Installation & Operation Manual
70
13
Maintenance
Failure to inspect for the above conditions
and have them repaired can result in
severe personal injury or death.
Check water system
1. Verify all system components are correctly installed and
operational.
2. Check the cold fill pressure for the system. Verify it is
correct (must be a minimum of 12 PSI).
3. Watch the system pressure as the water heater heats up
(during testing) to ensure pressure does not rise too high.
Excessive pressure rise indicates expansion tank sizing or
performance problem.
4. Inspect automatic air vents and air separators. Remove
air vent caps and briefly push valve to flush vent. Replace
caps. Make sure vents do not leak. Replace any leaking
vents.
Check expansion tank
1. Expansion tanks provide space for water to move in
and out as the heating system water expands due to
temperature increase or contracts as the water cools.
Tanks may be open, closed or diaphragm or bladder type.
See Section 7 - System Piping for suggested best location
of expansion tanks and air eliminators.
Check water heater relief valve
1. Inspect the relief valve and lift the lever to verify flow.
Before operating any relief valve, ensure that it is
piped with its discharge in a safe area to avoid severe
scald potential. Read Section 7 - System Piping before
proceeding further.
Safety relief valves should be re-inspected
AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS,
by a licensed plumbing contractor or
authorized inspection agency, to ensure
that the product has not been affected by
corrosive water conditions and to ensure
that the valve and discharge line have not
been altered or tampered with illegally.
Certain naturally occurring conditions may
corrode the valve or its components over
time, rendering the valve inoperative. Such
conditions are not detectable unless the
valve and its components are physically
removed and inspected. This inspection
must only be conducted by a plumbing
contractor or authorized inspection agency
– not by the owner. Failure to re-inspect the
water heater relief valve as directed could
result in unsafe pressure buildup, which can
result in severe personal injury, death, or
substantial property damage.
Following installation, the valve lever must
be operated AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR to
ensure that waterways are clear. Certain
naturally occurring mineral deposits may
adhere to the valve, rendering it inoperative.
When manually operating the lever, water
will discharge and precautions must be taken
to avoid contact with hot water and to avoid
water damage. Before operating lever, check
to see that a discharge line is connected to
this valve directing the flow of hot water
from the valve to a proper place of disposal.
Otherwise severe personal injury may result.
If no water flows, valve is inoperative. Shut
down the water heater until a new relief
valve has been installed.
2. After following the above warning directions, if the relief
valve weeps or will not seat properly, replace the relief valve.
Ensure that the reason for relief valve weeping is the valve
and not over-pressurization of the system due to expansion
tank waterlogging or undersizing.
⚠
WARNING
⚠
WARNING
⚠
WARNING
Inspect ignition and flame sense
electrodes
1. Remove the ignition and flame sense electrodes from the
water heater heat exchanger access cover.
2. Remove any deposits accumulated on the ignition/flame
sense electrode using sandpaper. If the electrodes cannot
be cleaned satisfactorily, replace with new ones.
3. Replace ignition/flame sense electrode, making sure gasket
is in good condition and correctly positioned.
Eliminate all system or water heater leaks.
Leaking water may cause severe property
damage.
1. Inspect all water and gas piping and verify to be leak free.
2. Look for signs of leaking lines and correct any problems
found.
3. Check gas line using the procedure found in Section 8 - Gas
Connections.
Check all piping for leaks
⚠
WARNING
Flue vent system and air piping
1. Visually inspect the entire flue gas venting system and air
piping for blockage, deterioration or leakage. Repair any
joints that show signs of leakage. Verify that air inlet pipe is
connected and properly sealed.
2. Verify that water heater vent discharge and air intake are
clean and free of obstructions.
3. Verify that bird screens are clean and free of debris or
obstruction.