Sediment Traps; Filling The Water Heater - A.O. Smith Gphe 50 Instruction Manual

A gas line of sufficient size must be run to the water heater.
Consult the current edition of National Fuel Gas Code (ANSI
Z223.1/NFPA 54) and your gas supplier concerning pipe size.
There must be:
• A readily accessible manual shuttoff valve in the gas supply line
serving the water heater, and
• A sediment trap ahead of gas control valve to help prevent dirt and
foreign materials from entering the gas control valve.
• A flexible gas connector or a ground joint union between the shuttoff
valve and control valve to permit servicing of the unit.
Be sure to check all the gas piping for leaks before lighting the water
heater. Use a soapy water solution, not a match or open flame. Rinse
off soapy solution and wipe dry.
Use pipe joint compound or teflon tape marked as being resistant
to the action of petroleum [Propane (L.P.)] gases.
The appliance and its gas connection must be leak tested before
placing the appliance in operation.
The appliance and its individual Shuttoff valve should be disconnected
from the gas supply piping system during any pressure testing of that
system at test pressures in excess of 1/2 pound per square inch (3.5 kPa).
It should be isolated from the gas supply piping system by closing its
individual manual Shuttoff valve during any pressure testing of the gas
supply piping system at test pressures equal to or less than 1/2 pound
per square inch (3.5 kPa).
Connecting gas piping to the gas control valve of water heater can be
accomplished by either of two methods shown in Figures 12 and 13.
fIGure 12. Gas pIpInG wIth
fleXIBle connector.
fIGure 13. Gas pIpInG wIth all
BlacK Iron pIpe to Gas control.

sedIMent traps

A sediment trap should be installed as close to the inlet of the
water heater as practical at the time of water heater installation.
The sediment trap should be either a tee fitting with a capped
nipple in the bottom outlet or other device recognized as an
effective sediment trap. If a tee fitting is used, it should be
installed in conformance with one of the methods of installation
shown in Figures 12 and 13.
Contaminants in the gas lines may cause improper operation of
the gas control valve that may result in fire or explosion. Before
attaching the gas line be sure that all gas pipe is clean on the
inside. To trap any dirt or foreign material in the gas supply
line, a sediment trap must be incorporated in the piping. The
sediment trap must be readily accessible. Install in accordance
with the "Gas Piping" section. Refer to the current edition of
the National Fuel Gas Code (ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54).

fIllInG the water heater

17
FIGURE 14.