Operating Guide

Residen al Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 19
TROUBLESHOOTING
Temperature Too High
If the water temperature is too hot:
• Install or adjust the Thermostatic
Mixing Valves for each point-of-use
(see manufacturer’s instructions), or
• Adjust the thermostat(s) on the
water heater (see Step 10 in the
installation section of this manual).
A nonfunc oning thermostat or a
shorted hea ng element can cause
extremely hot water. If the Temperature
and Pressure Relief Valve (T&P Valve)
releases large amounts of very hot wa-
ter, it is likely due to a shorted hea ng
element, or more rarely a nonfunc on-
ing thermostat, or the thermostat does
not fi t snuggly against the tank. Very
high water temperatures can also cause
the Energy Cut Off (ECO) to trip (see
page 18). Turn power off un l this
problem is fi xed.
Low Water Pressure
Check both the cold and hot water at a
sink to determine if the lower pressure
is only on the hot water side. If both hot
and cold faucets have low pressure, call
your local water u lity. If the low pres-
sure is only on the hot water side, the
primary causes of this are:
• Melted heat traps or dip tube. Solder-
ing copper pipes while they are con-
nected to the water heater can melt
the heat traps inside the hot and cold
water connections or the dip tube
(cold water side). Melted heat traps or
a melted dip tube can restrict the flow
of hot water. If that’s the case, replace
the heat traps or dip tube.
• Partially closed supply valve. Open
the water heater’s supply valve fully.
Drips from T&P Relief
Valve Discharge Pipe
A small amount of water dripping from
the Temperature and Pressure (T&P)
Relief Valve usually means the home’s
water pressure is too high or you need
a properly sized and pressurized Ther-
mal Expansion Tank. Refer to Step 1 in
the Installa on sec on of this manual
for more informa on. A large amount
of hot water coming from the T&P
discharge pipe may be due to the tank
overhea ng.
WARNING! Do not cap or plug the
T&P relief valve or discharge pipe,
and do not operate the water heater
without a func oning T&P Relief Valve
- this could cause an explosion.
Water pressure too high. High water
pressure can cause the T&P Relief
Valve to drip. Install a Pressure Reduc-
ing Valve (PRV) on the main cold water
supply line. Adjust the PRV to between
50 and 60 psi.
Thermal Expansion Tank. Install a
Thermal Expansion Tank. If a Thermal
Expansion Tank is already installed and
the T&P Relief Valve discharge pipe
drips, the Thermal Expansion Tank may
be pressurized to the wrong pressure or
the internal bladder may be defec ve.
Refer to the instruc ons that came with
the Thermal Expansion Tank for more
informa on.
Debris. In rare cases, debris can s ck
inside the T&P Relief Valve preven ng
the valve from sea ng fully. In that case,
the T&P Relief Valve discharge pipe will
drip. You may be able to clear debris
from the T&P Relief Valve by manu-
ally opera ng the valve, allowing small
quan  es of water to fl ush out the
debris. See the label on the T&P Relief
Valve for instruc ons.
If the water pressure is between 50
and 60 psi, a Thermal Expansion Tank
is installed and properly pressurized,
and the valve has been cleared of any
debris, and it s ll drips, the valve may
be broken—have a qualifi ed person
replace the T&P relief valve.
Water Odor
Harmless bacteria normally present in
tap water can mul ply in water heat-
ers and give off a “ro en egg” smell.
Although elimina ng the bacteria that
causes “smelly water” with a Chlorina-
 on system is the only sure treatment,
in some cases, the standard anode rod
that came with your water heater can
be replaced with a special zinc anode
rod which may help reduce or eliminate
the odor. Contact a qualifi ed person.
NOTE: To protect the tank, an anode
rod must be installed in the water
heater at all  mes or the warranty is
void.
In cases where the “ro en egg” smell
is pronounced, you can raise the tank
temperature to 140°F in order to re-
duce bacteria growth in the tank.
WARNING! Because higher tempera-
tures increase the risk of scalding, if
you set the thermostat(s) higher than
120°F, Thermosta c Mixing Valves
at each point-of-use are par cularly
important (page 4).
TROUBLESHOOTING