Flue Vent System And Air Piping; Check Water System; Check Expansion Tank; Check Water Heater Relief Valve - Lochinvar 151 - 801 Service Manual

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Maintenance

Flue vent system and air piping

1. Visually inspect the entire flue gas venting system and air
piping for blockage, deterioration or leakage. Repair any
joints that show signs of leakage. Verify that air inlet pipe
inside the appliance is connected and properly sealed.
2. Verify that water heater vent discharge and air intake are
clean and free of obstructions.
Failure to inspect for the above conditions
WARNING
and have them repaired can result in severe
personal injury or death.

Check water system

1. Verify all system components are correctly installed and
operational.
2. Verify system pressure is at least 12 PSI.
3. Watch the system pressure as the water heater heats up
(during testing) to ensure pressure does not rise too high.
Excessive pressure rise indicates expansion tank sizing or
performance problem.
4. Inspect automatic air vents and air separators. Remove air
vent caps and briefly push valve to flush vent. Replace caps.
Make sure vents do not leak. Replace any leaking vents.

Check expansion tank

1. Expansion tanks provide space for water to move in and
out as the water expands due to temperature increase or
contracts as the water cools. Tanks may be diaphragm or
bladder type. See Section 3 - System Piping of the Outdoor
Armor Water Heater Installation and Operation Manual
for suggested best location of expansion tanks and air
eliminators.

Check water heater relief valve

1. Inspect the relief valve and lift the lever to verify flow.
Before operating any relief valve, ensure that it is piped with
its discharge in a safe area to avoid severe scald potential.
Read Section 3 - System Piping of the Outdoor Armor
Water Heater Installation and Operation Manual before
proceeding further.
(continued)
Outdoor Armor Water Heater Service Manual
Safety relief valves should be re-inspected
WARNING
AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS,
by a licensed plumbing contractor or
authorized inspection agency, to ensure
that the product has not been affected by
corrosive water conditions and to ensure
that the valve and discharge line have not
been altered or tampered with illegally.
Certain naturally occurring conditions may
corrode the valve or its components over
time, rendering the valve inoperative. Such
conditions are not detectable unless the valve
and its components are physically removed
and inspected. This inspection must only
be conducted by a plumbing contractor
or authorized inspection agency – not by
the owner. Failure to re-inspect the water
heater relief valve as directed could result in
unsafe pressure buildup, which can result in
severe personal injury, death, or substantial
property damage.
Following installation, the valve lever must
WARNING
be operated AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR to
ensure that waterways are clear. Certain
naturally occurring mineral deposits may
adhere to the valve, rendering it inoperative.
When manually operating the lever, water
will discharge and precautions must be taken
to avoid contact with hot water and to avoid
water damage. Before operating lever, check
to see that a discharge line is connected to
this valve directing the flow of hot water
from the valve to a proper place of disposal.
Otherwise severe personal injury may result.
If no water flows, valve is inoperative. Shut
down the water heater until a new relief
valve has been installed.
2. After following the above warning directions, if the relief
valve weeps or will not seat properly, replace the relief valve.
Ensure that the reason for relief valve weeping is the valve
and not over-pressurization of the system due to expansion
tank waterlogging or undersizing.
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