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Residen  al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 25

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Residen  al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 25

TROUBLESHOOTING

keeps the tank from freezing during 
cold weather but can cause a Hydrogen 
gas build up. See cau  on on page 6. 

No Hot Water

Use the following step-by-step plan 
as a guide to help determine why you 
have no hot water: 

1

Check the Status Light

The Status Light on the gas 

control valve fl ashes once every three 
seconds if the pilot is lit and the gas 
control valve has not detected any 
problems. 

Figure 37 - Status light.

If the Status Light is fl ashing once ev-
ery three seconds and you have no hot 
water, make sure the gas control knob 
is set to HOT. 
If the Status Light fl ashes more than 
once every three seconds, refer to 
the Status Light Code Troubleshoo  ng 
Chart on page 27.

If the Status Light is not fl ashing, go to 
step 2.

2

Status Light is Not 
Flashing

If the Status Light isn’t fl ashing, try 
ligh  ng the pilot using the ligh  ng 
instruc  ons on page 23.

If you have tried ligh  ng the pilot and the 
Status Light does not fl ash, go to step 3.

If the Status Light fl ashes, go to Step 1.

3

Checking the Pilot Light

Check the spark igniter. Dim 

the room lights and look through the 
viewport while clicking the igniter 
bu  on. 

If you don’t see a spark through the 
viewport, check to make sure the 
igniter wire is fi rmly inserted into the 
white connector. 

If you see a spark, make sure the gas 
supply valve is turned on, and try light-
ing the pilot using the ligh  ng instruc-

 ons on page 23. 

If the pilot s  ll does not light, call a 
qualifi ed person.

Insuffi

  cient Hot Water 

or Slow Hot Water
Recovery

WARNING! Because of the increased 

risk from scalding, if you set the water 
heater’s gas control knob higher than 
120°F, install Thermosta  c Mixing 
Valves at each point-of-use. Due to the 
increased risk of scalding, do not set the 
temperature of the Thermosta  c 
Mixing Valves above 120°F.

If the hot water is simply not warm 
enough, there are several possible 
causes:

• 

 Faulty Thermosta  c Mixing Valve 
in a faucet or shower control 
(check other faucets in the house 
for hot water).

• 

 Water heater’s capacity too small 
(or usage too high).

• 

 Reversed plumbing connec  ons 
or melted dip tube (usually found 
soon a  er new installa  on).

• 

Plumbing leak.

• 

 Sediment or lime build up in the 
bo  om of the tank.

Thermosta  c Mixing Valves.

 If the 

hot water is simply not warm enough, 
make sure the faucet you are checking 
doesn’t have a defec  ve Thermosta  c 
Mixing Valve. Many shower controls 
now have built-in mixing valves. If 
these devices fail, they can reduce the 
amount of hot water the shower or 
faucet delivers even though there is 
plenty of hot water in the tank. Always 
check the water temperature at several 
faucets to make sure the problem is not 
in a faucet or shower control.

Undersized Water Heater. 

If your water 

heater runs out of hot water quickly, it 
may be too small for your needs. If the 
water heater is old, consider replacing it 
with a larger model. If the water heater 
is in good condi  on, you may be able 
to meet your family’s hot water needs 
with the exis  ng water heater by install-
ing Thermosta  c Mixing Valves at each 
point-of-use and then turning the gas 
control knob to a higher se   ng.

You can also reduce your home’s hot 
water needs by washing clothes in cold 
water, installing fl ow restrictors on 
shower heads, repairing leaky faucets, 
and taking other conserva  on steps. 

Reversed Connec  ons or Melted Dip 
Tube.

 Check the hot and cold water 

connec  ons and make sure your 
home’s hot water pipe is connected 
to the hot water outlet on the water 
heater. Usually, reversed connec  ons 
are found soon a  er the installa  on 
of a new unit. If copper pipes were 
soldered while they were a  ached to 
the water heater, the dip tube may 
have melted. The dip tube is a long, 
plas  c tube inside the tank a  ached to 
the cold water inlet. If the dip tube has 
melted, it can be replaced by removing 
the cold water inlet connec  on, re-
moving the old dip tube and installing 
a new one.  

Plumbing Leak. 

Even a small leak 

in the hot water side of the home’s 

Summary of Contents for GSL050-40

Page 1: ...on or service can damage the water heater your house and other property and present risks including fire scalding electric shock and explosion causing serious injury or death Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS Do not try to light any appliance Do not touch any electrical switch do not use any p...

Page 2: ...t to cold water supply Hot water line T P relief valve Cold water shut off Dra hood T P discharge pipe Drain pan discharge pipe Metal drain pan Gas control valve thermostat Cold water line Gas supply shut off Vent pipe Drain valve Gas supply Sediment Trap ...

Page 3: ...avoided could result in death or serious injury CAUTION CAUTION indicates a hazardous situa on that if not avoided could result in minor or moderate injury NOTICE NOTICE indicates prac ces not related to physical injury WARNING If the informa on in these instruc ons is not followed exactly a fire or explosion may result causing property damage personal injury or death Do not store or use gasoline o...

Page 4: ...severe burns instantly resul ng in severe injury or death Feel water before bathing or showering To reduce the risk of scalding install Thermosta c Mixing Valves temperature limi ng valves at each point of use These valves automa cally mix hot and cold water to limit the temperature at the tap Mixing valves are available at your local plumbing supplier Follow manufacturer s instruc ons for install...

Page 5: ...er bu on if you suspect flammable vapor have accumu lated inside or outside the appliance Immediately call a qualified person to inspect the appliance Water heaters subjected to a flammable vapors inci dent will show a discolora on on the flame arrestor and require replacement of the en re water heater Improper installa on or an inadequate air supply can also cause the FVIR system to dis able the wate...

Page 6: ...odorless gas that is a by product of burning of fuels such as coal wood charcoal oil kerosene propane and natural gas Breathing excessive and abnormal amounts of carbon monoxide can cause carbon monoxide poisoning resul ng in serious injury or death This water heater must be supplied with adequate combus on air and must be properly vented to the outdoors Have a qualified person licensed plumber aut...

Page 7: ...ocal plumbing supplier with compres sion fi ngs that don t require soldering This kit includes two 12 flex water lines two compression fi ngs an 18 flexible gas line two nipples and thread sealant tape For homes with plas c pipe use threaded connectors suitable for the specific type of plas c pipe used CPVC or PEX cross linked polyethylene Do not use PVC pipe Non corrosive gas leak detec on solu on mad...

Page 8: ...le you will need to conduct the vent dra test on pages 23 24 when installa on is finished If there is not enough ven la on you will need to ven late with outside air Check for Chemicals Installa ons where corrosive chemi cals may be present require outside air Air for combus on and ven la on must be clean and free of corrosive or acid forming chemicals such as sulfur fluorine and chlorine Ven la on ...

Page 9: ...al or horizontal ducts B2 Determine type of ven la on There are several types of ven la on that can be used 1 Direct to outdoors 2 Ver cal ducts 3 Horizontal ducts 4 Single opening not recom mended must be at least 100 square inches Not appropriate for confined spaces smaller than 50 cubic feet per 1 000 BTU HR as calculated in sec on A or when ge ng air from another room 5 From a larger room insid...

Page 10: ...imension of no less than three inches All screens must have mesh or larger Moveable louvers must be locked open or interconnected with the equipment so that they open au toma cally during opera on Keep louvers and grills clean and free of debris or other obstruc ons B5 Check that air source is clean and free of chemicals Air for combus on and ven la on must be clean and free of corrosive or flammab...

Page 11: ...crawl spaces or any confined or inaccessible loca on Single wall vent pipe cannot pass through any interior wall Clearance to Combus ble Materials The vent pipe cannot pass through any ceiling floor firewall or fire par on Any part of the vent system must main tain the following clearances from any combus ble materials Single wall vent pipe must main tain a six inch clearance from combus ble materials...

Page 12: ...ype B double wall vent pipe Figure 9 Venting through a chimney with type B double wall vent pipe Gas Piping Gas piping must be installed accord ing to local and state codes or in the absence of local and state codes the Na onal Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223 1 NFPA 54 current edi on NOTICE When installing gas piping apply pipe joint compound or thread sealant tape approved for fuel gases Figure 10 Gas Pi...

Page 13: ...at ing appliances when used to supply potable water Solar Installa on If this water heater is used as a solar stor age heater or as a backup for the solar system the water supply temperatures to the water heater tank may be in excess of 120 F A Thermosta c Mixing Valve or other temperature limi ng valve must be installed in the water supply line to limit the supply temperature to 120 F The unit mu...

Page 14: ...s water pressure Locate your home s Pressure Reduc ing Valve PRV on the main incoming cold water supply line and adjust the water pressure control to between 50 and 60 psi If your home does not have a Pressure Reducing Valve install a PRV on the home s main water supply line and set it to between 50 and 60 psi Pressure Reducing Valves are available at your local plumbing supplier BACKGROUND Over t...

Page 15: ...leaks and can shut off the water heater s water supply if a leak occurs Install a metal drain pan available at your local plumbing supplier under the water heater to catch condensa on or leaks from the piping connec ons or tank Most codes require and we recommend installing the water heater in a metal drain pan that is piped to an adequate drain The drain pan must be at least two inches wider than ...

Page 16: ...d on a metal or wood panel extending beyond the full width and depth of the water heater by at least 3 in 76 2mm in any direc on If the water heater is installed in an alcove or closet the en re floor shall be covered by the aforestated panel If your area is prone to earth quakes use special straps as required by local building codes NOTICE The state of California re quires bracing anchoring or str...

Page 17: ...erature Pressure T P Relief Valve discharge pipe You may be able to reuse the discharge pipe but do not reuse the old T P Relief Valve A new T P Relief Valve comes with your new water heater Figure 21 Removing the T P Relief Valve discharge pipe 10 Allow the vent pipe and dra hood to cool Once cooled disconnect the vent pipe from the dra hood You may need to support the vent pipe un l the new wate...

Page 18: ...covered by a wood or metal panel NOTICE Most codes require se ng the water heater in a metal drain pan piped to an adequate drain The drain pan helps avoid property damage which may occur from condensa on or leaks in the piping connec ons or tank The drain pan must be at least two inches wider than the diameter of the water heater Install the drain pan so the water level is limited to a maximum de...

Page 19: ...e discharge pipe must not be smaller than the pipe size of the T P Relief Valve The pipe must also be able to withstand 250 F 121 C without distor on Use only copper or CPVC pipe Do not use any other type of pipe such as PVC iron flexible plas c pipe or any type of hose Terminate the discharge pipe a maximum of six inches above a floor drain or outside the building Do not drain the discharge pipe in...

Page 20: ...he water heater for service or replacement con nect the water pipes with a coupling called a union We recommend using a dielectric type union available at your local plumbing supplier Dielec tric unions can help prevent corro sion caused by ny electric currents common in copper water pipes and can help extend the life of the water heater IF YOU HAVE COPPER PIPES If your home has copper water pipes...

Page 21: ...ator at the nearest hot water faucet This allows debris in plumbing system to be washed out of the pipes 2 Turn the cold water supply back on and fill the tank 3 Open a hot water faucet and allow the water to run un l it flows with a full stream 4 Let the water run full stream for three minutes 5 Close the hot water faucet and replace the aerator 6 Check inlet and outlet connec ons and water pipes f...

Page 22: ...ith large amounts of lint dust etc If so the air filter or flame arrestor located on the bo om of the water heater will need to be cleaned more o en Combus on Air Supply and Ven la on Adequate air supply for water heater and any other nearby gas appliances If the water heater is installed in a closet or other small enclosed space or within the living space of the house air supply openings needed Are...

Page 23: ... three seconds Wait 10 minutes between ligh ng a empts 7 A solid Status Light means the pilot was lit but is now off Release the gas control knob and wait 10 minutes Once the Status Light goes out repeat ligh ng steps 2 through 5 8 If the Status Light doesn t start flashing a er three ligh ng a empts turn the gas control knob to the OFF posi on and refer to the Troubleshoo ng No Hot Water sec on see...

Page 24: ...own as smelly water and can reduce the levels of bacteria that cause water borne diseases Water usage pa erns as well as heat from sources such as solar collectors ambient air and the pilot light can result in temperatures higher than the thermostat set point WARNING Higher temperatures increase the risk of scalding but even at 120 F hot water can scald see Table 1 Install Thermosta c Mixing Valve...

Page 25: ...water is simply not warm enough there are several possible causes Faulty Thermosta c Mixing Valve in a faucet or shower control check other faucets in the house for hot water Water heater s capacity too small or usage too high Reversed plumbing connec ons or melted dip tube usually found soon a er new installa on Plumbing leak Sediment or lime build up in the bo om of the tank Thermosta c Mixing V...

Page 26: ...f Valve or discharge pipe and do not operate the water heater without a func oning T P Relief Valve this could cause an explosion Water Pressure too High High water pressure can cause the T P Relief Valve to drip Install a Pressure Re ducing Valve PRV on the main cold water supply line Adjust the PRV to between 50 and 60 psi Thermal Expansion Tank Install a Thermal Expansion Tank If a Thermal Expa...

Page 27: ...Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide 27 TROUBLESHOOTING Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide 27 TROUBLESHOOTING ...

Page 28: ... to the drain valve and place the other end of the hose in a drain outside or in buckets Note that sediment in the bo om of the tank may clog the valve and prevent it from draining If you can t get the tank to drain contact a qualified person 5 Turn the cold water supply valve OFF 6 Open the drain valve on the water heater Figure 42 Draining the water heater 7 Also open a hot water faucet to help t...

Page 29: ... properly perform this visual inspec on or if the burner needs to be cleaned get help from a qualified person T P Relief Valve Maintenance Figure 45 T P Relief Valve Read and follow the opera ng and an nual maintenance instruc ons provided by the manufacturer of the T P Relief Valve yellow label a ached to T P Relief Valve Minerals in the water can form deposits that cause the valve to s ck or crea...

Page 30: ... thermostat thread a 4 sec on of gas pipe into the inlet and use it to turn the FVIR Safety System Opera onal Checklist TROU BLESHOOTING CHART gas control valve thermostat counterclockwise Do not use pipe wrench or equivalent to grip body Damage may result causing leaks Do not insert any sharp objects into the inlet or outlet connec ons Damage to the gas control valve thermostat may result Figure ...

Page 31: ...Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide 31 NOTES NOTES ...

Page 32: ...32 Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide NOTES NOTES ...

Page 33: ...Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide 33 NOTES NOTES ...

Page 34: ...34 Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide NOTES NOTES ...

Page 35: ... PILOT THERMOPILEASSEMBLY KIT 13 FINAL BURNER ASSEMBLY 14 MANIFOLD DOOR GASKET Pictured on next page REPAIR PARTS LIST Replacement parts may be ordered through your plumber or the local distributor Parts will be shipped at prevailing prices and billed accordingly NOTICE When ordering replacement parts have the following informa on ready Model and serial number Type of gas used Item number Parts de...

Page 36: ...ermopile and retainer clip Natural Gas or L P Item 13 Final burner assembly which contains the burner orifice manifold tube gasket door pilot tube thermopile manifold component block with retainer clip thermal switch and pilot assembly Natural Gas Low Nox or L P Item 14 Contains manifold door gasket Item 12 Item 13 L P Burner Item 14 Item 13 Natural Burner Lochinvar Water Heaters All Rights Reserv...

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