Ruud AP13370-2 Draining the Water Heater, Routine Preventative Maintenance, Housekeeping

Care and cleaning of the water heater.

Draining the Water Heater

!CAUTION: Shut off gas to the water heater at the gas control (thermostat) gas cock or manual shut-off valve before draining water.

!DANGER: Before manually operating the temperature and pressure relief valve, make certain no one will be exposed to the hot water released by the valve. The water drained from the tank may be hot enough to present a scald hazard and should be directed to a suitable drain to prevent injury or damage.

In order to drain the water heater, turn off the cold water supply. Open a hot water faucet or lift the handle on the relief valve to admit air to the tank.

Attach a garden hose to the drain valve on the water heater and direct the stream of water to a drain. Open the valve.

DANGER: Before manually operating the

Routine Preventative Maintenance

relief valve, make certain no one will be exposed to the danger of the hot water released by the valve. The water may be hot enough to create a scald hazard. The water should be released into a suitable drain to prevent injury or property damage.

!DANGER: Hotter water increases the potential for Hot Water Scalds.

DANGER: Failure to perform the recommended Routine Preventative Maintenance can harm the proper operation of this water heater, which can cause carbon monoxide dangers, excessive

hot water temperatures and other potentially hazardous conditions.

Properly maintained, your water heater will provide years of dependable trouble- free service.

It is recommended that a periodic inspection of the gas control (thermostat), burner, relief valve, internal flue-way and venting system should be made by service personnel qualified in gas appliance repair.

It is suggested that a routine preventative maintenance program be established and followed by the user.

At least once a year, lift and release the lever handle on the temperature pressure relief valve, located near the top of the water heater, to make certain the valve operates freely. Allow several gallons to flush through the discharge line to an open drain.

NOTICE: If the temperature and pressure relief valve on the hot water heater discharges periodically, this may be due to thermal expansion in a closed water system. Contact the water supplier or your plumbing contractor on how to correct this. DO NOT plug the relief valve outlet.

A water heater’s tank can act as a settling basin for solids suspended in the water. It is therefore not uncommon for hard water deposits to accumulate in the bottom of the tank. If allowed to accumulate, these solids can cover the gas control

(thermostat) sensors, causing the sensors to operate erratically. Because accumulated solids can prevent the gas control (thermostat) sensors from accurately reading the water temperature, the water at the fixture can be hotter than the gas control (thermostat) dial setting. It is suggested that a few quarts of water be drained from the water heater’s tank every month to clean the tank of these deposits.

Rapid closing of faucets or solenoid valves in automatic water using appliances can cause a banging noise heard in a water pipe. Strategically located risers in the water pipe system or water hammer arresting devices can be used to minimize the problem.

The anode rod should be removed from the water heater’s tank annually for inspection and replaced when more than 6” (15.24cm) of core wire is exposed at either end of the rod.

Make sure the cold water supply is turned off before removing anode rod.

This water heater incorporates a combustion shut off device that shuts the operation of the water heater down if undesirable combustion conditions occur. Such as the presence of flammable vapors or blockage of the combustion air inlet openings. Please contact a Qualified Service Technician if this occurs.

!DANGER: Combustible materials, such as clothing, cleaning materials, or flammable liquids, etc., must not be placed against or next to the water heater.

Housekeeping

Vacuum around the base of the water heater for dust, dirt and lint on a regular basis. Visually inspect pilot burner and relight if necessary.

To ensure sufficient ventilation and combustion air supply, proper clearances must be maintained.

DO NOT block or obstruct any of the combustion air inlet openings located around the perimeter of the water heater. A minimum of 1” (2.54cm) is required between these combustion air inlet openings and any obstruction.

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