Installa on Instruc ons and Use & Care Guide Residen al Electric Water Heater DO NOT RETURN THIS UNIT TO THE STORE Read this manual and the labels on the water heater before you install, operate, or service it. If you have difficulty following the direc ons, or aren’t sure you can safely and properly do any of this work yourself: • Call our Technical Assistance Hotline at 1-877-817-6750 or visit http:// www. AOSmithAtLowes.com . We can help you with installation, operations, troubleshooting, or maintenance.
COMPLETED INSTALLATION TYPICAL Water shut off Expansion tank Hot water line Cold water line Electrical junc on box T&P relief valve Upper Element and Thermostat access ECO Reset Bu on (on most models) T&P discharge pipe Lower Element and Thermostat access Drain pan discharge pipe Drain pan Drain valve
Read and follow all safety messages and instruc ons in this manual. This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to poten al physical injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible property damage, serious injury or death. Do not remove any permanent instruc ons, labels, or the data plate from either the outside of the water heater or on the inside of the access panels. Keep this manual near the water heater.
SAFETY IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION T o reduce the risk of property damage, serious injury or death, read and follow the precau ons below, all labels on the water heater, and the safety messages and instruc ons throughout this manual.
According to a na onal standard American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE 1070) and most local plumbing codes, the water heater’s thermostat should not be used as the sole means to regulate water temperature and avoid scalds. Properly adjusted Thermosta c Mixing Valves installed at each point-of-use allow you to set the tank temperature to a higher se ng without increasing risk of scalds.
GETTING STARTED Review all of the instruc ons before you begin work. If you aren’t sure that you can safely and properly do this work yourself, call your Lowe’s® store to arrange for Professional Installa on (you may also call a qualified person of your choice, such as a licensed plumber or electrician, to have the work done). Improper installa on can damage the water heater, your home and other property, and can present risks of serious injury or death.
INSTALLATION ✓ Follow these steps for proper installa on: Water pressure increase caused by thermal expansion ✓ Verify that your home is equipped and up-to-date for proper opera on Installing a new water heater is the perfect me to examine your home’s plumbing system and make sure the system is up to current code standards. There have likely been plumbing code changes since the old water heater was installed.
INSTALLATION INSTALLATION 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 water 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 backflow preventers and check valves to restrict water from your home reentering the public water system.
5 The loca on is not prone to physical damage by vehicles, flooding, or other risks. Before installing your water heater, ensure that: 1 • In an area that will not freeze • In an area that is suitable for installing the water heater vertically 2 The loca on has adequate space (clearances) for periodic servicing. 3 The floor can support the weight of a full water heater. Your area is not prone to earthquakes. If it is, use special straps as required by local building codes.
INSTALLATION 7 Turn the cold water supply valve OFF. 8 Open the drain valve on the water heater. Disconnect the water pipes. Many water pipes are connected by a threaded union which can be disconnected with wrenches. If you must cut the water pipes, cut the pipes close to the water heater’s inlet and outlet connec ons, leaving the water pipes as long as possible. If necessary, you can make them shorter later when you install the new water heater. 11 12 Figure 10 - Draining the old water heater.
DO NOT CONNECT ELECTRICAL WIRING UNTIL YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. only copper or CPVC pipe. Do not use any other type of pipe, such as PVC, iron, flexible plas c pipe, or any type of hose. NOTICE: Connec ng electrical power to the tank before it is completely full of water (water must run FULL STREAM from a hot water tap for a full three minutes) will cause the upper hea ng element to burn out. Relief Valve.
INSTALLATION Step 6: Install shutoff and tempering valves If one is not already installed, install a manual shutoff valve in the cold water line that supplies the water heater. Install the shutoff valve near the water heater so that it is readily accessible. Only use valves that are compa ble with potable water. Use only full-flow ball or gate valves. Other types of valves may cause excessive restric on to the water flow.
NOTICE: Most water heater models contain energy saving heat traps in the inlet and outlet connec ons. Do not remove the heat traps. 2 Turn the cold water supply back on. Connect the hot water supply using 3/4 inch NPT to the hot water outlet. Follow the same connec on guidelines as for the cold water supply. 3 Full-flow ball valve Figure 15 - A Pressure Reducing Valve is required if your home’s water pressure is above 80 psi.
INSTALLATION Step 9: Make electrical connec ons INSTALLATION WARNING! Working on an energized circuit can result in severe injury or death from electrical shock. NOTICE: The tank must be completely empty of air and full of water before connec ng electrical power to avoid “Dry Firing.” Dry Firing may result in the upper element burning out. This is a common installa on mistake.
Replace the junc on box cover and secure with the screws provided. • Fold the insulation back in place and replace the access panels. WARNING! Be sure panels are secured to reduce the risk of fire and electric shock. WARNING! Be sure cover is secured to reduce the risk of fire and electric shock. 2 Step 10: Adjus ng the Temperature With the installa on steps completed, you may adjust the water heater’s temperature se ng if desired. Set the thermostat(s) to desired temperature.
INSTALLATION Step 11: Opera on The water heater is now ready for normal opera on. To keep your water heater working safely and efficiently and extend its life, perform maintenance according to the schedule on page 20. INSTALLATION Vaca on To save energy, lower the temperature se ng on the thermostat(s) if you plan to be gone for an extended me.
TROUBLESHOOTING WARNING! When you are finished, be sure all covers are secured to reduce the risk of fire and electric shock. • Identify the two power wires. The power wires are usually black/black or black/red—the green or copper wire is the ground wire.
5 Check/Reset Energy Cut Off (ECO) Bu on. • Turn off the power to the water heater. WARNING! Be sure all covers are secured to reduce the risk of fire and electric shock. Insufficient Hot Water or Slow Hot Water Recovery Figure 23 - Energy Cut Off (ECO) button The Energy Cut Off (ECO) shuts off power to the water heater’s elements if the temperature of the water in the tank gets too hot. If the ECO has tripped, you’ll have no hot water.
TROUBLESHOOTING 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.
MAINTENANCE Rou ne Maintenance Rou ne maintenance will help your water heater last longer and work better. If you can’t perform these rou ne maintenance tasks yourself, contact a qualified person. elements than trying to remove heavy lime deposits. To drain and flush the tank: 1 Locate the water heater’s circuit breaker and turn it OFF (or remove the circuit’s fuses). Water Heater Maintenance A er the first six months, drain and flush the water heater and inspect the anode rod.
8 9 10 Replacing the Hea ng Element WARNING! Working on an energized circuit can result in severe injury or death from electrical shock. Turn power off. Check wires with a non-contact circuit tester to make sure power is off. When you are finished, be sure all covers are secured to reduce the risk of fire and electric shock. If you are not comfortable replacing a hea ng element or thermostat yourself, have this work done by a qualified person.
MAINTENANCE faucet will help the tank drain faster. Remove the upper or lower access panel on the water heater, and then fold back the insula on and remove the plas c element/thermostat cover. 5 air removed and is completely full of water. Failure to perform this step can cause the upper hea ng element to burn out. Once you are certain the tank is completely full of water, close the hot water faucet. turn power OFF and check with a non-contact circuit tester before working on the water heater.
MAINTENANCE T&P Relief Valve Maintenance Remove the upper or lower access panel on the water heater and carefully fold back the insula on and plas c element/ thermostat cover. Read and follow the opera ng and annual maintenance instruc ons provided by the manufacturer of the T&P Relief Valve (yellow label a ached to T&P Relief Valve). Minerals in the water can form deposits that cause the valve to s ck or create blocked passages, making the T&P Relief Valve inopera ve.
DIAGRAMS DIAGRAMS Thermostat Wiring Diagram 24 • Residen al Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide
REPAIR PARTS 1 ACCESS DOORS 2 THERMOSTAT COVERS (UPPER AND LOWER) Repair parts may be ordered through your plumber, local distributor, Lowe’s, or by calling 1-800-817-6750. When ordering repair parts always give the following information: 3 UPPER THERMOSTAT 1. Model and serial number. 4 LOWER THERMOSTAT 2. Item number and part description.
REPAIR PARTS 1 ACCESS DOORS 2 THERMOSTAT COVERS (UPPER AND LOWER) Repair parts may be ordered through your plumber, local distributor, Lowe’s, or by calling 1-800-817-6750. When ordering repair parts always give the following information: 3 UPPER THERMOSTAT 1. Model and serial number. 4 LOWER THERMOSTAT 2. Item number and part description.
REPAIR PARTS 1 THERMOSTAT COVERS (UPPER AND LOWER) 2 UPPER THERMOSTAT Repair parts may be ordered through your plumber, local distributor, Lowe’s, or by calling 1-800-817-6750. When ordering repair parts always give the following information: 3 LOWER THERMOSTAT 1. Model and serial number. 4 ELEMENT 2. Item number and part description.
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