Rheem PowerVent Series, Use & Care Manual

Page: 11 / 44

11
WARNING: DO NOT attempt to convert this water heater for use with a different type of gas other than the
type shown on the rating plate. Such conversion could result in hazardous operating conditions.
Leak Testing
The water heater and its gas connections
must be leak tested at normal operating
pressures before it is placed in operation.
Turn on the manual gas shut-off
valve near the water heater.
Use a soapy water solution to test for
leaks at all connections and fittings.
Bubbles indicate a gas leak that must
be corrected.
The factory connections to the gas
control (thermostat) should also be leak
tested after the water heater is placed in
operation.
High Altitude
Input rating of this water heater is
based on sea level operation. At higher
elevations the actual input rate may be
lower than the value listed on the rating
label due to the derating of natural gas and
LP gas. This water heater can be installed
at elevation up to the elevation listed
on the rating plate attached to the water
heater without any change or modification.
Refer to the Venting Information tables on
page 13 for minimum and maximum vent
length.
Contact the local gas supplier for more
information.
Pressure Testing the Gas Supply System
The appliance and its individual shutoff
valve must be disconnected from the gas
supply piping system during any pressure
testing of that system at test pressures in
excess of 1/2 psi (3.5 kPa).
The appliance must be isolated from the
gas supply piping system by closing its
individual manual shutoff valve during
any pressure testing of the gas supply
piping system at test pressures equal to or
less than 1/2 psi (3.5 kPa).
Gas Supply
The branch gas supply line to the water
heater should be clean 1/2” black steel
pipe or other approved gas piping
material.
A ground joint union or ANSI design
certified semi-rigid or flexible gas
appliance connector should be installed in
the gas line close to the water heater. The
Canadian Standards Association mandates
a manual gas shut off valve: See CSA
B149- Installation Code for complete
instructions.
If flexible connectors are used, the
maximum length shall not exceed
36”(91.4 cm) and must meet the
requirements in ANSI Z21.24 -
Connectors for Gas Appliances.
If lever type gas shut-offs are used, they
shall be T-Handle type.
Compound used on the threaded joints of
the gas piping must be of the type resistant
to the action of LP gas. Use compound
sparingly on male threads only.
Where a sediment trap is not incorporated
as part of the appliance, a sediment trap
shall be installed downstream of the
equipment shutoff valve as close to the
inlet of the appliance as practical at the
time of the appliance installation. The
sediment trap shall be either a tee fitting
with a capped nipple in the bottom outlet
or other device recognized as an effective
sediment trap.
DO NOT
use excessive force (over 31.5
ft lbs.) (42.70 Nm) in tightening the pipe
joint at the gas control (thermostat) inlet,
particularly if teflon pipe compound is
used, as the valve body may be damaged.
The inlet gas pressure to the water heater
must not exceed 10.5” w.c.(2.6 kPa) for
natural gas, or 14” w.c.(3.5 kPa) for LP
gas.
For purposes of input adjustment, the
minimum inlet gas pressure (with main
burner on) is shown on the water heater
rating plate
. If high or low gas pressures
are present, contact your gas supplier for
correction.
WARNING: Never use
an open flame to test for
gas leaks, as property
damage, personal injury, or
death could result.
WARNING: Failure to
install a water heater
suitable for the altitude at
the location it is intended to
serve, can result in improper
operation of the appliance
resulting in property
damage and/or producing
carbon monoxide gas, which
could result in personal
injury, or death.