16 • Residential Standard Gas Water Service Handbook
C
OMMON ISSUE
S
Temperature Too High
Scalding Risk
A water heater can
make water hot
enough to cause
severe burns instantly, resulting
in severe injury or death. Higher
temperatures increase the risk of
scalding, but even at 120°F, hot water
can scald. See Table 2 on page 8
before proceeding. Thermostatic
mixing valves at each point of
use reduce the risk of scalding.
If the water temperature is too hot:
•
Install or adjust the thermostatic
mixing valves for each point-of-use
(see manufacturer’s instructions), or
• Adjust the temperature setting on
the water heater. See “Temperature
Settings” on page 7.
Low Water Pressure
Check both the cold and hot water at a
sink to determine if the lower pressure
is only on the hot water side. If the low
pressure is on the hot water side only,
the primary causes of this are:
•
Melted heat traps or dip tube.
Soldering copper pipes while they are
connected to the water heater can
melt the heat traps inside the hot and
cold water connections or the dip tube
(cold water side). Melted heat traps or
a melted dip tube can restrict the flow
of hot water. If that’s the case, replace
the heat traps or dip tube.
• Partially closed supply valve. Open
the water heater’s supply valve fully.
Water Odor
Harmless bacteria normally present
in tap water can multiply in water
heaters and give off a “rotten egg”
smell. Although eliminating the
bacteria that causes “smelly water”
with a Chlorination system is the only
sure treatment, in some cases, the
standard anode rod that came with the
water heater can be replaced with a
special zinc anode rod which may help
reduce or eliminate the odor. Contact
Technical Assistance for availability.
NOTE:
To protect the tank, an anode rod
must be installed in the water heater at
all times or the warranty is void.
In cases where the “rotten egg” smell
is pronounced, you can raise the tank
temperature to 140°F in order to
reduce bacteria growth in the tank.
WARNING!
Higher temperatures
increase the risk of scalding. If
you set the temperature setting
higher than 120°F, thermostatic
mixing valves at each point-of-use
are particularly important.
See
“Temperature Settings” on page 7.
