Whirlpool 188414 User Manual

For protection against excessive pressures and 
temperatures, a temperature and pressure relief valve 
must be installed in the opening marked “T & P RELIEF 
VALVE” (See Figure 5).

Caution: To reduce the risk of excessive pressures and 
temperatures in this water heater, install temperature 
and pressure relief protective equipment required by 
local codes, but not less than a combination 
temperature and pressure relief valve certified by a 
nationally recognized testing laboratory that maintains 
periodic inspection of the production of listed equipment 
or materials, as meeting the requirements for Relief 
Valves and Automatic Shutoff Devices for Hot Water 
Supply Systems, ANSI Z21.22 -1986. This valve must 
be marked with the maximum set pressure not to 
exceed the marked maximum working pressure of the 
water heater. Install the valve into an opening provided 
and marked for this purpose in the water heater, and 
orient it or provide tubing so that any discharge from the 
valve exits only within 6 inches above, or at any 
distance below, the structural floor, and does not 
contact any live electrical part. The discharge opening 
must not be blocked or reduced in size under any 
circumstance.

Please note the following:

DO NOT install this water heater with iron piping. 
The system should be installed only with new piping 
that is suitable for potable (drinkable) water such as 
copper, CPVC, or polybutylene. DO NOT use PVC 
water piping.

DO NOT use any pumps, valves, or fittings that are 
not compatible with potable water. 

DO NOT use valves that may cause excessive 
restriction to water flow. Use full flow ball or gate 
valves only. 

DO NOT use 50/50 tin-lead solder (or any lead 
based solder) in potable water lines. Use 95/5 tin-
antimony or other equivalent material.

DO NOT tamper with the electronic control board, 
temperature sensors, heating elements, electrical 
connections, or temperature and pressure relief 
valve. Tampering voids all warranties. Only qualified 
service technicians should service these 
components.

DO NOT use with piping that has been treated with 
chromates, boiler seal, or other chemicals. 

DO NOT add any chemicals to the system piping 
which will contaminate the potable water supply.

Periodic discharge of the temperature and pressure 
relief valve may be due to thermal expansion in a 
closed water supply system. The water utility supply 
meter may contain a check valve, backflow preventer, 
or water pressure reducing valve. This will create a 
closed water system. During the heating cycle of the 
water heater, the water expands causing pressure 
inside the water heater to increase. This may cause the 
temperature and pressure relief valve to discharge 
small quantities of hot water. To prevent this, it is 
recommended that a diaphragm-type expansion tank 
(suitable for potable water) be installed on the cold 
water supply line. The expansion tank must have a 
minimum capacity of 1.5 U.S. gallons for every 50 
gallons of stored water. Contact the local water supplier 
or plumbing inspector for information on other methods 
to control this situation.

 Do not plug or remove the temperature and 
pressure relief valve.