Rheem 511161, Owner'S Manual And Installation Instructions

Page: 53 / 60

53
DRAINING THE WATER HEATER
To drain the water heater:

Cover the solar collector(s) with an opaque material.

Open a hot water tap and allow the water to run for five minutes immediately prior to draining the solar
storage tank.
This will assist in the transfer of any high temperature water in the solar collector(s) to the solar storage
tank.

Close the hot water tap.

Turn off the water heater (refer to
“To Turn Off The Water Heater”
on page 49).
Warning: Exercise care, as water discharged from the solar storage tank may be of a very high
temperature.

Operate the relief valve release lever - do not let the lever snap back or you will damage the valve seat.
Operating the lever will release the pressure in the water heater.

Undo the union at the cold water inlet and attach a hose.
Let the other end of the hose go to a drain.

Operate the relief valve again.
This will let air into the water heater and allow the water to drain through the hose.
DRAINING THE SOLAR COLLECTOR(S)
To drain the solar collector(s) and the solar hot and solar cold pipes:

Cover the solar collector(s) with an opaque material.

Open a hot water tap and allow the water to run for five minutes immediately prior to draining the solar
collector(s).
This will assist in the transfer of any high temperature water in the solar collector(s) to the solar storage
tank.

Close the hot water tap.

Turn off the water heater (refer to
“To Turn Off The Water Heater”
on page 49).
Warning: Exercise care, as water discharged from the solar collector(s) may be of a very high
temperature.

Using a pair of pliers or other appropriate tool, open the service valve fitted at the solar hot water inlet of
the solar storage tank (refer to
diagram on page 50).

Undo the compression fitting on the union located to the right of the solar control unit, and disconnect the
solar cold pipe.
Water will now drain from the solar collector(s) and the solar hot and solar cold pipes.

When water stops flowing from the solar hot and solar cold pipes, reconnect the solar cold pipe at the
union and tighten the compression fitting.

Close the service valve.