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20 • Residen al Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide
Temperature Too High
If the water temperature is too hot:
• Install or adjust the Thermostatic
Mixing Valves for each point-of-use
(see manufacturer’s instructions),
or
• Adjust the thermostat(s) on the
water heater (see Step 10 in the
installation section of this manual).
A nonfunc oning thermostat or a
shorted hea ng element can cause ex-
tremely hot water. If the Temperature
and Pressure Relief Valve (T&P Valve)
releases large amounts of very hot
water, it is likely due to a shorted heat-
ing element, or more rarely a nonfunc-
oning thermostat, or the thermostat
does not fi t snuggly against the tank.
Very high water temperatures can also
cause the Energy Cut Off (ECO) to trip
(see page 19). Turn power off un l
this problem is fi xed.
Low Water Pressure
Check both the cold and hot water at a
sink to determine if the lower pressure
is only on the hot water side. If both hot
and cold faucets have low pressure, call
your local water u lity. If the low pres-
sure is only on the hot water side, the
primary causes of this are:
• Melted heat traps or dip tube. Sol-
dering copper pipes while they are
connected to the water heater can
melt the heat traps inside the hot
and cold water connections or the
dip tube (cold water side). Melted
heat traps or a melted dip tube can
restrict the flow of hot water. If that’s
the case, replace the heat traps or
dip tube.
• Partially closed supply valve. Open
the water heater’s supply valve
fully.
Drips from T&P Relief
Valve Discharge Pipe
A small amount of water dripping from
the Temperature and Pressure (T&P)
Relief Valve usually means the home’s
water pressure is too high or you need
a properly sized and pressurized Ther-
mal Expansion Tank. Refer to Step 1 in
the Installa on sec on of this manual
for more informa on. A large amount
of hot water coming from the T&P
discharge pipe may be due to the tank
overhea ng.
WARNING! Do not cap or plug the
T&P relief 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 Reduc-
ing 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
Expansion Tank is already installed and
the T&P Relief Valve discharge pipe
drips, the Thermal Expansion Tank may
be pressurized to the wrong pres-
sure or the internal bladder may be
defec ve. Refer to the instruc ons that
came with the Thermal Expansion Tank
for more informa on.
Debris. In rare cases, debris can s ck
inside the T&P Relief Valve preven ng
the valve from sea ng fully. In that
case, the T&P Relief Valve discharge
pipe will drip. You may be able to clear
debris from the T&P Relief Valve by
manually opera ng the valve, allowing
small quan es of water to fl ush out
the debris. See the label on the T&P
Relief Valve for instruc ons.
If the water pressure is between 50
and 60 psi, a Thermal Expansion Tank
is installed and properly pressurized,
and the valve has been cleared of any
debris, and it s ll drips, the valve may
be broken—have a qualifi ed person
replace the T&P relief valve.
Water Odor
Harmless bacteria normally present in
tap water can mul ply in water heat-
ers and give off a “ro en egg” smell.
Although elimina ng the bacteria that
causes “smelly water” with a Chlorina-
on system is the only sure treatment,
in some cases, the standard anode
rod that came with your water heater
can be replaced with a special zinc
anode rod which may help reduce or
eliminate the odor. Contact a qualifi ed
person.
NOTE: To protect the tank, an anode
rod must be installed in the water
heater at all mes or the warranty is
void.
In cases where the “ro en egg” smell
is pronounced, you can raise the tank
temperature to 140°F in order to re-
duce bacteria growth in the tank.
WARNING! Because higher temper-
atures increase the risk of scalding, if
you set the thermostat(s) higher than
120°F, Thermosta c Mixing Valves
at each point-of-use are par cularly
important (page 4).
TROUBLESHOOTING
TROUBLESHOOTING
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