American Water Heater BCG3 Contaminated Air, Air Requirements, Valve Discharge Pipe Requirements

No valve or other obstruction is to be placed between the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve and the tank. Do not connect discharge piping directly to the drain unless a 6” (15.2 cm) air gap is provided. To prevent bodily injury, hazard to life, or property damage, the relief valve must be allowed to discharge water in adequate quantities should circumstances demand. If the discharge pipe is not connected to a drain or other suitable means, the water flow may cause property damage.

CAUTION

Water Damage Hazard

•Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve discharge pipe must terminate at adequate drain.

T&P Valve Discharge Pipe Requirements:

•Shall not be smaller in size than the outlet pipe size of the valve, or have any reducing couplings or other restrictions.

•Shall not be plugged or blocked.

•Shall not be exposed to freezing temperatures.

•Shall be of material listed for hot water distribution.

•Shall be installed so as to allow complete drainage of both the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve and the discharge pipe.

•Must terminate a maximum of six inches above a floor drain or external to the building. In cold climates, it is recommended that the discharge pipe be terminated at an adequate drain inside the building.

•Shall not have any valve or other obstruction between the relief valve and the drain.

Burn hazard.

Hot water discharge.

Keep clear of Temperature- Pressure Relief Valve discharge outlet.

The Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve must be manually operated at least twice a year. Caution should be taken to ensure that (1) no one is in front of or around the outlet of the Temperature- Pressure Relief Valve discharge line, and (2) the water manually discharged will not cause any bodily injury or property damage because the water may be extremely hot. If after manually operating the valve, it fails to completely reset and continues to release water, immediately close the cold water inlet to the water heater, follow the draining instructions in this manual, and replace the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve with a properly rated/sized new one.

NOTE: The purpose of a Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve is to prevent excessive temperatures and pressures in the storage tank. The T&P valve is not intended for the constant relief of thermal expansion. A properly sized thermal expansion tank must be installed on all closed systems to control thermal expansion, see Closed Water Systems and Thermal Expansion on page 13.

If you do not understand these instructions or have any questions

regarding the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve call the toll free number listed on the back cover of this manual for technical assistance.

Contaminated Air

Breathing Hazard - Carbon Monoxide Gas

Install water heater in accordance with the Instruction Manual and NFPA 54 or CAN/CSA-B149.1.

To avoid injury, combustion and ventilation air must be taken from outdoors.

Do not place chemical vapor emitting products near water heater.

Breathing carbon monoxide can cause brain damage or death. Always read and understand instruction manual.

Corrosion of the flue ways and vent system may occur if air for combustion contains certain chemical vapors. Such corrosion may result in failure and risk of asphyxiation.

Combustion air that is contaminated can greatly diminish the life span of the water heater and water heater components such as hot surface igniters and burners. Propellants of aerosol sprays, beauty shop supplies, water softener chemicals and chemicals used in dry cleaning processes that are present in the combustion, ventilation or ambient air can cause such damage.

Do not store products of this sort near the water heater. Air which is brought in contact with the water heater should not contain any of these chemicals. If necessary, uncontaminated air should be obtained from remote or outdoor sources. The limited warranty is voided when failure of water heater is due to a corrosive atmosphere. (See limited warranty for complete terms and conditions).

Air Requirements

Breathing Hazard - Carbon Monoxide Gas

Install water heater in accordance with the Instruction Manual and NFPA 54 or CAN/CSA-B149.1.

To avoid injury, combustion and ventilation air must be taken from outdoors.

Do not place chemical vapor emitting products near water heater.

Breathing carbon monoxide can cause brain damage or death. Always read and understand instruction manual.

For safe operation an adequate supply of fresh uncontaminated air for combustion and ventilation must be provided.

An insufficient supply of air can cause recirculation of combustion products resulting in contamination that may be hazardous to life. Such a condition often will result in a yellow, luminous burner flame, causing sooting of the combustion chamber, burners and flue tubes and creates a risk of asphyxiation.

Do not install the water heater in a confined space unless an adequate supply of air for combustion and ventilation is brought in to that space using the methods described in the Confined Space section that follows.

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