittent.

The valve handle has scratches on it and both times it was sticking straight up. Since the stem of the valve is vertical, and the handle is on top, it doesn't seem logical to me that if the valve opened due to high temp/press that the handle would orient itself vertically. I guess I could do a test by deliberately over-pressurizing the system and seeing if I can re-create the problem.....

In my house, we don't operate on 'beyond a reasonable doubt' - the preponderance of evidence is all that is required to convict - this cat is guilty as charged!!!!! (unless I'm wrong, and then I'll apologize to my wife....wait, I'll do that anyhow even those rare times when I'm right

--Pat

ScottMP

PAT !!

Its funny to say the cat did it, But I doubt it Very Much. Thats a strong lever to pull up on. More than likly your expansion tank has failed and ther relief valve is doing its job. Tampering with the relief valve and/or rigging it to not work can be Really Dangerous.

PLEASE have a proffesional check your system. You could damage your home and injure your family ( let alone the cat ).

No issurance company on the world will cover you if you fooled with it.

Scott



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Pat McEnroe

Thanks Scott.

I appreciate your concern, and really this is no joking matter either way - flooded basements and/or faulty gas-fired heating systesm are nothing to laugh about.

To be clear, I've only removed the handle, I've not restricted the operation of the valve in any way - as Dave said, it's only there to test the valve. I'll admit that I'm not a professional HVAC guy but I'm puzzled by the operation of the valve and would rest better either way if someone could tell me that when the valve opens it is normal for the handle to defy gravity!!!!

I don't think the expansion tank is at issue - it is only 1 year old. If the diaphragm had failed, I'd have no expansion capacity and the valve would open every time the system came up to temperature (180 deg. F) for any length of time.

To be safe, I'll probably hook up a data logger and monitor the operating temperature and pressure over time just to be sure that I don't have a system problem.

--Pat