Help with Hot water T&P valve

[Scooby074]

Im installing a new hot water tank.

The one im replacing was a 30 gal and im going to upsize it to a 40.

The problem is that the tank location is built into a closet so i have a fixed height of 52" to work with. The tank is 49" to the top of the hot out nipple.

The T&P is supposed to mount down through a T on the hot nipple and stick in the tank. This wont work with my location because it ends up being around 53.5" tall.

So what i was thinking is to mount the T horizontal and install the T&P into a horizontal pipe off the T. (see pic).

I know that the preferred install is to have the temp probe sticking into the tank itself, but will it function as well installing it the way i want? I will ensure that the end of the temp probe is directly above the Hot nipple on the tank.

 

[2manyrocks]

Your water heater doesn't have a side inlet to mount the T & P?

I'd call customer service and discuss it with the manufacturer. The T & P valve is critical to water heater safety.

 

[kennyd]

Your water heater doesn't have a side inlet to mount the T & P?

That's what I was thinking...I have never seen a WH without a dedicated port on the side for the safety valve.

 

[tommu56]

It will work on the side like that try and pitch outler down a little so water would run away from from valve.

tom

 

[Scooby074]

Thanks guys. I had a bad vibe about doing it so i listened to my gut and disassembled the cabinet and mounted it up higher to gain some clearance so the T&P is mounted correctly with the probe in the tank. Unfortunately there is no side port for the t&p on this model.

BUT now i have another problem

THis is a brand new Giant brand tank. But im not getting real hot water like i should.

I checked the amperage that the tank is drawing, only around 11.5A so im thinking that its only running on one element.

The lower element isnt drawing anything.

I removed the leads off the element and there was only 35v there between red and black however between the RED and ground i had 120V but between black and ground i had 0v.

I checked the wires between the lower element and the thermostat (near the upper element ) and the wires have continuity.

there is no power on the black terminal ( on the thermostat) that goes to the lower element, however there is 120 on the red terminal that goes to the lower.

So after all that, is it possible that the thermostat is bad on the black terminal to the lower element?

 

[Scooby074]

After A little reasearch it looks like the elements should cycle. Theres lots of hot water there today. I think i just didnt leave it long enough before checking the water temp.

 

[Mgrove]

Top element always heats first, that gives you faster recovery. When the top is heated, it switches to the lower element. If top element burns out, you will get no hot water, but if the lower one burns out, you will get hot water, but slow recovery.