About Your Water Heater - Rheem 310 Owner's Manual And Installation Instructions

ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER

WATER HEATER APPLICATION
This water heater is designed for use in a single family domestic dwelling for the purpose of heating potable
water. Its use in an application other than this may shorten its life.
MODEL TYPE
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Your Rheem air sourced heat pump water heater is designed for outdoor installation only. The model you
have chosen is a 551 series model. The 551 310 model heat pump water heater is recommended for
connection to a minimum 16 hour per day power supply.
A Rheem heat pump water heater consumes less energy than an electric water heater. The impact on an
electricity account will depend on the tariff arrangement of the water heater replaced and where you live.
Contact your energy provider for more information on tariff arrangements and cost comparisons.
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The Rheem air sourced heat pump water heater has a Rheemglas vitreous enamel lined steel cylinder. The
water heater‟s evaporator absorbs heat from the surrounding air and transfers this heat into the water.
When hot water is drawn off and cold water enters the tank, the thermostat activates a fan, a compressor
and a circulator. The fan draws outside air in through the air inlet louvres at the top of the water heater and
the pump circulates water from the bottom of the storage tank through a heat exchanger. Heat is absorbed
from the air by an evaporator and transferred into the water through the heat exchanger. The resulting cold
air is then discharged through the air outlet louvres back to atmosphere and the heated water is circulated
back into the top of the storage tank. This process continues while ever heating is required until the water in
the storage tank reaches a temperature of 60°C.
Even on cloudy or cold days, heat is drawn from the surrounding air. The heat
pump will operate when the ambient air temperature is 5°C or higher. The
booster heating unit will operate when the ambient air temperature falls below
5°C, if heating is required. The efficiency of the water heater increases as the
surrounding ambient air temperature increases.
Automatic safety controls are fitted to the water heater to provide safe and
efficient operation.
ELECTRIC BOOSTING
Ice may begin to form on the evaporator reducing the heat pump efficiency,
when the ambient air temperature falls below 7°C and the heat pump has been
operating for an extended period. At ambient air temperatures below 5°C, the
water heater deactivates the heat pump operation and switches to the booster
heating unit. During this period the evaporator will defrost if necessary.
The boost capacity in this mode is 220 litres. The water inside the tank will be
heated to a temperature of 60°C by the electric booster heating unit if heating
is required. The temperature setting of the sensor controlling the booster
heating unit is not adjustable and is set at 60°C.
FREEZE PROTECTION
The water heater has a freeze protection system. The freeze protection system will protect the water heater
from damage, by preventing ice forming in the waterways of the water heater, in the event of freezing
conditions occurring.
If the water temperature at the heat pump heat exchanger falls below 3°C and the heat pump is not
operating, the system will operate the circulator periodically. Water is circulated from the storage tank
through the heat pump circuit, to prevent freezing in the connecting pipe work and heat pump module.
During this freeze protection cycle, the circulator will operate for at least thirty (30) seconds, deactivating
when the water temperature increases above 5°C. The water heater has NO WARRANTY for freeze damage
if power is unavailable at the water heater.
Warning: In areas where the ambient air temperature may fall below 4°C, power must be available to the
water heater at all times to prevent freezing in the heat pump circuit.
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