State Industries SSED 5 Maintenance, Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve Operation, Flushing

MAINTENANCE

General

Water heater maintenance includes inspection and testing of the Temperature Pressure Relief Valve, periodic tank flushing and cleaning, and removal of lime scale from the heating elements. Where used, water heating system circulating pumps should be oiled.

Tank flushing and circulating pump lubrication should be performed in accordance with the maintenance schedule, see Table 7. Tank sediment removal and element lime scale removal must be performed when needed as determined by periodic inspections.

Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve Operation

Explosion Hazard

Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve must comply with ANSI Z21.22- CSA 4.4 and ASME code.

Properly sized Temperature-Relief Valve must be installed in opening provided.

DANGER

•Burn hazard.

•Hot water discharge.

•Keep clear of Temperature Pressure Relief Valve discharge outlet.

Can result in overheating and excessive tank pressure.

Can cause serious injury or death.

It is recommended that the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve should be checked to ensure that it is in operating condition every 6 months. When checking the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve operation, make sure that (1) no one is in front of or around the outlet of the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve discharge line, and (2) that the water discharge will not cause any property damage, as water may be extremely hot. Use care when operating valve as valve may be hot.

To check the relief valve, lift the lever at the end of the Temperature- Pressure Relief Valve several times, see Figure 6. The valve should seat properly and operate freely.

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 and drain the water heater, see Draining And Flushing on page 15. Replace the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve with a properly rated/sized new one, see Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve

on page 8 for instructions on replacement.

FIGURE 6.

If the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve on the water heater weeps or discharges periodically, this may be due to thermal expansion.

Note: Excessive water pressure is the most common cause of Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve leakage. Excessive water system pressure is most often caused by “thermal expansion” in a “closed system.” See Closed Water Systems and Thermal Expansion on page 9. The Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve is not intended for the constant relief of thermal expansion.

Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve leakage due to pressure build up in a closed system that does not have a thermal expansion tank installed is not covered under the limited warranty. Thermal expansion tanks must be installed on all closed water systems.

Do not plug the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve opening. This can cause property damage, serious injury or death.

Component	Operation	Interval	Required
	Flushing	Monthly
Tank	Sediment	As Needed
	Removal
	Lime Scale		UN-LIME
Elements		As Needed	delimer and
	Removal
			element gaskets

table 7. maintenance schedule.

Flushing

To flush the water heater:

1.Turn off the electrical supply to the water heater at the breaker or disconnect switch.

2.Turn off the pilot toggle switch on the water heater.

3.Ensure the cold water inlet valve is open.

4.Open a nearby hot water faucet and let the water run until the water is no longer hot. Then close the hot water faucet.

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

6.Ensure the drain hose is secured before and during the entire flushing procedure. Flushing is performed with system water pressure applied to the water heater.

7.Open the water heater drain valve to flush.

8.Flush the water heater to remove sediment and allow the water to flow until it runs clean.

9.Close the water heater drain valve when flushing is completed.

10.Remove the drain hose.

11.Fill the water heater – see the Filling The Water Heater section in this manual on page 15.

12.Turn on the electrical supply to the water heater.

13.Turn on the pilot toggle switch on the water heater.

14.Place the water heater back in operation. Allow the water heater to complete several heating cycles to ensure it is operating properly.

SEDIMENT REMOVAL

Water borne impurities consist of fine particles of soil and sand which settle out and form a layer of sediment on the bottom of the tank. In time, if not removed, the level of sediment might reach the heating elements and cause their failure.

For convenience, sediment removal and element lime scale removal should be performed at the same time as follows.

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