Burner Operation And Inspection - Kenmore 153.331350 Use & Care Manual

1. Turn the thermostat on the gas control to the
lowest setting. If the heater is running, wait for it
to shut down (see Figure 47).
2. Turn the gas control switch to the "OFF" position.
3. Disconnect the electrical power to the water
heater from the wall outlet.
4. Disconnect the vent piping from the top of the
blower. Loosen the lower gear clamp that holds
the rubber coupling to the blower (see Figure
48).
5. Remove and retain the (4) 11/32" nuts located
on the back of the blower with the nutdriver (see
Figure 37).
6. Holding the blower motor and the blower
housing, pull the assembly forward to disengage
it from the mounting plate. The blower will still be
connected to the junction box so exercise care
not to stress the wiring.
7. Accessing the blower wheel through the outlet,
use the paint brush to brush off the outer edge of
the blower wheel to dislodge the dirt stuck on the
blades and the inside of the housing. Rotate the
wheel until all blades are clear.
NOTE: The wheel is a balanced component. Do
not bend, dent or distort the blades as this can
upset the wheel balance and affect the blower
operation. Vacuum out the loosened dirt.
8. Accessing the inside of the blower wheel through
the rear of the housing, gently brush off the
inside of the blades using the toothbrush. Again,
take care not to distort the blades. Rotate the
wheel until all blades are cleaned and vacuum
the debris.
9. Inspect the flue collector hood (still attached to
the heater) and vacuum out the dust and debris
that may have accumulated.
10.With all parts cleaned and the blower wheel
turning freely, reinstall the blower to the
mounting plate aligning the (4) studs and pushing
tight against the mounting plate.
11 .Reinstall the (4) 11/32" nuts and tighten securely.
All (4) nuts must be in place and secure to safely
operate the blower.
12. Reattach the vent piping and coupling to the top
of the blower, tighten the bottom gear clamp and
ensure the piping is secure.
13.With all components clean and secure,
reconnect the electrical power to the heater.
14. Reset the thermostat to the desired temperature
setting and turn the gas control switch back to
the "ON" position.
NOTE: If the water in the heater is hot, the unit
will wait to operate until there is a need for more
hot water.
VE T COOPL,NG G%p
_ /_ 11/32"
j NOTS
MOTOR ._ _ / /
\ F,OE OR
__WER
! MOUNTtNG AIR INTAKES
BLOWER PLATE
Figure 48
Burner Operation And Inspection
Flood damage to a water heater may not be readily
visible or immediately detectable. However, over
a period of time a flooded water heater will create
dangerous conditions which can cause death,
serious bodily injury, or property damage. Contact
a qualified installer or service agency to replace a
flooded water heater. Do not attempt to repair the
unit! It must be replaced!
At least once a year a visual inspection should
be made of the main burner and the hot surface
igniter assembly for proper flame characteristics
and ignition sequences. This can be done by
removing the outer door and viewing the main
burner operation through the viewport on the inner
door (see Figure 1 and 49). The main burner should
provide complete combustion of gas, ignite rapidly,
give reasonably quiet operation, and cause no
excessive flame lifting from the burner ports. If the
proper flame characteristics are not evident (see
Figure 50), make sure that the flow of combustion
and ventilation air is not blocked.
You should also check for sooting. Soot is not
normal and will impair proper combustion. A visual
inspection of the main burner and hot surface
igniter should also be done at least once a year
(see Figure 2).
49