Operational Conditions - Kenmore 153.336340 Owner's Manual

Moisture f romtheproducts o f combustion condense onthe
cooler t anksurfaces a ndformdrops ofwater w hich may fall
onto theburner orother h otsurfaces toproduce a "sizzling" or
"frying" noise.
Excessive condensation cancause pilotoutage d uetowater
running d own thefluetubeontothemain burner a ndputting
outthepilot.
Because ofthesuddenness and amount ofwater, condensation
water m aybediagnosed asa "tank leak". Afterthewaterin
thetankwarms up (about 1 -2hours), t he condition should
disappear.
Donotassume thewater h eater isleaking u ntil t here hasbeen
enough t ime forthewater i nthetank towarm up.
An undersized waterheater w ill cause morecondensation.
Thewater h eater m ust b esized properly to meet t hefamily's
demands forhot w ater including dishwashers, washing machines
andshower heads.
Excessive condensation may benoticed d uring thewinter a nd
early spring months w hen incoming water t emperatures areat
their l owest.
Good venting i sessential foragasfired water h eater tooperate
properly aswell a stocarry away products ofcombustion and
water vapor.
Smoke Odor
It is not uncommon to experience a small amount of smoke and
odor during the initial start-up. This is due to burning off of oil
from metal parts, and will disappear in a short while.
Operational Conditions
Smelly Odor
In each water heater there is installed at least one anode rod
(see parts section) for corrosion protection of the tank. Certain
water conditions will cause a reaction between this rod and the
water. The most common complaint associated with the anode
rod is one of a "rotten egg smell". This odor is derived from
hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water. The smell is the
result of four factors which must all be present for the odor to
develop:
• a concentration of sulfate in the supply water.
• little or no dissolved oxygen in the water.
• a sulfate reducing bacteria within the water heater. (This
harmless bacteria is non-toxic to humans.)
• an excess of active hydrogen in the tank. This is caused by
the corrosion protective action of the anode.
Smelly water may be eliminated or reduced in some water
heater models by replacing the anode(s) with one of tess active
material, and then chlorinating the water heater tank and all
hot water lines. Contact Sears Service for further information
concerning this chlorination treatment and an anode replacement
kit #9001453. (For short heaters, use anode replacement
kit #9006299.) Anode replacement and chlorination of the tank
are not covered by the water heater's limited warranty.
If the smelly water persists after the anode replacement and
chlorination treatment, it may be necessary to chlorinate or
aerate your water supply to eliminate the problem.
Do not remove the anode, leaving the tank unprotected. By
doing so, all warranty on the water heater tank is voided.
"AIR" In Hot Water Faucets
Explosion Hazard
• Flammable hydrogen
gases may be present.
• Keep all ignition sources
away from faucet when
turning on hot water.
35
HYDROGEN GAS: Hydrogen gas can be produced in a hot water
system that has not been used for a long period of time (generally
two weeks or more). Hydrogen gas is extremely flammable and
explosive. To prevent the possibility of injury under these conditions,
we recommend the hot water faucet, located farthest away, be
opened for several minutes before any electrical appliances which are
connected to the hot water system are used (such as a dishwasher
or washing machine). If hydrogen gas is present, there will probably
be an unusual sound similar to air escaping through the pipe as the
hot water faucet is opened. There must be no smoking or open flame
near the faucet at the time it is open.
Safety Shut-off and Thermal Switch
This water heater is designed to automatically shut-off in the
event of the following:
1. The pilot flame is extinguished for any reason.
2. The water temperature exceeds 195°F (91°C).
3. Excessive build up of dust on the base ring filter or flame
arrestor. See Maintenance of your Water Heater Section.
4. The ignition of flammable vapors.
A thermocouple is used to determine if a pilot flame is
present, and wilt shut off the gas supply to the main
burner and the pilot if the flame is absent. This unit is also
equipped with a thermal switch, designed to shut off the gas
supply in the event the water heater has been exposed to
flammable vapors (e.g., spilled gasoline), poor combustion
caused by a blocked vent, or insufficient combustion air.
If the thermal switch opens:
1. Check the flame-arrestor for signs of high temperature (blue
or black discoloration). See Figure 36.
2,
If there are signs of high temperature or that the thermal switch
has opened, inspect your installation for problems with venting,
combustion air supply, or a possible flammable vapor event.
(See "Pilot Light Troubleshooting Flowchart" section.) Correct
any issues prior to resetting the thermal switch. If you suspect
a flammable vapor incident has occurred, do not use this
appliance. Immediately call a qualified technician to inspect
the appliance. Water heaters subjected to a flammable vapors
ignition will require replacement of the entire water heater.
3. Reset the thermal switch by depressing the small button in the
center of the thermal switch. Follow the Lighting Instructions
found on the front of your water heater. A high temperature