State Industries STC-080 manual Water Conditions, What WHY Prevention

RESIDENTIAL GAS, NON POWER VENTED, WATER HEATER

SERVICE HANDBOOK

WHY WATER HEATER TANKS LEAK -Continued

WATER CONDITIONS

WHAT	WHY	PREVENTION
“Hard” Water	“Hard” water contains minerals.	“Flush” the sand from the tank every 6
	As water is heated the minerals	months.
	separate from the water and	Delime the tank interior yearly.
	attach to hot surfaces within the	Install a water softener in hard water
	tank. In gas water heaters, these	areas. These should be adjusted
	minerals “insulate” the heat	according to manufacturer’s
	transfer surfaces conducting heat	recommendations, typically for 5 grains
	from the burner through to the	hardness.
	water. These surfaces become
	hotter than if they were clean.
	Hotter surfaces mean more
	expansion and contraction of the
	metal as the burner cycles on and
	off. The metal or weld joints
	crack.
Water	Water stored at 160°F (72 °C)	Begin with a water heater setting of
Temperature	may be twice as corrosive as	120°F (49°C) and increase only as
	water stored at 140°F (60°C)	necessary.
Usage	Each time the burner or elements	Purchasing a proper sized tank will
	cycle on and off, a small amount	minimize burner or element operation
	of metal expansion and	when only small quantities of hot water
	contraction take place. As	are used.
	bending a piece of wire back and
	forth will break the wire, this
	expansion and contraction will
	eventually crack tank joints or
	welds.

State Water Heater	24	Technical Training Department
© 2004		Ashland city, TN