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Lower heating element not working.
If the lower heating element (or, more
rarely, the lower thermostat) is not
working, you will have some hot water
but not as much as before. Because the
lower element does most of the work,
the lower element usually wears out
before the upper element. Replace the
lower element and/or thermostat if
necessary (see page 25-27).
Temperature Too High
If the water temperature is too hot:
• Install or adjust the Thermostatic
Mixing Valves (see manufacturer's
instructions), or
• Adjust the thermostat(s) on the water
heater (see Step 10 in the Installation
section of this manual).
A nonfunctioning thermostat or a
shorted heating element can cause
extremely hot water. If the Temperature
and Pressure Relief Valve (T&P Valve)
releases large amounts of very hot
water, it is likely due to a shorted
heating element, or more rarely a
nonfunctioning thermostat, or the
thermostat does not fit snuggly against
the tank. Very high water temperatures
can also cause the Energy Cut Off (ECO)
to trip (see page 22). Turn power off
until this problem is fixed.
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 utility. If the low
pressure is only on the hot water side,
the primary causes of this are:
• Melted heat traps or dip tube.
Soldering copper pipes while they are
connected 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 water
pressure is too high or you need a
properly sized and pressurized Thermal
Expansion Tank. Refer to Step 1 in the
Installation section of this manual for
more information. A large amount
of hot water coming from the T&P
discharge pipe may be due to the tank
overheating.
WARNING! Do not cap or plug the
T&P relief valve or discharge pipe, and
do not operate the water heater
without a functioning 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 Reducing
Valve (PRV) on the main cold water
supply line. Adjust the PRV to between
50-60 psi (345-414 kPa).
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 defective.
Refer to the instructions that came with
the Thermal Expansion Tank for more
information.
Debris. In rare cases, debris can stick
inside the T&P Relief Valve preventing
the valve from seating fully. In that case,
Commercial Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 23
the T&P Relief Valve discharge pipe will
drip. You may be able to clear debris
from the T&P Relief Valve by manually
operating the valve, allowing small
quantities of water to flush out the
debris. See the label on the T&P Relief
Valve for instructions.
If the water pressure is between
50-60 psi (345-414 kPa), a Thermal
Expansion Tank is installed and properly
pressurized, and the valve has been
cleared of any debris, and it still drips,
the valve may be broken—have a
qualified person replace the T&P relief
valve.
Water Odor
Harmless bacteria normally present
in tap water can multiply in water
heaters and give off a "rotten egg"
smell. Although eliminating the bacteria
that causes "smelly water" with a
Chlorination 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
qualified person.
NOTE: To protect the tank, an anode
rod must be installed in the water
heater at all times or the warranty is
void.
In cases where the "rotten egg" smell
is pronounced, you can raise the tank
temperature to 140°F (60°C) in order to
reduce bacteria growth in the tank.
WARNING! Because higher
temperatures increase the risk of
scalding, if you set the thermostat(s)
higher than 120°F (49°C), Thermostatic
Mixing Valves are particularly
important (see page 4).
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