36
for Your InforMatIonstart up condItIons
sMoKe/odor
Itisnotuncommontoexperienceasmallamountofsmokeand
odorduringtheinitialstart-up. Thisisduetoburning offofoil
frommetalparts,andwilldisappearinashortwhile.
therMal eXpansIon
Watersupplysystems may,because of such events as high
linepressure,frequent cut-offs, the effects of water hammer
amongothers,have installed devices such as pressure
reducingvalves,check valves, back flow preventers, etc.
tocontrolthese types of problems. When these devices
arenotequipped with an internal by pass, and no other
measuresaretaken, the devices cause the water system
tobeclosed.Aswaterisheated,itexpands(thermalexpansion)
andclosed systems do not allow for the expansion of
heated water.
Thewaterwithin the water tank expands as it is heated
andincreases the pressure of the water system. If the
relievingpointof the water heater ’s temperature-pressure
reliefvalveisreached,thevalvewillreleaseexcesspressure.The
temperature-pressurereliefvalveis notintendedforthe constant
reliefofthermalexpansion.Thisisanunacceptablecondition and
mustbe corrected. It is recommended that any devices
installedwhich could create a closed system have a
by-passand/or the system have an expansion tank
ordevice to relieve the pressure built by thermal
expansionin the water system. Expansion tanks are
available for ordering through a local plumbing
contractor.Contact the local water heater supplier
orqualifiedservice agencyforassistance incontrollingthese
situations.
stranGe sounds
Possiblenoisesduetoexpansionandcontractionofsomemetal
partsduringperiodsofheat-upandcool-downdonotnecessarily
representharmfulordangerousconditions.
Condensationcausessizzlingandpoppingwithintheburnerarea
duringheatingand coolingperiodsand shouldbeconsidered
normal.See“Condensate”inthissection.
operatIonal condItIons
sMellY water
Ineachwaterheaterthereisinstalledatleastoneanoderod(see
partssection)for corrosion protection of the tank. Certain water
conditions will cause a reaction between this rod and the water.
Themostcommoncomplaintassociatedwiththeanoderodisone
ofa“rotteneggsmell”inthehotwater.Thesmellisaresultoffour
factorswhichmustallbepresentfortheodortodevelop:
a.Aconcentrationofsulfateinthesupplywater.
b.Littleornodissolvedoxygeninthewater.
c.A sulfate reducing bacteria which has accumulated within the
waterheater(thisharmlessbacteriaisnontoxictohumans).
d.Anexcessofactivehydrogeninthetank.Thisiscaused bythe
corrosionprotectiveactionoftheanode.
Smellywatermaybeeliminatedor reducedinsomewaterheater
modelsbyreplacingtheanode(s)withoneoflessactivematerial,and
thenchlorinatingthewaterheater tankandallwaterlines. Contact
thelocalwater heater supplier or a qualied service agency for
furtherinformationconcerninganAnodeReplacementKitandthis
chlorinationtreatment.
Ifthesmellywaterpersistsaftertheanodereplacementandchlorination
treatment,wecanonlysuggestthatchlorinationoraerationof the
watersupplybeconsideredtoeliminatethewaterproblem.
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
HYDROGENGAS:Hydrogengascanbeproducedin ahotwater
systemthathasnotbeenusedforalongperiodoftime(generally
twoweeksor more). Hydrogen gas is extremely ammable and
explosive.Topreventthepossibilityofinjuryundertheseconditions,
werecommendthe hot water faucet, located farthest away, be
openedforseveral minutes before any electrical appliances
whichareconnectedtothehotwatersystem areused(suchasa
dishwasherorwashingmachine).Ifhydrogengasispresent,there
willprobablybeanunusualsoundsimilartoairescapingthroughthe
pipeasthehotwaterfaucetisopened.Theremustbenosmoking
oropenamenearthefaucetatthetimeitisopen.