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Operational Conditions
Condensation
Moisture from the products of combustion condenses
on the tank surface and the outside jacket of the water
heater and forms drops of water which may fall onto the
burner or other hot surfaces. This will produce a
“sizzling” or “frying” noise. This condensation is
normal and should not be confused with a leaking
tank. Condensation may increase or decrease at
different times of the year.
High efficient energy saver water heaters will produce
larger amounts of condensation on initial start-up or
when a large amount of hot water is being used. Do not
confuse this with a “tank leak”. Once the water
reaches a temperature of 120°F and the tank warms up
(usually 1-2 hours), the condensation will stop.
Important: It is always recommended that a suitable
drain pan be installed under the water heater to protect
the area from water damage resulting from normal
condensation production, a leaking tank or piping
connections. Refer to “Location Requirements” on page
4. Under no circumstances is the manufacturer to be
held responsible for any water damage in connection
with this water heater.
Water Heater Sounds
During the normal operation of the water heater, sounds
or noises may be heard. These noises are common and
may result from the following:
1. Normal expansion and contraction of metal parts
during periods of heat-up and cool-down.
2. Condensation causes sizzling and popping within
the burner area and should be considered normal.
3. Sediment buildup in the tank bottom will create
varying amounts of noise and may cause
premature tank failure. Drain and flush the tank as
directed under “Draining and Flushing”.
Smoke/Odor
The water heater may give off a small amount of smoke
and odor during the initial start-up of the unit. This is
due to the burning off of oil from metal parts of a new
unit and will disappear after a few minutes of operation.
Safety Shut-off
This water heater is designed to automatically shut-off
in the event of the following:
1. The pilot flame is extinguished for any reason.
2. The water temperature exceeds 180°F (83°C).
3. Excessive combustion chamber temperatures.
4. The ignition of flammable vapors.
A thermocouple is used to determine if a pilot flame is
present and will shut off the gas supply to the main
burner and the pilot burner if the flame is absent. In
addition, as part of the Flame Guard® Safety System,
this thermocouple is equipped with a thermal fuse
designed to shut off the gas supply to the main burner
and pilot light in the event a flammable vapor incident
occurs or due to poor combustion caused by a blocked
vent or insufficient combustion air. If the fuse opens, the
water heater cannot be used unless the thermocouple
is replaced by a qualified service technician. Contact
the Product Service and Support Department for
service information at .
A high temperature limit switch or ECO (Energy Cut Off)
in the tank is used to shut off the unit if the water
temperature exceeds 180°F (83°C). The ECO is a
single use switch and requires complete replacement of
the entire thermostat. If the ECO should function, the
water heater cannot be used until the thermostat is
replaced by a qualified service technician. Contact your
local dealer for service information.
Each water heater contains at least one anode rod,
which will slowly deplete while protecting the glass-lined
tank from corrosion and prolonging the life of the water
heater. Certain water conditions will cause a reaction
between this rod and the water. Once the anode is
depleted, the tank will start to corrode, eventually
developing a leak. The most common complaint
associated with the anode rod is a “rotten egg smell”
produced from the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas
dissolved in the water. Do not remove this rod
permanently as it will void any warranties, stated or
implied. The parts list includes a special anode that
can be ordered if water odor or discoloration occurs.
This rod may reduce but not eliminate water odor
problems. The water supply system may require special
filtration equipment from a water conditioning company
to successfully eliminate all water odor problems.
Artificially softened water is exceedingly corrosive
because the process substitutes sodium ions for
magnesium and calcium ions. The use of a water
softener may decrease the life of the water heater tank.
The anode rod should be removed from the water
heater tank every 3 years for inspection. If the rod is
more than 50% depleted, the anode rod should be
replaced.
In replacing the anode:
1-800-999-9515
Anode Rod/Water Odor
1. Turn off gas supply to the water heater.
2. Shut off the water supply and open a nearby hot
water faucet to depressurize the water tank.
3. Drain approximately 5 gallons of water from tank
(Refer to “Draining and Flushing” for proper
procedures). Close drain valve.
4. Remove old anode rod.
5. Use Teflon® tape or approved pipe sealant on
threads and install new anode rod.
6. Turn on water supply and open nearby hot water
faucet to purge air from water system.
7. Restart the water heater as directed under
“Operating Your Water Heater.” See the "Repair
Parts Illustration" for anode rod location on
page 28.
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