American Water Heater 40-42K Installation Instructions Manual Download Page 16

16

Water temperature over 125°F can cause 
severe burns instantly or death from scalds.

Children, disabled and elderly are at highest 
risk of being scalded.

Feel water before bathing or showering.

Temperature limiting valves are available.

WARNING

L.P.G. (Bottled Propane) Models

Lique

fi

 ed petroleum gas is over 50% heavier than air 

and in the occurrence of a leak in the system, the gas 

will settle at 

fl

 oor level. Basements, crawl spaces, skirted 

areas under mobile homes (even when ventilated), closets 

and areas below ground level will serve as pockets for 

the accumulation of gas. Before lighting an L.P. gas water 

heater, smell all around the appliance at 

fl

 oor level. If you 

smell gas, follow the instructions as given in the warning on 

the front page.
When your L.P. tank runs out of fuel, turn off the gas at 

all gas appliances including pilot lights. After the tank is 

re

fi

 lled, all appliances must be re-lit according to their 

manufacturer’s instructions.

Water Heater Operation

Figure 11 below shows the water heater’s sequence of 

operation when a call for heat is initiated. The ignition 

control module will attempt to light the burner three times. 

If the ignition control does not detect ignition it will enter 

lock-out mode, indicated by a three flash error code. 

Burner Flames

Inspect the burner flames through the viewport and com-

pare them to the drawings in Figure 16. A properly operat-

ing burner should produce 

a soft blue flame. Blue tips 

with yellow 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 

color. Contaminated air 

may cause an orange colored flame. Contact a qualified 

person if the flame is not satisfactory.

Water Temperature Regulation

Due to the nature of the typical gas water heater, the water 

temperature in certain situations may vary up to 30°F (16.7 

°C) higher or lower at the point of use such as, bathtubs, 

showers, sink, etc. 
HOTTER WATER CAN SCALD: Water heaters are intended 

to produce hot water.  Water heated to a temperature which 

will satisfy space heating, clothes washing, dish washing, and 

other sanitizing needs can scald and permanently injure you 

upon contact.  Some people are more likely to be permanently 

injured by hot water than others.  These include the elderly, 

children, the in

fi

 rm, or physically/mentally handicapped. If 

anyone using hot water in your home 

fi

 ts into one of these 

groups or if there is a local code or state law requiring a certain 

temperature water at the hot water tap, then you must take 

special precautions.  In addition to using the lowest possible 

temperature setting that satis

fi

 es your hot water needs, a 

means such as a mixing valve, should be used at the hot 

water taps used by these people or at the water heater.  

Mixing valves are available at plumbing supply or hardware stores, 

see Figure 9.  Follow manufacturer’s instructions for installation of 

the valves.  Before changing the factory setting on the thermostat 

see Figure 13 and the table below. Using the lowest hot water 

temperature that meets your needs will also provide the most 

energy ef

fi

 cient operation of the water heater.

Never allow small children to use a hot water tap, or to draw 

their own bath water. Never leave a child or handicapped 

person unattended in a bathtub or shower.  

NOTE:  A water temperature range of 120°F-140°F (49°C-60°C) 

is recommended by most dishwasher manufacturers.
The thermostat of this water heater has been factory set at its 

lowest position, to reduce the risk of scald injury. It is adjustable 

and must be reset to the desired temperature setting.
The mark (   ) (on temperature setting of gas control valve/

thermostat) indicative of approximately 120°F is preferred 

starting point. Some states have a requirement for a lower 

setting. If you need hotter water, follow directions for 

temperature adjustment, but beware of the warnings in this 

section.
Pressing the “COOLER”   button decreases temperature and 

pressing the “HOTTER”   button increases the temperature.
To avoid any unintentional changes in water temperature 

settings, the control has a tamper resistant feature 

for changing the temperature setting. To change the 

temperature setting follow these instructions:
1.   “Wake Up” the temperature indicators by holding down 

both “COOLER” and “HOTTER” temperature adjust-

ment buttons at the same time for one second (See 

Figure 13). One or two of the temperature indicators 

will light up. These indicators will only remain on for 

Temperature 

Settings

Time to Produce 2nd & 3rd 

Degree Burns on Adult Skin

160°F (71°C)

About 1/2 second

150°F (66°C)

About 1-1/2 seconds

140°F (60°C)

Less than 5 seconds

130°F (54°C)

About 30 seconds

120°F (49°C)

More than 5 minutes

80°F (27°C)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Figure 11

 

Sequence of Operation

CALL FOR

HEAT INDICATED

BY FAST FLASH

OF LED

CONTROL CHECKS TO ENSURE 

PRESSURE SWITCH IS OPEN

DRAFT INDUCER IS ENERGIZED

 

CONTROL ENERGIZES HOT 

SURFACE IGNITER (HSI)

CONTROL ENERGIZES MAIN 

GAS VALVE ALLOWING THE 

BURNER TO BE LIT BY HSI

WATER IN TANK IS HEATED BY 

MAIN BURNER AND 

TEMPERATURE REACHES 

THERMOSTAT SETTING

FLAME SENSE ROD DETECTS 

FLAME OF MAIN BURNER

MAIN VALVE DE-ENERGIZES 

AND BLOWER CONTINUES FOR 

A POST PURGE TIME OF 

APPROX. 30 SECONDS 

MAIN VALVE DE-ENERGIZES 

AND BLOWER CONTINUES FOR 

A POST PURGE TIME OF  

APPROX. 5 SECONDS

HEATER RETURNS TO 

STANDBY MODE

CONTROL CHECKS TO ENSURE 

PRESSURE SWITCH CLOSES, 

INDICATING BLOWER OPERATING 

AND THERE ARE NO VENTING 

BLOCKAGES (INLET OR OUTLET)

Figure 12

Flame Characteristics

Tips may have

a yellow tint

Yellow inner

cones are

satisfactory

Correct flame

soft blue

Summary of Contents for 40-42K

Page 1: ...e performed by a qualified installer service agency or the gas supplier WARNING If the information in these instructions is not followed exactly a fire or explosion may result causing property damage personal injury or death To obtain technical warranty or service assistance during or after the installation of this water heater visit our website at http www americanwaterheater com or call toll fre...

Page 2: ...em If hydrogen is present there will probably be an unusual sound such as air escaping through the faucet as water begins to flow Do not smoke or have any open flame near the faucet at the time it is open The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act requires the Governor of California to publish a list of substances known to the State of California to cause cancer birth defects or ...

Page 3: ...vice to the Power Direct Vent System should only be performed by a qualified person If you lack the necessary skills required to properly install this water heater or you have difficulty following the instructions you should not proceed but have a qualified person perform the installation of this water heater Massachusetts code requires this water heater to be installed in accordance with Massachu...

Page 4: ...xplosion Hazard Read instruction manual before installing using or servicing water heater Improper use may result in fire or explosion Maintain required clearances to combustibles Keep combustibles such as boxes magazines clothes etc away from the water heater area Site Location Select a location near the center of the water piping system The water heater must be installed indoors and in a vertica...

Page 5: ...stion air flow Locate the water heater near a suitable indoor drain Outside drains are subject to freezing temperatures which can obstruct the drain line The piping should be at least 3 4 ID and pitched for proper drainage 1 3 4 max At least 2 greater than the water heater and the inlet air pipe Pipe to an adequate drain NOTE Minimum clearances from combustible materials are stated on the data pla...

Page 6: ...rrect any leak found Gas Pressure IMPORTANT The gas supply pressure must not exceed the maximum supply pressure as stated on the water heater s data plate The minimum supply pressure is for the purpose of input adjustment Gas Pressure Testing IMPORTANT This water heater and its gas connection must be leak tested before placing the appliance in operation If the code requires the gas lines to be tes...

Page 7: ...irement also applies to 3 inch diameter piping configurations Vent Pipe Material The following plastic materials may be used for both the combustion air inlet and exhaust outlet piping subject to state and local codes 2 or 3 inch Schedule 40 PVC or ABS 2 or 3 inch Schedule 40 or 80 CPVC DWV Pipe is acceptable NOTE Use only solid not foam core piping Plastic pipe and fittings are available through ...

Page 8: ...d maximum lengths are for the separate inlet and exhaust pipe systems and not the combined length of both systems Minimum pipe length is 3 feet with one elbow per side 1 Determine termination type and pipe size 2 Determine number of elbows in exhaust pipe Do not include elbows in the termination Corresponding number indicates the maximum length of exhaust pipe 3 Determine number of elbows in inlet...

Page 9: ...rea where children or animals could block pipes 5 Do not locate the vent terminal too close to shrubs or bushes 6 Caulk all cracks seams and joints within 6 feet horizontally above and below the vent Figure 4 Minimum Termination Clearance for Outlet Vent A 12 in 30 cm min clearance above grade veranda porch deck balcony or maximum anticipated snow level B 12 in 30 cm min clearance on top or 4 ft c...

Page 10: ... customer service at 1 800 456 9805 for assistance To prevent potential condensate from collecting in the venting system slope the vent at a downward pitch of 1 8 per 5ft away from the water heater INLET OUTLET VENT TERMINATIONS Standard Horizontal Termination The standard horizontal air inlet termination is a 2 inch or 3 inch pipe which terminates at the exterior wall and utilizes a coupling to p...

Page 11: ...mmends installing a tempering valve or an anti scald device in the domestic hot water line as shown in Figure 9 These valves reduce the point of use temperature of the water by mixing cold and hot water and are readily available for use Point of use devices for reducing scald hazards that attach to faucets and shower heads are also available from plumbing supply houses Contact a licensed plumber o...

Page 12: ...re relief valve to discharge small quantities of hot water This is an unacceptable condition and must be corrected To prevent this it is recommended that a diaphragm type expansion tank suitable for potable water be installed on the cold water supply line The expansion tank must have a minimum capacity of 1 5 U S gallons for every 50 gallons of stored water Contact the local water supplier or plum...

Page 13: ...llow complete drainage of both the valve and discharge line IMPORTANT Do not use an extension cord to connect the water heater to an electrical outlet The water heater and the outlet are properly grounded Installed in accordance with prevailing provisions of local codes or in the absence of such National Electric Code ANSI NFPA 70 NOTE Always reference the wiring diagram for the correct electrical...

Page 14: ...sions of local codes or in the absence of such National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54 ANSI Z223 1 Current Edition Slope 2 3 horizontal piping at a downward pitch of 1 8 per 5ft away from the water heater Not obstructed in any way Vent Termination Concentric 12 Min above grade snow level Slope exhaust outlet air inlet piping at a downward pitch of 1 8 per 5ft away from the water heater Horizontal Correct r...

Page 15: ...ADJUSTMENT is approximately 120 F CAUTION Hotter water increases the risk of scald injury Consult the instruction manual before changing the temperature 8 If the appliance will not operate follow the instructions TO TURN OFF GAS APPLIANCE and call a qualified person or gas supplier WARNING TURN OFF ALL ELECTRIC POWER BEFORE SERVICING 1 Set the thermostat to the lowest setting by first pressing the...

Page 16: ...ns such as a mixing valve should be used at the hot water taps used by these people or at the water heater Mixingvalvesareavailableatplumbingsupplyorhardwarestores seeFigure9 Followmanufacturer sinstructionsforinstallationof the valves Before changing the factory setting on the thermostat see Figure 13 and the table below Using the lowest hot water temperature that meets your needs will also provi...

Page 17: ...roduced from the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water IMPORTANT Do not remove this rod permanently as it will void any warranties The parts list includes a special anode that can be ordered if water odor or discoloration occurs NOTE This rod may reduce but not eliminate water odor problems The water supply system may require special aeration or chlorination equipment from a wate...

Page 18: ...rioration in the venting system Make sure the ventilation and combustion air supplies are not obstructed Build up of soot and carbon on the main burner and pilot burner Check for a soft blue flame Leaking or damaged water and gas piping Presence of flammable or corrosive materials in the installation area Presence of combustible materials near the water heater Verify proper operation after servici...

Page 19: ... on the manifold tube 6 Grasp the manifold tube and push down slightly to free the manifold from the gas control valve thermostat 7 Carefully remove the manifold assembly from the burner compartment Be sure not to damage internal parts 8 Check the burner to see if it is dirty or clogged The burner may be cleaned with soap and hot water Removing the Burner from the Manifold Assembly 1 Take off the ...

Page 20: ...t off valve on the gas supply pipe Figure 2 4 Drain the water heater Refer to the Draining and Flushing section and follow the procedure 5 Disconnect the flame sense hot surface igniter wire from the thermostat Disconnect the manifold tube at the thermostat Figure 16 NOTE L P gas systems use reverse left hand threads on the manifold tube 6 Refer to Gas Piping Figure 2 and disconnect the ground joi...

Page 21: ...k that all wiring is correct and secure 2 Replace hot surface igniter System in lockout 1 Gas supply is off or too low to operate 2 Hot surface igniter not positioned correctly 3 Low voltage to the water heater 4 Electric polarity to unit is incorrect test and cor rect Problem in the gas valve driver circuit 1 Turn power to the water heater off for 10 seconds and then back on 2 Replace gas control...

Page 22: ...and gas clean burner head B Combustion air path restricted Check intake venting arrangements for obstructions C Not enough dilution air for proper combustion Check intake venting arrangements for obstructions CONDENSATION A Water on the floor under heater See OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS section B Water dripping from blower assembly Provide drip TEE to catch condensation from horizontal section of exhau...

Page 23: ...Natural Gas Burner 13 L P Gas Burner 14 Manifold Door Assembly Natural Gas 15 Manifold Door Assembly L P Gas 16 Two Piece Wire Connector w Retainer Clip 17 Manifold Door Gasket 18 Viewport Assembly 19 Outer Door When ordering repair parts always give the following information 1 Model serial and product number 2 Type of gas 3 Item number 4 Parts description Repair Parts List Special anode rod avail...

Page 24: ...hot surface igniter assembly Natural Gas Item 15 Manifold door assembly which contains the manifold tube gasket manifold door two piece wire connector with retainer clip and flame sense hot surface igniter assembly L P Gas Item 16 Contains two piece wire connector with retainer clip Item 17 Contains manifold door gasket Item 18 Contains viewport 2007 American Water Heater Company All Rights Reserv...

Reviews: