14
Routine Preventative Maintenance
Properly maintained, your water heater
will provide years of dependable trouble-
free service.
It is suggested that a routine preventive
maintenance program be established and
followed by the user.
It is further recommended that a periodic
inspection of the operating controls,
heating element and wiring should be
made by service personnel qualified in
electric appliance repair.
Most electrical appliances, even when
new, make some sound when in operation.
If the hissing or singing sound level
increases excessively, the electric heating
element may require cleaning. Contact a
qualified installer or plumbing contract to
inspect.
At least once a year, lift and release the
lever handle on the temperature pressure
relief valve, located near the top of the
water heater, to make certain the valve
operates freely. Allow several gallons to
flush through the discharge line to an open
drain.
A water heater’s tank can act as a setting
basin for solids suspended in the water.It
is therefore not uncommon for hard water
deposits to accumulate in the bottom of the
tank. It is suggested that a few quarts of
water be drained from the water heater’s
tank every month to clean the tank of
these deposits.
Rapid closing of faucets or solenoid
valves in automatic water using appliances
can cause a banging noise heard in a water
pipe. Strategically located risers in the
water pipe system or water hammer
arresting devices can be used to minimize
the problem.
The anode rod should be removed from the
water heater’s tank annually for inspection
and replaced when more than 6
″
of core
wire is exposed at either end of the rod.
Make sure the cold water supply is turned
off before removing anode rod.
NOTICE: Do not remove the anode rod
from the water heater’s tank, except for
inspection and/or replacement, as operation
with the anode rod removed will shorten
the life of the glass lined tank and will
exclude warranty coverage.
Care and cleaning of the water heater.
Draining the Water Heater
CAUTION: Shut off power to the water
heater before draining water.
DANGER: Before manually operating
the relief valve, make certain no one will be
exposed to the hot water released by the
valve. The water drained from the tank may
be hot enough to present a scald hazard and
should be directed to a suitable drain to
prevent injury or damage.
In order to drain the water heater, turn off
the cold water supply. Open a hot water
faucet or lift the handle on the relief valve
to admit air to the tank.
Attach a garden hose to the drain valve on
the water heater and direct the stream of
water to a drain. Open the valve.
Vacation and Extended Shut-Down
If the water heater is to remain idle for an
extended period of time, the power and
water to the appliance should be turned off
to conserve energy and prevent a build-up
of dangerous hydrogen gas.
The water heater and piping should be
drained if they might be subjected to
freezing temperatures.
After a long shut-down period, the water
heater’s operation and controls should be
checked by qualified service personnel.
Make certain the water heater is
completely filled again before placing it
in operation.
NOTICE: Refer to the
Hydrogen Gas Caution in the
Operating Instructions.
DANGER: Before
manually operating the relief
valve, make certain no one will
be exposed to the danger of
coming in contact with the hot
water released by the valve.
The water may be hot enough
to create a scald hazard. The
water should be released into a
suitable drain to prevent
injury or property damage.
NOTICE: If the temperature
and pressure relief valve
on the hot water heater
discharges periodically, this
may be due to thermal
expansion in a closed water
system. Contact the water
supplier or your plumbing
contractor on how to correct
this. Do not plug the relief
valve outlet.
