A temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve is a combination safety device that automatically discharges water from a hot water storage tank or water heater if either the internal temperature or pressure exceeds a safe threshold. A thermostat element extends into the tank through the valve body; when the water reaches the rated temperature, the element expands and opens the valve regardless of pressure — a critical failsafe against runaway heating even at normal pressure.
Plumbers, facilities engineers, and boiler/tank installers rely on T&P relief valves on every residential and commercial water heater, hot water storage tank, and unfired pressure vessel, because an uncontrolled steam buildup in a sealed tank can cause a violent tank rupture. Nearly every plumbing code (UPC, IPC) and most local jurisdictions mandate an ASME-rated T&P valve as a non-negotiable safety component, making it the standard protection device over pressure-only relief valves in domestic hot water service.
Common settings: 210°F temperature relief (standard on nearly all residential valves) paired with a pressure relief setting of 75, 100, 125, or 150 psi depending on the system's working pressure. Common connection size: 3/4" NPT male inlet × 3/4" NPT female outlet, with larger sizes for commercial tanks.
Quick-Reference Spec Glossary
- Temperature relief setting
- Opens the valve at a fixed temperature, typically 210°F (99°C)
- Pressure relief setting
- Opens the valve at a set pressure — 75, 100, 125, or 150 psi
- Connection size
- NPT male inlet / female outlet thread size (in.)
- Shank length
- Length of the sensing probe — standard, extended, or 8"+ for thick insulation
- Body material
- Brass, bronze, or lead-free copper alloy
- BTU/hr rating
- Maximum heater input the valve is certified to protect
- Test lever
- Manual lever for periodic function testing
- Certification
- ASME rated, CSA listed; lead-free (LF) models meet NSF/ANSI 372