American Water Heater Compact 10, Instruction Manual

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18
MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE
Table 5. Maintenance Schedule
Component Operation Interval Reference
Tank Drain and Flush
Every 6
Months
See Draining and Flushing
Tank
Lime Scale Re -
moval
(Water Less Than
25 Grains Hard)
Not Required N/A
Tank
Lime Scale Re -
moval
(Water Greater
Than 25 Grains
Hard)
Annually See Lime Scale Removal .
Moving Parts Lubrication Not Required N/A
Powered
Anodes
Inspection/
Cleaning
Annually
See Anode Maintenance (page
19)
T&P Valve Test Operation Semi Annually
See Temperature-Pressure Relief
Valve Test . (page 19).
Burn hazard.
Hot water discharge.
Keep clear of Temperature-
Pressure Relief Valve
discharge outlet.
Periodically the drain valve should be opened and the water allowed
to run until it flows clean. This will help to prevent sediment buildup
in the tank bottom.
Periodically check the temperature and pressure relief valve to
ensure that it is in operating condition. Lift the lever at the top of the
valve several times until the valve seats properly and operates freely.
Water heater maintenance includes periodic tank flushing and
cleaning, and removal of lime scale from the heating element.
The heater tank is equipped with an anode rod to aid in corrosion
control.
DRAINING AND FLUSHING
It is recommended that the water heater storage tank be drained
and flushed every 6 months to reduce sediment buildup. The
water heater should be drained if being shut down during freezing
temperatures. See Figure 1 (page 8) for the location of the water
heater components described below.
• Burn hazard.
• Hot water discharge.
• Keep hands clear of drain
valve discharge.
DRAINING THE WATER HEATER STORAGE TANK
1. Turn off the electrical supply to the water heater.
2. Ensure the cold water inlet valve is open.
3. Open a nearby hot water faucet and let the water run until the
water is no longer hot.
4. Close the cold water inlet valve to the water heater.
5. Connect a hose to the water heater drain valve and terminate it
to an adequate drain.
6. Open the water heater drain valve and allow all the water to drain
from the storage tank.
7. Close the water heater drain valve when all water in the storage
tank has drained.
8. Close the hot water faucet opened in Step 3.
9. If the water heater is going to be shut down for an extended
period, the drain valve should be left open.
FLUSHING THE WATER HEATER STORAGE TANK
1. Turn off the electrical supply to the water heater.
2. Ensure the cold water inlet valve is open.
3. Open a nearby hot water faucet and let the water run until the
water is no longer hot. Then close the hot water faucet.
4. Connect a hose to the drain valve and terminate it to an adequate
drain.
5. 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.
6. Open the water heater drain valve to flush the storage tank.
7. Flush the water heater storage tank to remove sediment and
allow the water to flow until it runs clean.
8. Close the water heater drain valve when flushing is completed.
9. Remove the drain hose.
10. Fill the water heater. See Filling the Water Heater (page 15).
11. Turn on the electrical supply to place the water heater back in
operation.
12. Allow the water heater to complete several heating cycles to
ensure it is operating properly.
LIME SCALE REMOVAL
When water is heated, dissolved minerals in the water such as
calcium and magnesium carbonate (lime scale) become less soluble.
As the water temperature rises these minerals will precipitate or “fall
out” of solution.
The amount of lime scale released from water is in direct proportion
to water temperature and usage. The higher the water temperature
or water usage, the more lime deposits are dropped out of the water.
Water hardness also affects lime scale accumulation. With the
temperature and usage being the same, hard water will release
more lime scale than softer water.
Lime scale reduces heating efficiency as it accumulates inside a
water heater. Heating transfer surfaces become coated with lime
scale deposits which increases fuel costs to operate the water heater.
Lime scale deposits can also cause rumbling and pounding noises
as air molecules trapped in the lime scale escape when heated. Lime
scale accumulation also reduces the life span of water heaters. For
these reasons a regular schedule for deliming should be set up.
CHEMICAL LIME SCALE REMOVAL
To dissolve and remove more stubborn lime scale deposits, UN-
LIME ® Professional Delimer should be used.
Printed on 7/25/2022 7:17 AM CT