Safety Valve installation...

Peter Morenus

I had the oil company replace the leaking pressure relief valve on my Utica steam boiler today. They used a Conbraco 13-101.

Somehow, using this just doesn't seem right to me. It is screwed in to a tap on the top of the boiler, pointing straight up. If I were to follow the instructions to test it, I'd presumably get a face full of steam.

They did the work while I was at the office, so I didn't get a chance to ask the technician about his choice.

I've attached a photo of the installation.

Am I nuts, or should I ask the company to send someone back to install a right angle safety valve and a piece of pipe so that the output points at the ground like it did before.

Thanks!

Pete Morenus

Timco

You test a relief valve with a cold boiler to ensure it is not stuck shut, but I do agree that a 90* valve is much safer. I see these often and they do meet code in my parts. I cannot imagine someone flipping the test arm with steam being made...seems like a bad design...

Tim

Unknown

Agreed Tim

The angle pattern (with proper discharge piping), seems much safer to me.

Dave

optotapiccaws2257205

I would pipe it down to the ground. When I bought my house last year, the pressure relief valve on the boiler was similar to yours, except it was aiming to the side. One day, in the kitchen I hear a loud steam relief sound from the basement. It was probably the pressure relief valve. Imagine someone was standing or walk by, they would have been burned. I went to Home Depot the next day to buy a long pipe so it's aiming to the ground now.

bob young

obsolete for fifty years

that style has been illegal in nyc since the early sixties. we used to rip them out & replace by the dozens.