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Water Heater Check Valves

Most water heaters that I install come with check valves on the cold water nipple to prevent thermosiphon.  I always take them out because they tend to cause harmonics in the piping that drives my customers nuts.



It seems like a good idea except for the performance failure of the component.



What do you guys do? 
8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab

Comments

  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,463
    If the piping.....

    is insulated a thermosiphon is not a bad thing.... most all my customers like getting hot water faster...
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,574
    Some of...

    ... the newer heat traps have rubber flaps instead of the noisy/evil little balls that older heat traps had.  The new style is quiet.  The old way of getting there is to form a loop using fittings or a long flex line to make a non-mechanical heat trap.  It's really quiet!



    Yours,  Larry
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,995
    edited April 2010
    Never seen a check...

    Is that a California code ? I never seen one come with a hot water heater .

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  • EricAune
    EricAune Member Posts: 432
    Big Ed

    They are integral to the cold inlet nipple.  Any water heater with nipples already installed or packaged with the water heater most likely has them.

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  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,995
    Check

    Is the check a new Federal conservation code ?

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

This discussion has been closed.