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GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION
EXTERNAL DAMAGE
Do not operate the water heater until it has been fully checked
out by a qualified technician, if the water heater:
• Has been exposed to fire or damage.
• Displays evidence of sooting.
• Produces steam or unusually hot water.
If the water heater has been flooded it must be replaced.
CHEMICAL VAPOR CORROSION
WARNING
CORROSION OF THE FLUEWAYS AND VENT SYSTEM MAY
OCCUR IF AIR FOR COMBUSTION CONTAINS CERTAIN
CHEMICAL VAPORS WHICH WILL BREAK DOWN INTO ACIDS
AT HIGH TEMPERATURE. 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 are typical compounds which are potentially corrosive.
Do not store products of this sort near the heater. Also, air which
is brought in contact with 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).
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 necessary with A.O. Smith
products. 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 National
Appliance Energy Conservation Act standards with respect to
insulation and standby loss requirements, making an insulation
blanket unnecessary.
WARNING
Should you choose to apply an insulation blanket to this heater,
you should follow these instructions, see Figure 1 for identification
of components mentioned below. Failure to follow these
instructions can restrict the air flow required for proper
combustion, potentially resulting in fire, asphyxiation, serious
personal injury or death.
• Do not cover the outer door, thermostat or temperature
& pressure relief valve.
•
Do not cover the instruction manual. Keep it on the side of
the water heater or nearby for future reference.
•
Do obtain new warning and instruction labels from A.O. Smith
for placement on the blanket directly over the existing labels.
LIQUID PETROLEUM MODELS
WARNING
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 a 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. Ask your
LP delivery person to relight pilots for you. Only trained LP
professionals should conduct the required safety checks in
accordance with industry standards.
INSTALLATION
REQUIRED ABILITY
INSTALLATION OR SERVICE OF THIS WATER HEATER
REQUIRES ABILITY EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF A LICENSED
TRADESMAN IN THE FIELD INVOLVED. PLUMBING, AIR
SUPPLY, VENTING AND GAS SUPPLY ARE REQUIRED.
GENERAL
The installation must conform to these instructions and the local
code authority having jurisdiction. In the absence of local codes,
the installation must comply with the current editions of the
National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 and the National
Electrical Code, NFPA 70. The former is available from the