GSW 319594-000 manual VOPERATION Burner Flames, Operational Conditions, Condensation, Smoke/Odour

V)OPERATION Burner Flames

Inspect the burner flames through the viewport and com- pare them to the drawings in Figure 26. A properly operat- ing burner should produce a soft blue flame. Blue tips with light blue inner cones are satisfactory. The tips of the flame may have a slight yellow tint. The flame should not be all yellow or have a sharp blue-orange colour. Contaminated air may cause an orange coloured flame. Contact a qualified service technician if the flame is not satisfactory.

BLUE TIPS

LIGHT BLUE INNER
		INCORRECT
CONES ARE SATIS-
		FLAME LAZY
FACTORY
		YELLOW
	CORRECT FLAME
	SOFT BLUE

Figure 26 Flame Characteristics

Operational Conditions

Condensation

Moisture from the products of combustion condenses on the tank surface and forms drops of water that may fall onto the burner or other hot surfaces. This will produce a "sizzling" or "frying" noise. This condensation is normal and should not be confused with a leaking tank. Condensation may increase or decrease at different times of the year. High effi- cient energy saver water heaters will produce larger amounts of condensation on initial start-up or when a large amount of hot water is being used. Do not confuse this with a "tank leak". Once the water reaches a temperature of 49°C (120°F) and the tank warms up (usually 1-2 hours), the condensation will stop.

Important: It is always recommended that a suitable drain pan be installed under the water heater to protect the area from water damage resulting from condensation, a leaking tank or piping connections. Refer to "Location Requirements". Under no circumstances is the manufactur- er to be held responsible for any water damage in connec- tion with this water heater.

Water Heater Sounds

During the normal operation of the water heater, sounds or noises may be heard. These noises are common and may result from the following:

1.Normal expansion and contraction of metal parts during periods of heat-up and cool-down.

2.Condensation causes sizzling and popping within the burner area and should be considered normal.

3.Sediment buildup in the tank bottom will create varying amounts of noise and may cause premature tank fail- ure. Drain and flush the tank as directed under "Draining and Flushing".

Smoke/Odour

The water heater may give off a small amount of smoke and odour during the initial start-up of the unit. This is due to the burning off of oil from metal parts of a new unit and will dis- appear after a few minutes of operation.

Anode Rod/Water Odour

Each water heater contains at least one anode rod, which will slowly deplete while protecting the glass-lined tank from corrosion and prolonging the life of the water heater. Once the anode is depleted, the tank will start to corrode, eventu- ally developing a leak. Certain water conditions will cause a reaction between this rod and the water. The most common complaint associated with the anode rod is a "rotten egg smell" produced from the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water. Do not remove this rod perma- nently as it will void any warranties, stated or implied. A special anode can be ordered if water odour or discoloura- tion occurs. This rod may reduce, if not eliminate, water odour problems. The water supply system may require special filtration equipment from water conditioning compa- ny to successfully eliminate all water odour problems. Artificially softened water is exceedingly corrosive because the process substitutes sodium ions for magnesium and cal- cium ions. The use of a water softener may decrease the life of the water heater tank. The anode rod should be inspect- ed every year. If the rod is more than 50% depleted, the anode rod should be replaced. See “Anode Rod Replacement” in the Maintenance section of this manual.

VI) MAINTENANCE

Draining and Flushing

It is recommended that the tank be drained and flushed every 6 months to remove sediment that may build up dur- ing operation. The water heater should be drained if being shut down during freezing temperatures. To drain the tank, perform the following steps:

1.Turn off the gas to the water heater at the manual gas shut-off valve.

2.Turn off the electrical supply to the water heater.

3.Close the cold-water inlet valve.

4.Open a nearby hot-water faucet.

5.Connect a hose to the drain valve and terminate it to an adequate drain.

Note: The drain hose should be rated for at least 93°C (200°F). If the drain hose does not have this rating, open the cold-water inlet valve and a nearby hot-water faucet until the water is no longer hot.

6.Open the water heater drain valve and allow all the water to drain from the tank. Flush the tank with water as needed to remove sediment.

7.Close the drain valve, refill the tank, and restart the heater as directed under "Water Heater Operation".

If the water heater is going to be shut down for an extended period, the drain valve should be left open.

Important: Condensation may occur when refilling the tank and should not be confused with a tank leak.

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