AquaStar 38B LP, 38B NG specifications Maintenance and Service, Characteristic Pilot Flame

MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE

Approximately once a year, the AquaStar should be checked, cleaned and serviced as necessary. To remove the front cover, first remove the incandescent particle tray, then pull off the temperature adjustment knob, unscrew and remove the plastic collar and unscrew the central screw located at the bottom of the front cover. Pull main cover out toward you and lift up and out. THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSON:

Vent System: Should be checked annually. Clean and repair as needed.

Water Valve (Part # 8707002497): The water valve on this heater should be serviced periodically The frequency will depend on the mineral content of the water and conditions of use or whenever signs of corrosion appear at the gas and water valve joint. Check that the water inlet filter (#25 on Figure 10, page 14) is clean.

Pilot Flame: The pilot flame should burn with a clean sharp blue flame and should resemble the diagram in Fig 7. If the flame is yellow, or if the pilot knob has to remain depressed for a long time in order to keep the pilot lighted, the pilot burner and or the pilot burner orifice may need to be cleaned, the orifice may need to be replaced, and or the air screen or pilot gas filter may need cleaning. The pilot flame should envelop approximately 10 mm (3/8") of the tip of the thermocouple. If it is too small, the pilot burner must be cleaned. The position of the Piezo igniter electrode should be approximately 3 mm (1/8") from the pilot.

3mm

Correct gap between pilot burner tip and electrode tip

Piezo Electrode

Air screen filter

10mm 3/8”

Thermocouple

Piezo

Electrode

Fig. 7 - Characteristic Pilot Flame

To clean the pilot burner and/ or the pilot orifice : Turn off the gas at the unit. Remove the cover of the heater. To do so, remove the incandescent particle tray, pull off the temperature adjustment knob and unscrew and remove the knob collar. Unscrew the central screw located at the bottom of the front cover. Pull main cover out toward you and lift up and out. Pull the air screen off, wash it and blow any lint off (See Fig 8). The pilot orifices should also be cleaned or replaced. Do not enlarge the orifice. Do not use any wire or sharp object to clean orifices. Natural gas orifices are large enough that you can usually clean them by blowing through them. LP orifices, on the other hand, are too small to clean and should be replaced. See #3 in Trouble Shooting Section. To access the pilot orifice, remove 2 screws holding pilot assembly in place. Then loosen compression fittings to expose pilot orifice.

AIR SCREEN

PILOT ORIFICE

Fig. 8 - Pilot burner with air screen/ pilot orifice

Main Burner Flames: The main burner flames should be blue, with a more intense blue cone in the center core. Yellow flames could be a sign of wrong size gas orifices or dirty burners, or a blockage on the heat exchangers fins. If some burners have yellow flames while others have good flames, it is likely that dust, lint or spider webs have partially clogged the burner venturis. To clean the burners contact a gas service person.

Mineral Scale Build-up: AquaStars, when operated at lower temperature settings, tend not to accumulate mineral buildup. If however, the heater is used at the higher temperature settings and the water has a high mineral content, periodic descaling may be necessary. The heating coils should be flushed with a descaling solution. Consult your dealer or Controlled Energy for instructions.

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