Water Chemistry Requirements - Westinghouse WEC080C2X030 Use And Care Manual

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NOTE: In the State of California, the water heater must be
braced, anchored, or strapped to avoid moving during an
earthquake. Contact local utilities for code requirements in your
area. Visit http://www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov or call 1-916-445-8100
and request instructions.
However, applicable local codes shall govern installation.
For residential water heaters of a capacity of greater than 52
gallons, consult the local building jurisdiction for acceptable
bracing procedures.
3. Check area around water heater. Remove any combustible
materials, gasoline, and other flammable liquids.
This water heater must not be located near flammable liquids
such as gasoline, butane, liquefied propane, adhesives, solvents,
paint thinners, etc., as the controls of this water heater could
ignite these vapors and cause an explosion resulting in property
damage, severe personal injury, or death.
4. If the water heater is to replace an existing water heater, check
for and correct any existing system problems such as:
• System leaks
• Location that could cause the system and water heater
to freeze and leak
• Incorrectly-sized expansion tank
5. This water heater must be installed vertical on a level surface.
C. Water Chemistry Requirements
Chemical imbalance of the water supply may affect efficiency
and cause severe damage to the water heater and associated
equipment. Westinghouse recommends having water quality
professionally analyzed to determine whether it is necessary to
install a water softener. It is important that the water chemistry
on both the domestic hot water and central heating sides are
checked before installing the water heater, as water quality
will affect the reliability of the system. In addition, operating
temperatures above 135 o F will further accelerate the build-
up of lime scale and may shorten the service life of the water
heater. Failure of a water heater due to lime scale build-up,
low pH, or other chemical imbalance IS NOT covered by the
warranty.
Outlined below are water quality parameters that need to be
met in order for the system to operate efficiently for many years.
Water Hardness
Water hardness is mainly due to the presence of calcium and
magnesium salts dissolved in water. The concentration of these
salts is expressed in mg/L, ppm, or grains per gallon as a measure
of relative water hardness. Grains per gallon is the common
reference used in the US water heater industry. Hardness
expressed as mg/L or ppm may be divided by 17.1 to convert to
grains per gallon. Water may be classified as very soft, slightly
hard, moderately hard, or hard based on its hardness number.
The minerals in the water precipitate out as the water is heated
and cause accelerated lime scale accumulation on a heat transfer
surface. This lime scale build-up may result in premature failure
of the water heater.
Water that is classified as hard and very hard must be softened
whl-035 Rev. 4.5.16
to avoid water heater failure.
CLASSIFICATION MG/L OR PPM
Soft
Slightly Hard
Moderately Hard
Hard
Very Hard 180 and over
If the hardness of the water exceeds the maximum level of 12
grains per gallon, the water should be softened to a hardness
level no lower than 5 grains per gallon. Water softened as low
as 0 to 1 grain per gallon may be under-saturated with respect
to calcium carbonate, resulting in water that is aggressive and
corrosive.
pH of Water
pH is a measure of relative acidity, neutrality, or alkalinity.
Dissolved minerals and gases affect water pH. The pH scale
ranges from 0 to 14. Water with a pH of 7 is considered neutral.
Water with pH lower than 7 is considered acidic. Water with a
pH higher than 7 is considered alkaline. A neutral pH (around
7) is desirable for most potable water applications. Corrosion
damage and tank failures resulting from water pH levels
of lower than 6 or higher than 8 ARE NOT covered by
warranty. The ideal pH range for water used in a water heater
is 7.2 to 7.8.
Total Dissolved Solids
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a measurement of all minerals
and solids dissolved in a water sample. The concentration of
TDS is usually expressed in parts per million (ppm).
Water with a high TDS concentration will greatly accelerate
lime and scale formation in the hot water system. Most high
TDS concentrations precipitate out of the water when heated.
This can generate a scale accumulation that will greatly reduce
the service life of the water heater.
The manufacturer of the water heater has no control over
water quality, especially TDS levels in your system. TDS in
excess of 2000 ppm will accelerate lime and scale formation
on the element or the heat exchanger. Water heater failure
due to TDS in excess of 2000 ppm IS NOT covered by warranty.
Failure of a water heater due to lime scale build-up IS NOT
covered by warranty.
Hardness: Less than 12 grains
Chloride levels: Less than 100 ppm
pH levels: 6 - 8
TDS: Less than 2000 ppm
Sodium: Less than 20 mG/L
Failure of electric elements due to lime scale build-up on the
heating surface, low pH, or other imbalance IS NOT covered
by the warranty.
GRAINS/GAL
0 - 17.1 0 - 1
17.1 - 60 1 - 3.5
60 - 120 3.5 - 7
120 - 180 7 - 10.5
10.5 and over