American Water Heater 6510319 Checking the Draft, Water Temperature Regulation

Stacking

Stacking occurs when a series of short draws of hot water (3 gallons or less) are taken from the water heater tank. This causes increased cycling of the burner and can result in increased water temperatures at the hot water outlet. An anti-scald device is recommended in the hot water supply line to reduce the risk of scald injury.

Emergency Shut Down

Important: Should overheating occur or the gas supply fails to shut off, turn off the water heater’s manual gas control valve and call a qualified service technician.

Incorrect flame

lazy yellow

Correct flame

soft blue

Yellow inner cones are satisfactory

Tips may have a yellow tint

Inspect the burner

flames through the viewport and compare

them to the drawings in Figure 18. A properly operating burner

should produce a soft blue flame. Blue tips with yellow inner cones

are satisfactory. The tips of the flame may have a slight yellow tint. The flame should not be all yellow or have a sharp blue-orange color. Contaminated air may cause an orange colored flame. Contact a qualified service technician if the flame is not satisfactory.

Figure 18

Flame Characteristics

Burner Flames

Relief

Opening

Match

Figure 17

Checking the Draft

Burn Hazard

Do not touch vent.

Doing so can result in burns.

After successfully lighting the water heater, allow the unit to operate for 15 minutes and check the drafthood relief opening for proper draft. Pass a match flame around the relief opening of

the drafthood. A steady

flame drawn into the opening indicates proper draft. If the flame flutters or is blown out, combustion products are escaping from

the relief opening. If this occurs, do not operate the water heater until proper

adjustments or repairs are made to the vent pipe system.

Water Temperature Regulation

Water temperature over 125°F can cause severe burns instantly or death from scalds.

Children, disabled and elderly are at highest risk of being scalded.

Feel water before bathing or showering.

Temperature limiting valves are recommended.

The thermostat is adjusted to its lowest temperature when it is shipped from the factory. Water temperature can be regulated by moving the temperature dial to the preferred setting. The preferred starting point is 120°F. Align the index bar on the thermostat with the desired water temperature as shown in Figure 19.

There is a hot water scald potential if the thermostat is set too high.

Important: Adjusting the thermostat past the 120°F bar on the temperature dial will increase the risk of scald injury. Hot water can produce first degree burns within:

120°F (49°C) more than 5 minutes 130°F (54°C) at 20 seconds 140°F (60°C) at 3 seconds 150°F (66°C) at 1-1/2 seconds 160°F (71°C) at less than 1 second

Figure 19

Robertshaw Gas Valve/Thermostat

Settings

130°F 120°F

	UNITROL
	READ W
	BEFORE	ARNING
	ALL		INSTRUCTIONS
	T		LIGHTING
H	O
			WA
	C		R
			M
	AU
	TI
	O
	N
				V
				A
				C
				A
			NO	I T

Reset

Button

Gas

Control

Knob

Dial

Stop

Index

Bars

130°F

Bar

Bar Bar

W

A

R

UTIO

M

A

N

T

C

O

H

W

H

R

S

Y

V

H

A

E

O TTE

A

T

E

A

R

E

RI

T

R INCRE

S

U

C

J

S

K

IN

TA

LD

OF SCA

I

O

N

Note: During low demand periods when hot water is not being used, a lower thermostat setting will reduce energy losses and may satisfy your normal hot water needs. If hot water use is expected to be more than normal, a higher thermostat setting may be required to meet the increased demand. When leaving your home for extended periods (vacations, etc.) turn the temperature dial to its lowest setting. This will maintain the water at low temperatures with minimum energy losses and prevent the tank from freezing during cold weather.

18