No Pressure Relief On Tankless - Plumbing Zone

JERRYMAC · 08-27-2009, 11:16 AM

EAST GRANBY, Conn. - East Granby fire officials say an explosion that critically injured a couple last year was caused by a lack of pressure release valves in the home's hot water heater.

The November explosion caused second- and third-degree burns to homeowners Lori and Ken Sullivan and to contractor Michael Alleana.

Fire Marshal Kenneth Beliveau told The Hartford Courant that there should have been more than one valve to reduce pressure on the hot water heater. He says the Sullivans and Alleana were installing a tankless, "quick-fire" hot water heater when a spark ignited escaping gas, triggering the explosion.

SORRY I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THIS STORY OUT BEFORE POSTING IT !

HAD TO DO WITH PROPANE GAS LEAK EXPLOSION WHILE TANKLESS WATER HEATER WAS BEING INSTALLED !
"NOT" T&P RELIEF VALVE JERRYMAC

GREENPLUM · 08-27-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JERRYMAC

EAST GRANBY, Conn. - East Granby fire officials say an explosion that critically injured a couple last year was caused by a lack of pressure release valves in the home's hot water heater.

The November explosion caused second- and third-degree burns to homeowners Lori and Ken Sullivan and to contractor Michael Alleana.

Fire Marshal Kenneth Beliveau told The Hartford Courant that there should have been more than one valve to reduce pressure on the hot water heater. He says the Sullivans and Alleana were installing a tankless, "quick-fire" hot water heater when a spark ignited escaping gas, triggering the explosion.

What does a Pressure Release Valve hafta do with it? "quick-fire" is that brand specific?

aero1 · 08-27-2009, 07:35 PM

sounds like an idiot install.

Protech · 08-27-2009, 07:37 PM

"Contractor".....does that mean plumbing contractor? If not, someones going to have allot of explaining to do.

TheMaster · 08-27-2009, 08:14 PM

Sounds like they connected a water heater to a high pressure gas line without a pressure regulator,for some reason it leaked either due to the high pressure or there was just a gas leak close by. I dont think it had anything to do with a T&P valve but would like to hear the entire story.

Double-A · 08-28-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JERRYMAC

EAST GRANBY, Conn. - East Granby fire officials say an explosion that critically injured a couple last year was caused by a lack of pressure release valves in the home's hot water heater.

SORRY I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THIS STORY OUT BEFORE POSTING IT !

Jerry, It seems the news agency should have checked this story out before posting it. What they have said seems muddled and unclear. In the plumbing trade, I've never run across anything called a "pressure release" valve. Pressure relief valves, yes, release, no.

They then go on to say that the explosion was an ignition of propane gas that had leaked. Now, perhaps they were referring to the lack of a relief valve on the propane storage tank. But the author of that report does not make that clear at all.

News such as this is of interest to all of us, because it illustrates just how costly and dangerous mistakes can be.

I just get irked when I see mistakes of this caliber made by news agencies. It makes me question their ability to gather and report news on any subject with accuracy and clarity.

ToUtahNow · 08-28-2009, 01:35 PM

The story is poorly written but then again they never said the problem was due to water pressure. I'm wondering if it was a Natural Gas tankless installed in a Propane system.

Mark

Pipedoc · 08-28-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double-A

It makes me question their ability to gather and report news on any subject with accuracy and clarity.

Stop questioning Double A. They don't have the ability report with accuracy anymore. Wait. I take that back. They have the ability but but not the desire.

(I don't know whether to laugh or cry about that)

@ Jerry,

Do you have a link to the article? I am starting to collect news articles about things of this nature.

ToUtahNow · 08-28-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protech

"Contractor".....does that mean plumbing contractor? If not, someones going to have allot of explaining to do.

I just checked and the homeowner is a home improvement contractor who got his license December (not licensed until after accident) of last year and there is no record of the "Contractor" having a license of any type.

Mark

GREENPLUM · 08-28-2009, 03:37 PM

I thought I smelled a rat, THX jerrymac for coming clean with the TRUTH.

08-27-2009, 11:16 AM	#1
JERRYMAC 35 YR. MASTER PLUMBER Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: HOUSTON, TEXAS Posts: 172 My Photos	No Pressure Relief On Tankless EAST GRANBY, Conn. - East Granby fire officials say an explosion that critically injured a couple last year was caused by a lack of pressure release valves in the home's hot water heater. The November explosion caused second- and third-degree burns to homeowners Lori and Ken Sullivan and to contractor Michael Alleana. Fire Marshal Kenneth Beliveau told The Hartford Courant that there should have been more than one valve to reduce pressure on the hot water heater. He says the Sullivans and Alleana were installing a tankless, "quick-fire" hot water heater when a spark ignited escaping gas, triggering the explosion. SORRY I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THIS STORY OUT BEFORE POSTING IT ! HAD TO DO WITH PROPANE GAS LEAK EXPLOSION WHILE TANKLESS WATER HEATER WAS BEING INSTALLED ! "NOT" T&P RELIEF VALVE JERRYMAC __________________ JERRYMAC JERRYMAC@TROJANWORLDWIDE.COM 35 YEAR MASTER PLUMBER SINCE JAN. 1989 TROJAN WORLDWIDE INC. SALES 281-706-1631 7 DYS A WEEK SALES AND SUPPORT Last edited by JERRYMAC; 08-27-2009 at 10:15 PM.. Reason: CHANGE OF STORY

08-27-2009, 07:37 PM	#4
Protech ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Polk County, Florida Posts: 7,167 My Photos	"Contractor".....does that mean plumbing contractor? If not, someones going to have allot of explaining to do. __________________ Plumber, Repiping, Replumbing, Leak Detection, Solar Water Heater, Drain Cleaner, Pipe Leak, Polk County Plumber, Lakeland Plumber, Winter Haven Plumber, Haines City Plumber, Bartow Plumber

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08-27-2009, 07:35 PM	#3
aero1 plumbing/gas contractor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: columbia S.C. Posts: 30 My Photos	sounds like an idiot install.

08-27-2009, 08:14 PM	#5
TheMaster Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6,437 My Photos	Sounds like they connected a water heater to a high pressure gas line without a pressure regulator,for some reason it leaked either due to the high pressure or there was just a gas leak close by. I dont think it had anything to do with a T&P valve but would like to hear the entire story.

08-28-2009, 01:35 PM	#7
ToUtahNow Cruise Director Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California/Nevada/Utah Posts: 2,414 My Photos	The story is poorly written but then again they never said the problem was due to water pressure. I'm wondering if it was a Natural Gas tankless installed in a Propane system. Mark

08-28-2009, 03:37 PM	#10
GREENPLUM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: ... Posts: 2,312 My Photos	I thought I smelled a rat, THX jerrymac for coming clean with the TRUTH.