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GENERAL SAFETY
INFORMATION
PRECAUTIONS
DO NOT USE THIS APPLIANCE IF ANY PART HAS BEEN UNDER
WATER. Immediately call a qualified service technician to inspect
the appliance and to replace any part of the control system and
any gas control which has been under water.
IF THE UNIT IS EXPOSED TO THE FOLLOWING, DO NOT
OPERATE HEATER UNTIL ALL CORRECTIVE STEPS HAVE
BEEN MADE BY A QUALIFIED SERVICEMAN.
1. EXTERNAL FIRE.
2. DAMAGE.
3. FIRING WITHOUT WATER.
4. SOOTING
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
This water heater must be grounded in accordance with the
National Electric Code and/or local codes. These must be
followed in all cases.
This water heater must be connected to a grounded metal,
permanent wiring system; or an equipment grounding conductor
must be run with the circuit conductors and connected to the
equipment grounding terminal or lead on the water heater, see
Figure 9.
CHEMICAL VAPOR CORROSION
WARNING
CORROSION OF THE FLUEWAYS AND VENT SYSTEM MAY
OCCUR IF AIR FOR COMBUSTION CONTAINS CERTAIN
CHEMICAL VAPORS. SUCH CORROSION MAY RESULT IN
FAILURE AND RISK OF ASPHYXIATION.
Spray can propellants, cleaning solvents, refrigerator and air
conditioning refrigerants, swimming pool chemicals, calcium
and sodium chloride (water softener salt), waxes, and process
chemicals and typical compounds which are potentially
corrosive. Do not store products of this sort near the heater.
Also, air which is brought in contact with a the heater should not
contain any of these chemicals. If necessary, uncontaminated
air should be obtained from remote or outside sources. The
limited warranty is voided when failure of water heater is due to
a corrosive atmosphere. (Refer to the limited warranty for
complete terms and conditions.
IMPROPER COMBUSTION
WARNING
ATTIC AND/OR EXHAUST FANS OPERATING ON THE
PREMISES WITH A WATER HEATER CAN RESULT IN CARBON
MONOXIDE POISONING AND DEATH.
OPERATION OF THESE FANS CAN PRODUCE A NEGATIVE
DRAFT IN THE AREA OF THE WATER HEATER PREVENTING
THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION FROM EXHAUSTING
THROUGH THE CHIMNEY OR VENT PIPE.
The venting of the water heater should be inspected by a qualified
service technician at the time of installation and periodically
thereafter to ensure a down-draft condition does not exist.
DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE FLOW OF COMBUSTION AND
VENTILATING AIR. ADEQUATE AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND
VENTILATION MUST BE PROVIDED FOR SAFE OPERATION.
LIQUID PETROLEUM MODELS
Water heaters for propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are
different from natural gas models. A natural gas heater will not
function safely on LP gas and no attempt should be made to
convert a heater from natural gas to LP gas.
LP gas must be used with great caution. It is highly explosive
and heavier than air. It collects first in the low areas making its
odor difficult to detect at nose level. If LP gas is present or even
suspected, do not attempt to find the cause yourself. Go to a
neighbor's house, leaving your doors open to ventilate the house,
then call your gas supplier or service agent. Keep area clear
until a service call has been made.
At times you may not be able to smell an LP gas leak. One
cause is odor fade, which is a loss of the chemical odorant that
gives LP gas its distinctive smell. Another cause can be your
physical condition, such as having a cold or diminishing sense
of smell with age. For these reasons, the use of a propane gas
detector is recommended.
IF YOU EXPERIENCE AN OUT-OF-GAS SITUATION, DO NOT
TRY TO RELIGHT APPLIANCES YOURSELF. Only trained LP
professionals should conduct the required safety checks in
accordance with industry standards.
EXTENDED NON-USE PERIODS
WARNING
HYDROGEN GAS CAN BE PRODUCED IN A HOT WATER
SYSTEM SERVED BY THIS HEATER THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME (GENERALLY TWO WEEKS OR
MORE). HYDROGEN GAS IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. To
reduce the risk of injury under these conditions, it is
recommended that the hot water faucet be opened for several
minutes at the kitchen sink before using any electrical appliance
connected to the hot water system. If hydrogen is present, there
will probably be an unusual sound such as air escaping through
the pipe as the water begins to flow. THERE SHOULD BE NO
SMOKING OR OPEN FLAME NEAR THE FAUCET AT THE TIME
IT IS OPEN.
INSULATION BLANKETS
Insulation blankets available to the general public for external
use on gas water heaters are not approved for use on your
A.O. Smith water heater. The purpose of an insulation blanket is
to reduce the standby heat loss encountered with storage tank
water heaters. Your A.O. Smith water heater meets or exceeds
the ASHRAE/IES 90.1b-1992 standards with respect to insulation
and standby loss requirement making an insulation blanket
unnecessary.
WARNING
Should you choose to apply an insulation blanket to this heater,
you should follow these instructions. Failure to follow these
instructions can result in fire, asphyxiation , serious personal
injury or death.