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8 • Residen al Electronic Thermostat Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide
INSTALLATION
BACKGROUND: Water expands when
heated, and the increased volume
of water must have a place to go, or
thermal expansion will cause large in-
creases in water pressure (despite the
use of a Pressure Reducing Valve on
the home’s main water supply line).
The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
requires the use of back fl ow preven-
ta ves and check valves to restrict
water from your home reentering
the public water system. Back fl ow
preventa ves are o en installed in
water meters and may not be readily
visible. As a result, most all plumbing
systems today are now “closed,” and
almost all homes now need a Thermal
Expansion Tank.
A Thermal Expansion Tank is a prac -
cal and inexpensive way to help avoid
damage to the water heater, washing
machine, dishwasher, ice maker and
even toilet valves. If your toilet oc-
casionally runs for no apparent reason
(usually briefl y at night), that may be
due to thermal expansion increasing
the water pressure temporarily.
Water pipe and tank
leaks
Leaks from plumbing pipes or from
the water heater itself can damage
property and could cause a fi re risk.
• Install the provided leak detector and
if included, the cold water shut-off
valve (see step 7, page 12). If a cold
water shut-off valve was not included,
one can be purcahsed at your local
your local plumbing supplier.
These devices can detect water leaks
and can shut off the water heater’s
water supply if a leak occurs.
Figure 6 - A suitable drain pan piped to an
adequate drain can help protect flooring from
leaks and drips.
• Install a suitable drain pan (available
in stores ) under the water heater
(Figure 6) to catch condensa on or
leaks in the piping connec ons or
tank. Most codes require, and we
recommend, installing the water
heater in a drain pan that is piped
to an adequate drain. 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 would be limited to a
maximum depth of 1-3/4”.
✓
Water tempera-
ture regula on
Install Thermosta c Mixing Valves
(Figure 7) to regulate the temperature
of the water supplied to each point-
of-use (for example, kitchen sink,
bathroom sink, bath, shower). Con-
sult the valve manufacturer’s instruc-
ons or a qualifi ed person.
Figure 7 - Thermostatic Mixing Valves installed
at each point-of-use can help prevent scalding.
WARNING! Even if the water heater
thermostat is set to a rela vely low
temperature, hot water can scald.
Install Thermosta c Mixing Valves at
each point-of-use to reduce the risk of
scalding (see page 4).
BACKGROUND: A Thermosta c Mix-
ing Valve, installed at each point-
of-use, mixes hot water from the
water heater with cold water to more
precisely regulate the temperature of
hot water supplied to fi xtures. If you
aren’t sure if your plumbing system
is equipped with properly installed
and adjusted Thermosta c Mixing
Valves at each point where hot water
is used, contact a qualifi ed person for
more informa on.
INSTALLATION
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