Troubleshooting Guide (cont'd)
Start Up Conditions (cont'd)
CONDENSATIONSMOKEIODOR
Whenever the water heater is filled with cold water, a certain amount of condensation will form while the burner is on. A
water heater may appear to be leakingwben in fact the water is condensation. This usually happens when:
•When a new water heater is fdled with cold water for the first time.
•When gas burns and water vapor is produced in water heaters, particularly high efficiencymodels where flue tem- peratures are lower.
•When you use large amounts of hot water in a short time and the refill water is very cold.
Moisture from the products of combustion condense on the cooler tank surfaces and form drops of water which may fall onto the burner or other hot surfaces to produce a %izzling"or "fryi_" noise.
Excessive condensation can cause pilot outage due to water run- ning down the flue tube onto the main burner and putting out the pilot.
Because of the suddenness and amount of water, condensation
water may be diagnosedas a _tank leak". After the water in the tank warms up (about
disappear.
Do not assume the water heater is Leaking until there has been enough time for the water in the tank to warm up.
An undersized water heater will cause more condensation. The
water heater must be sized properly to meet the family's
demandsfor hot water includingdishwashers,washing machines and showerheads.
Excessive condensation may be noticed during the winter and
early spring months when incoming water temperatures are at their lowest.
Good venting is essential for a gas fired water heater to operate properly as well as to carry away products of combustion and water vapor.
&WARNING
HOTTER WATER CAN SCALD:. Water heatersare intendedto
Im,...,uce. hot water. Water heated to a tomperatore whichwill, satisfy clotheswashing,dishwashing,and other sanitizingneeds can scaldand permanentlyinjureyou uponcontact. Some peo- ple are more likelyto be permanentiyinjuredbyhot water than obhergTheseindudethe elderly,children,the infirm, or physical- ly/meotaEyhandicapped.If anyoneusinghot water in yourhome fits intoone of thesegroupsor If there isa Io¢.alcndeor statelaw
_ring a certeintomperaUa'e water at tbe hot watortap,then
sm must lake specialpmcautiens.In addition to usingthe lowest
KWZi/de,_at_e setting that satisfies _r bet wzt_- nee_
Lrn_u_ such _ a mfaing valve, should be used at the hot water
taps usedby thesepeople or at the water heater. Mixingvalves are availableat plumbingsupplyor hardwarestores,Followman- ufacturers instructions for installation of the valves. Before
changing the factory setting on the thermostat, read the "Temperature Regulation"set'denin thismanual,
It is not uncommon to experience a small amount of smoke and odor during the initial
Operational Conditions
SMELLY WATER
In each glasslined water heater there is installed at least one
anode rod (see parts section) for corrosion protection of the tank. Certain water conditions will cause a reactionbetween this
rod and the w_ter.The most common complaint associated with. the anode rod is one of a "rotten egg smell'. This odor is derived from hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water. The smell is the resultof four factors which'must all be present for the odor to develop:
a.a concenttation of sulfate in the supply water.
b.little or no dissolved oxygen in the water.
c.a sulfate reducing bacteria within the water heater. (This harmless bacteria is
d.an excessof active hydrogen in the tank. This is caused by the corrosion protective actionof the anode.
Smellywater may be eliminated or reduced in some water heater models by replacingthe anode(s) with one of lessactive material, and then chlorinating the water heater tank and all ,hot water lines. Contact Sears Service for further information concerning
an Anode Replacement Kit #9001453 and this Chlorination Treatment.
Iftbe smelly water pezsists after the anode replacement and chlo- rination treatment, we can only suggest that continuous chlori- nation and filtering conditioning equipment be considered to eliminate the waterproblem.
Do not remove the anode leaving the tank turl_rotected. By doing so, all warranty on the water heater tank Is voided,
"AIR" IN HOT WATER FAUCETS
AWARNING
HYDROGENGAS:Hydrogengascanbe producedin a hot watersymmlthat hasnot beenusedfor a longperiodoftime
(generallytwo weeksor more). Hydrogengasis extremely
flammableand explosiveTo. p_vant the possibilityof injury undertheseconditions,we recommendthe hot waterfaucet
be openedfor severalminutesat the kitchenrinkbeforeany elecUkala_lian_s whichareconnectedto thehatwatersys- tom are used(suchasa dishwasheror washingmachine).If hydrogengasis present, there will probablybe an unusual soundsimilarto air escapingthroughthe pipe_ the hotwater faucet is opened. Theremust be no smokingor open flame nearthefaucetat the timeit isopen.
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