Water Piping - Kenmore 153.331762 Use & Care Manual

wATER PIPING

HOTTER WATER CAN SCALD:
Water heaters are intended to produce hot water. Water
heated to a temperature which will satisfy space heating,
clothes washing, dish washing, cleaning and other sanitizing
needs can scald and permanently injure you upon contact.
Some people are more likely to be permanently injured by
hot water than others. These include the elderly, children,
the infirm, or physically/mentally handicapped. If anyone
using hot water in your home fits into one of these groups
or if there is a local code or state law requiring a certain
temperature water at the hot water tap, then you must
take special precautions. In addition to using the lowest
possible temperature setting that satisfies your hot water
needs, a means such as a mixing valve should be used at
the hot water taps used by these people or at the water
heater. Mixing valves are available at plumbing supply or
hardware stores, see Figure 15 below. Valves for reducing
point of use temperature by mixing cold and hot water
are also available. Follow manufacturer's instructions
for installation of the valves. Before changing the factory
setting on the thermostat, read the Temperature Regulation
section in this manual.
FIGURE 15.
Water supply systems may, because of such events as high
line pressure, frequent cut-offs or the effects of water hammer
among others, have installed devices such as pressure
reducing valves, check valves, back flow preventers, etc. to
control these types of problems. When these devices are not
equipped with an internal by-pass, and no other measures are
taken, the devices cause the water system to be closed. As
water is heated, it expands (thermal expansion) and closed
systems do not allow for the expansion of heated water.
The water within the water heater tank expands as it is heated
and increases the pressure of the water system. If the relieving
point of the water heater's temperature-pressure relief valve
is reached, the valve will relieve the excess pressure. The
temperature-pressure relief valve is not intended for the
constant relief of thermal expansion. This is an unacceptable
condition and must be corrected. It is recommended that any
devices installed which could create a closed system have a
by-pass and/or the system have an expansion tank to relieve the
pressure built by thermal expansion in the water system. Refer
to the Thermal Expansion section under Troubleshooting Guide
or contact local plumbing authority or local Sears Service Center
on how to control this situation.
noTE: To protect against untimely corrosion of hot and cold
water fittings, it is strongly recommended that di-electric
unions or couplings be installed on this water heater when
connected to copper pipe.
Figure 16 shows the typical attachment of the water piping to
the water heater. The 74-gallon model water heater is equipped
with 1" NPT water connections.
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