36
for Your InforMatIon

start up condItIons

sMoKe/odor
Itisnotuncommontoexperienceasmallamountofsmokeand
odorduringtheinitialstart-up. Thisisduetoburning offofoil
frommetalparts,andwilldisappearinashortwhile.
therMal eXpansIon
Watersupplysystems may,because of such events as high
linepressure,frequent cut-offs, the effects of water hammer
amongothers,have installed devices such as pressure
reducingvalves,check valves, back flow preventers, etc.
tocontrolthese types of problems. When these devices
arenotequipped with an internal by pass, and no other
measuresaretaken, the devices cause the water system
tobeclosed.Aswaterisheated,itexpands(thermalexpansion)
andclosed systems do not allow for the expansion of
heated water.
Thewaterwithin the water tank expands as it is heated
andincreases the pressure of the water system. If the
relievingpointof the water heater ’s temperature-pressure
reliefvalveisreached,thevalvewillreleaseexcesspressure.The
temperature-pressurereliefvalveis notintendedforthe constant
reliefofthermalexpansion.Thisisanunacceptablecondition and
mustbe corrected. It is recommended that any devices
installedwhich could create a closed system have a
by-passand/or the system have an expansion tank
ordevice to relieve the pressure built by thermal
expansionin the water system. Expansion tanks are
available for ordering through a local plumbing
contractor.Contact the local water heater supplier
orqualifiedservice agencyforassistance incontrollingthese
situations.
stranGe sounds
Possiblenoisesduetoexpansionandcontractionofsomemetal
partsduringperiodsofheat-upandcool-downdonotnecessarily
representharmfulordangerousconditions.
Condensationcausessizzlingandpoppingwithintheburnerarea
duringheatingand coolingperiodsand shouldbeconsidered
normal.See“Condensate”inthissection.

operatIonal condItIons

sMellY water
Ineachwaterheaterthereisinstalledatleastoneanoderod(see
partssection)for corrosion protection of the tank. Certain water
conditions will cause a reaction between this rod and the water.
Themostcommoncomplaintassociatedwiththeanoderodisone
ofa“rotteneggsmell”inthehotwater.Thesmellisaresultoffour
factorswhichmustallbepresentfortheodortodevelop:
a.Aconcentrationofsulfateinthesupplywater.
b.Littleornodissolvedoxygeninthewater.
c.A sulfate reducing bacteria which has accumulated within the
waterheater(thisharmlessbacteriaisnontoxictohumans).
d.Anexcessofactivehydrogeninthetank.Thisiscaused bythe
corrosionprotectiveactionoftheanode.
Smellywatermaybeeliminatedor reducedinsomewaterheater
modelsbyreplacingtheanode(s)withoneoflessactivematerial,and
thenchlorinatingthewaterheater tankandallwaterlines. Contact
thelocalwater heater supplier or a qualied service agency for
furtherinformationconcerninganAnodeReplacementKitandthis
chlorinationtreatment.
Ifthesmellywaterpersistsaftertheanodereplacementandchlorination
treatment,wecanonlysuggestthatchlorinationoraerationof the
watersupplybeconsideredtoeliminatethewaterproblem.
do not remove the anode leaving the tank unprotected. By doing
so, all warranty on the water heater tank is voided.
“aIr” In hot water faucets
HYDROGENGAS:Hydrogengascanbeproducedin ahotwater
systemthathasnotbeenusedforalongperiodoftime(generally
twoweeksor more). Hydrogen gas is extremely ammable and
explosive.Topreventthepossibilityofinjuryundertheseconditions,
werecommendthe hot water faucet, located farthest away, be
openedforseveral minutes before any electrical appliances
whichareconnectedtothehotwatersystem areused(suchasa
dishwasherorwashingmachine).Ifhydrogengasispresent,there
willprobablybeanunusualsoundsimilartoairescapingthroughthe
pipeasthehotwaterfaucetisopened.Theremustbenosmoking
oropenamenearthefaucetatthetimeitisopen.