Hi All, just installed a HP water heater and had a phone call with the inspector. He asked for a vacuum breaker, which I must admit I wasn't sure I needed (not something you see on older installations, which is why it didn't already exist on my system). But I read the 2018 IPC which calls for vacuum breakers to be installed on bottom fed water heaters in section 504.2. I am wondering if there's a required location for this to be installed, the manufacturer shows it near the PRV for the water entering the house, but they also show a ball valve between the vacuum breaker and the WH, I feel like our picky inspector will balk at that. I've attached a photo of the install, where would you install a vacuum breaker in this system? For reference, the WH installed is an AO Smith HPTU-50N, manual can be found on their website.
VTP99, I actually don't recall. I interpreted it as Vacuum breaker. Is there a difference between vacuum relief and vacuum breaker? I am a little confused by the 2018 IPC reference to ANSI Z21.22 which seems to refer to P&T Relief Valves insofar as I can tell.
Ah, I now see the difference. I assume he wants a vacuum relief valve. Which is the device I thought I needed, but was using the wrong terminology. I need a vacuum relief valve, and I believe it needs to be installed above the elevation of the tank.
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