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32 • Residenal Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide
MAINTENANCE
Roune Maintenance
Roune maintenance will help your
water heater last longer and work
beer. If you cannot perform these
roune maintenance tasks yourself,
contact a qualied person.
Water Heater
Maintenance
Aer the rst six months, drain and
ush the water heater and inspect
the anode rod. Depending on the
hardness of your water, repeat this
process at least annually, or more
frequently if needed. From me
to me you may need to replace a
heang element or a thermostat.
All three maintenance tasks are
described below.
Draining and Flushing
the Water Heater
Tap water contains minerals that
can form lime deposits on heang
elements or sediment in the boom
of the tank. The amount of lime
deposits or sediment depends on the
hardness of your tap water. The rate
at which sediment builds up depends
on water quality and hardness in
your area, the temperature sengs,
and other variables. We recommend
draining and ushing the water heater
aer the rst six months of operaon
to determine the amount of sediment
buildup. Draining sediment extends
the life of the tank, heang elements,
and drain valves.
• In areas with very hard water,
remove and check the heang
elements whenever you drain
the tank. If you have heavy lime
deposits on heang elements, you
will need to replace them more
oen.
• Sediment may form large masses
that can prevent the tank from
draining. Have a qualied person
use a deliming agent suitable
for potable water to remove the
sediment buildup.
• In most cases, it is easier and less
expensive to replace lime-encrusted
elements than trying to remove
heavy lime deposits.
To Drain and Flush the
Tank
1
Locate the water heater’s
circuit breaker and turn it
OFF (or remove the circuit’s
fuses).
Figure 35 - Circuit Breaker.
2
Open a hot water faucet and
let the hot water run unl it
is cool.
Figure 36 - Water Faucet.
WARNING! Be sure the water
runs cool before draining the tank to
reduce the risk of scalding.
3
Connect a garden hose to the
drain valve and place the
other end of the hose in a
drain, outside, or in buckets.
4
Turn the cold water supply
valve OFF.
5
Open the drain valve on the
water heater.
Figure 37 - Drain Valve.
6
Open a hot water faucet to
help the water in the tank
drain faster.
NOTICE: DO NOT turn electrical
power back on unless the tank is
completely full of water. This is an
addional precauon to protect the
elements against dry re. Dry re
occurs when power is supplied to the
electric elements without sucient
water in the heater. Dry ring the
unit will result in immediate failure
of the element. While this unit is
equipped with dry re protecon, the
recommended pracce is to ensure
the tank is lled with water prior
to supplying power to the unit. For
complete instrucons on lling the
tank, follow “Step 13” on page 16 in
the installaon secon of this manual.
7
If sediment was present
when the tank was drained,
ush the tank by opening the
cold water supply valve and leng
the water run unl no more sediment
drains from the tank. Close the drain
valve when you are done.
8
Rell the tank by opening the
cold water supply valve.
Make sure a hot water faucet
is open and the drain valve is closed.
Allow the hot water to run full for at
least three minutes to make sure the
tank has all the air removed and is
completely full of water. Failure to
perform this step can cause the upper
heang element to burn out. Once
MAINTENANCE
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