FOREWORD
Thank you for buying this energy efficient water heater from A.O. Smith Water Products Company. We appreciate your confidence in our products. Detailed installation diagrams are in this manual. These diagrams will serve to provide the installer with a reference for the materials and method of piping suggested. IT IS NECESSARY THAT ALL WATER PIPING AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BE INSTALLED AND CONNECTED AS SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAMS.
In addition to these instructions, the equipment shall be installed in accordance with those installation regulations in force in the local area where the installation is to be made. Authorities having jurisdiction shall be consulted before installations are made.
GENERAL SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
BE SURE TO TURN OFF POWER WHEN WORKING ON OR NEAR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE HEATER. NEVER TOUCH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITH WET HANDS OR WHEN STANDING IN WATER. WHEN REPLACING FUSES ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT SIZE FOR THE CIRCUIT.
The principal components of the heater are identified on page 5. The model and rating plate on page 6 interprets certain markings into useful information. Both of these references should be used to identify the heater, its components and optional equipment.
WARNING
FOR CALIFORNIA INSTALLATION THIS WATER HEATER MUST BE BRACED, ANCHORED, OR STRAPPED TO AVOID FALLING OR MOVING DURING AN EARTHQUAKE. SEE INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR LOCAL DEALER, WHOLESALER, PUBLIC UTILITIES OR CALIFORNIA’S OFFICE OF STATE ARCHITECT, 400 P STREET, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814.
INSULATION BLANKETS
Insulation blankets available to the general public for external use on electric water heaters are not approved for use on your A.O. Smith water heater. The purpose of an insulation blanket is to reduce the standby heat loss encountered with storage tank water heaters. Your A. O. Smith water heater meets or exceeds the National Appliance Energy Act standards with respect to insulation and standby loss requirements, making an insulation blanket unnecessary.
WARNING
Should you choose to apply an insulation blanket to this heater, you should follow these instructions (See page 5 for identification of components mentioned below). Failure to follow these instructions can result in fire, asphyxiation, serious personal injury or death.
•Do not cover the temperature & pressure relief valve.
•Do not cover the instruction manual. Keep it on the side of the water heater or nearby for future reference.
•Do obtain new labels from A. O. Smith for placement on the blanket directly over the existing labels.
EXTENDED NON-USE PERIODS
CAUTION
HYDROGEN GAS CAN BE PRODUCED IN A HOT WATER SYSTEM SERVED BY THIS HEATER THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME (GENERALLY TWO WEEKS OR MORE). HYDROGEN GAS IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. To reduce the risk of injury under these conditions, it is recommended that the hot water faucet be opened for several minutes at a nearby kitchen sink before using any electrical appliance connected to the hot water system. If hydrogen is present, there will probably be an unusual sound such as air escaping through the pipe as the water begins to flow. THERE SHOULD BE NO SMOKING OR OPEN FLAME NEAR THE FAUCET AT THE TIME IT IS OPENED.
CAUTION
AN ELECTRICAL GROUND IS REQUIRED TO REDUCE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION. THE GROUND SCREW AT THE JUNCTION BOX IS FOR BONDING THE HEATER TO A GROUNDED SERVICE ENTRANCE CONDUCTOR, A GROUNDED SERVICE ENTRANCE RACEWAY, OR AN EARTH GROUNDING ELECTRODE CONDUCTOR.
WARNING
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
REQUIRED ABILITY
INSTALLATION OR SERVICE OF THIS WATER HEATER REQUIRES ABILITY EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF A LICENSED TRADESMAN IN THE FIELD INVOLVED. PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WORK ARE REQUIRED.
GENERAL
The installation must conform to these instructions, the local code authority having jurisdiction, and the requirements of the power company. In the absence of code requirements follow the latest edition of NFPA-70, The National Electrical Code which may be ordered from: National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269.
LOCATION
The water heater should be located as close as possible to/or centralized to the water piping system. The water heater should be located in an area not subject to freezing temperatures.
The heater should be located in an area where leakage of the tank or connections will not result in damage to the area adjacent to the heater or to lower floors of the structure.
When such locations cannot be avoided, a suitable drain pan should be installed under the heater.
Such pans should be at least two inches deep, have a minimum length and width of at least two inches greater than the diameter of the heater and should be piped to an adequate drain.
Drain pans suitable for these heaters are available from your distributor or A. O. Smith Products Service Division, 5621 W. 115th Street, Alsip, IL 60803.
