Operating Your Water Heater - Kenmore 153.336930 Use & Care Manual

Lighting Instructions
Read and understand these directions thoroughly before
attempting to light or re-light the pilot. Make sure the view port is
not missing or damaged. (See Figure 29.) Make sure the tank
is completely filled with water before lighting the pilot. Check the
rating plate near the gas control valve/thermostat for the correct
gas. Do not use this water heater with any gas other than the
one listed on the rating plate unless the water heater has been
properly converted. Refer to the "Gas Conversion" section of
this manual. If you have any questions or doubts, consult your
gas supplier or gas utility company.
Lighting the Pilot:
1. Read and follow the lighting instructions on the water
heater's label.
2. Turn the Control Knob to Pilot. Press the Knob in fully and
hold it in. (The knob will travel in about 1/4-inch if it is set
to Pilot correctly.)
3. Click the Igniter button continuously for up to 90 seconds
or until the Status Light begins to blink.
If the Status Light does not begin to blink after 90
seconds, STOP. Wait 10 minutes before attempting
to relight the Pilot. Repeat these steps 2-3 times, if
necessary.
The circuitry in this gas valve requires that you wait 10
minutes between lighting attempts.
If the Status Light blinks, release the Control Knob and
turn it to the desired setting. ("Hot" is approximately
.
120°F)
If the Status Light Does Not Blink:
1. Wait 10 minutes before another lighting attempt.
2. If the Status Light did not blink, repeat the lighting
procedure by following the lighting instructions on the
water heater's label. Remove the outer door. The Control
Knob must be set to Pilot and held in continuously while
clicking the igniter button (about once per second for up
to 90 seconds). To observe the Pilot, remove the outer
door and look through the view port (sight glass). See
Figure 29.
3. Continue clicking the Igniter button (for up to 90 seconds)
until Pilot lights.
4. Once the Pilot is lit, continue to hold the Control Knob in
until the Status Light begins to blink.
5. Release Control Knob and set Knob to desired
temperature setting. ("Hot" is approximately 120°F.)
6. Replace the outer door.
If the Pilot Does Not Light:
1. Wait 10 minutes before another lighting attempt.
If the pilot does not light, the Igniter may not be
sparking or the unit may not be getting gas (or for a new
installation, there may still be air in the gas line).
Each time you click the igniter button, you should be able
to see the spark by looking through the view port. See

OPERATING YOUR WATER HEATER

24
Replace view port if glass is missing
or damaged.
Failure to do so can result in death,
explosion or fire.
Figure 29. (You may have to darken the room lights to
see the spark.) You do not have to push the Control Knob
in to check the Igniter button. Simply look through the
sight glass while clicking the Igniter button and look for
a spark. If you can't see a spark when the Igniter button
is clicked, check the wiring connections from the Igniter
button and make sure that they are tight.
2. If you see the Igniter spark, try relighting the pilot by
following the instructions on the water heater's label.
Ensure that the gas supply is turned on. There may
be air in the gas line, and several lighting attempts
may be needed to completely fill the line with gas and
successfully light the pilot.
If the Pilot Lights but the Status Light Does Not
Blink:
1. If the pilot lights, continue to hold the Control Knob in until
the Status Light blinks. If the pilot is lit and remains lit for
90 seconds and the Status Light still does not blink, the
thermopile connections may be loose, the thermal switch
may need to be reset, or the thermopile may be defective.
2. Remove the outer door.
3. Press the reset button on the thermal switch (Figure 29).
4. If switch clicks, it may have tripped. Do not light the Pilot
if flammable vapors are present. Check flame arrestor
for signs of discoloration (which could be caused by
flammable vapors). If the flame arrestor is discolored,
do not attempt to relight the Pilot. Have the water heater
inspected by a qualified service technician.
5. Check the wiring connections from the thermopile and
the thermal switch to the gas control valve/thermostat.
Ensure that all wiring connections are tight.
See Figure 29.
6. Replace the outer door.
7. Wait 10 minutes and try to light the Pilot according to the
instructions on the water heater's label.
8. While clicking the Igniter button continuously, the Control
Knob must be set to Pilot and held in until the Status Light
blinks. Once the Status Light blinks, release the Control
Knob and set the Knob to the desired temperature setting.
("Hot" is approximately 120°F.)
WARNING
Explosion Hazard