As homeowners in Florida, we trusted Neal Communities to construct a code-compliant, safe home. But during our professional inspection, we discovered a serious omission on our pool equipment: it is missing a required Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve (TPR Valve). This component is not just a recommended safety feature—it is required under the 2020 Florida Building Code.
In this post, we’ll explain what a TPR valve is, why it matters, what the 2020 Florida Building Code requires—and most importantly, how homeowners can check if their system includes one. If you don’t see a TPR valve on your pool equipment, we recommend contacting Neal Communities’ warranty department and requesting written confirmation that your system is compliant with Florida Building Code M2006.3 and the manufacturer’s installation specifications.
So what exactly does a TPR valve do—and why does the code require it?
🔧 What Is a TPR Valve and Why Is It Critical?
A Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve (TPR valve) is a small mechanical device with a life-saving purpose: it is designed to automatically release water if the temperature or pressure inside a sealed system exceeds safe limits.
This prevents excess pressure from building up in the system—a condition that, in rare but documented cases, can result in violent equipment rupture, property damage, or even personal injury.
TPR valves are standard safety components recognized by plumbing codes, manufacturer installation manuals, and public safety agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They are not optional.
Without a TPR valve:
- There is no relief point for excess pressure or temperature buildup
- Malfunctions (such as a stuck thermostat or failed pump) can go unchecked
- The system may be exposed to mechanical failure or bursting
This is why the valve is explicitly required by code. Its absence on our pool system is not only a legal issue—it is a safety concern that no homeowner should ignore.
📜 What the 2020 Florida Building Code Says
According to the 2020 Florida Building Code – Mechanical, Section M2006.3, all applicable pool equipment is required to have a temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve) installed on the outlet side of the heat exchanger. This is not a suggestion—it is a mandatory safety requirement under Florida law.
🔗 Link to Code: 2020 Florida Building Code, Residential, 7th Edition M2006.3
According to the Home Inspection Report, our pool system does not have this required component. That means it violates Florida Building Code, and also lacks a basic, well-established safety mechanism.
🔍 What Our Master Home Inspector Has Found
During a full home inspection conducted by a licensed master home inspector, we were informed that our pool equipment does not include a TPR valve. This finding was documented in our inspection report. Here’s the relevant excerpt:
We are also including a photo of our current pool equipment setup. As shown, there is no TPR valve present:
As homeowners, this raises significant safety and code compliance concerns for us.
🛑 What Are the Potential Risks?
While malfunctions are rare, the risks associated with missing a TPR valve are well documented in industry literature and public safety guidelines.
They include:
- Overheated water or pressure with no release mechanism
- Potential rupture or discharge from sealed systems
- Damage to equipment, surrounding property, or injury in extreme cases
- TPR valves are specifically designed to prevent this kind of failure. Their absence increases the likelihood of damage if something goes wrong.
We are not suggesting that a failure is imminent. However, as homeowners, we believe every required safety mechanism should be in place—especially one designed to prevent catastrophic failure and required by Florida Building Codes.
🧾 Why We’re Speaking Out
We are sharing this information for two reasons:
Transparency: We believe homeowners have the right to know if their property complies with building safety codes—especially when it comes to pool and water heating systems.
Awareness: If this issue happened in our home, it may have occurred in others. We strongly encourage all Neal Communities homeowners —especially in newly built homes under the 2020 Florida Building Code —to confirm whether a TPR valve is present on their system, and whether it complies with manufacturer guidelines and Florida law.
✔️ What Neal Communities Homeowners Can Do Right Now
If you’re a Neal Communities homeowner with a pool system—especially in a recently built home that was built under the 2020 Florida Building Code—you should not assume everything is up to code. Builders make mistakes. Sometimes serious ones.
Here’s what you can do today to protect your home and your family:
Physically inspect your pool equipment.
- Look for a Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve (TPR valve) on the outlet side of the heat exchanger (this is typically near the pool heater or filter equipment). It should look like a small valve with a discharge pipe attached.
- If you don’t see a TPR valve—or you’re unsure what to look for—take a photo of your equipment and email it to your warranty department. Ask them to confirm, in writing, whether your system meets the 2020 Florida Building Code – Mechanical, Section M2006.3, and the equipment manufacturer’s specifications.
- If the valve is missing, request that the builder install it immediately, using a licensed contractor, and provide written verification that the system is now code-compliant.
This is a simple step that could prevent serious consequences—and in our view, the builder should be responsible for correcting any confirmed code violations or safety-related omissions.
🧱 Why Installing a Missing TPR Valve Matters—Now, Not Later
If your pool system is missing a Temperature and Pressure Relief (TPR) valve, you shouldn’t wait for something to go wrong. Here’s why addressing this issue promptly is not just smart—it’s necessary:
🔒 1. It’s a Required Safety Mechanism
A TPR valve is designed to protect against dangerous pressure and temperature buildup in your pool system. Without it, a malfunction—such as a stuck thermostat or failed pump—could cause equipment failure or even a pressure-related rupture.
While such events are rare, they do happen, and the consequences can be severe. Fixing this now protects your home, your family, and your peace of mind.
🏠 2. It Could Affect Your Home Sale
When you sell your home, any serious buyer is likely to hire a licensed home inspector. If they find that your pool equipment is missing a code-required safety device, they will flag it as a defect.
At that point, one of two things will happen:
- You’ll have to fix it before closing—potentially under tight deadlines
- Or the buyer may use it to negotiate a lower sale price
- In many cases, a missing TPR valve becomes a point of leverage against the seller—something that’s easily avoidable by handling it proactively.
📜 3. It’s a Code Violation—and You Inherit the Liability
Even if your builder installed the equipment without the valve, you own the home now. If a future incident occurs due to a missing safety device, liability could potentially fall on the current homeowner, particularly if the issue was known and left unaddressed.
If the valve was omitted during construction, that may be the builder’s responsibility—but in our experience, code enforcement and insurance claims often focus on the current homeowner when evaluating compliance or liability.
🧰 4. Insurance and Warranties May Be Affected
Some home insurance policies and home warranties contain clauses that limit coverage if code violations or known safety hazards are present. If a claim is made involving the pool equipment, insurers may deny coverage if the system wasn’t up to code at the time of the incident.
🧠 Final Thoughts
We did not expect to uncover this kind of issue in a brand-new home. And we are not accusing anyone of malicious intent. But the facts are what they are: our pool system appears to be missing a component required under state law.
We believe safety should never be optional. And we believe every homeowner deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing their home was built to code.
If you’re unsure whether your system includes this valve, have it checked. If it’s missing, contact your builder’s warranty department and request written confirmation of code compliance or a corrective repair.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This post reflects our personal experience as homeowners and is based on information from our licensed home inspector and publicly available building codes. We encourage all readers to consult licensed professionals or legal advisors for guidance specific to their situation.
