Installation Guide

8 • Electric Mini Tank Water Heater
HOW: Connect the Thermal Expansion
Tank (available at Lowe’s® ) to the cold wa-
ter supply line near the water heater. The
expansion tank contains a bladder and an
air charge. To work properly, the Thermal
Expansion Tank must be sized according
to the water heater’s tank capacity and
pressurized to match the home’s incoming
water pressure. Refer to the installa on
instruc ons provided with the Thermal
Expansion Tank for installa on details.
BACKGROUND: Water expands when
heated, and the increased volume of
water must have a place to go, or thermal
expansion will cause large increases in wa-
ter 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 backfl ow pre-
venters and check valves to restrict water
from your home reentering the public
water system. Backfl ow preventers 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 occasionally
runs for no apparent reason (usually brief-
ly 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 an automatic leak detection and
shutoff device (available at Lowe’s® ).
These devices can detect water leaks
and can shut off the water heater’s
water supply if a leak occurs.
• Install a suitable drain pan (available at
Lowe’s®) under the water heater (Fig-
ure 6) to catch condensation or leaks
in the piping connections 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”.
IMPORTANT: The bottom of the water
heater shall be above the top of the drain
pan. Place heater on a stand inside the
drain pan to achieve this.
MAX
1
2
125°F
Figure 6 - A suitable drain pan piped to an
adequate drain can help protect flooring from
leaks and drips.
✓
Water temperature
regula on
Figure 7 - Thermostatic Mixing Valves installed
at each point -of-use can help prevent scalds.
Install Thermosta c Mixing Valves (Figure
7) to regulate the temperature of the wa-
ter supplied to each point-of-use (for ex-
ample, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bath,
shower). Consult the valve manufactur-
er’s instruc ons or a qualifi ed person.
WARNING! Even if the water heat-
er 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 (page
4).
BACKGROUND: A Thermosta c Mixing
Valve, installed at each point-of-use, mix-
es 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 plumb-
ing system is equipped with properly in-
stalled and adjusted Thermosta c Mixing
Valves at each point where hot water is
used, contact a qualifi ed person for more
informa on.
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION