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Troubleshooting
Guide
Start Up Conditions
CONDENSATION
THERMAL
EXPANSION
Whenever
the water heater
is filled with cold water, a certain
amount
of condensation
will form while the burner
is on. A
water heater may appear to be leaking when in fact the water is
condensation.
This usually happens when:
•
When a new water heater is filled with cold water for the
first time.
When
gas burns
and water vapor
is produced
in water
heaters, particularly
high efficiency models where flue tem-
peratures are lower.
When you use large amounts
of hot water in a short time
and the refill water is very cold.
Moisture from the products of combustion
condense on the
cooler tank surfaces and form drops of water which may fall
onto the burner or other hot surfaces to produce a "sizzling" or
"frying" noise.
Excessive condensation
can cause pilot outage due to water run-
ning down the title tube onto the main burner and putting
out
the pilot.
Because of the suddenness and amount of water, condensation
water may be diagnosed as a "tank leak". After the water in the
tank warms up (about
1-2 hours),
the condition
should
disappear.
Do not assume the water heater is leaking until there has been
enough time for the water in the tank to warm up.
An undersized
water heater will cause more condensation.
The
water
heater
must
be sized
properly
to meet
the family's
demands
for hot water including
dishwashers,
washing machines
and shower heads.
Excessive condensation may be noticed during the winter and
early spring months when incoming water temperatures are at
their lowest.
Good venting is essential
for a gas fired water heater to operate
properly as well as to carry away products
of combustion
and
water vapor.
SMOKE/ODOR
It is not uncommon
to experience a small amount
of smoke and
odor during the initial start-up.
This is due to burning
off of oil
from metal parts, and will disappear
in a short while.
Water supply systems may, because of such events as high line
pressure,
frequent
cut-oti;,
the effects of water hammer
among
others,
have installed
devices such as pressure reducing
valves,
check valves, back flowpreventers,
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
(ther-
mal expansion)
and closed systems do not allow for the expan-
sion 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 expan-
sion tank to relieve the pressure built by thermal
expansion
in
the water system.
Expansion
tanks are available
for ordering
through
the Sears Service Center.
Contact
the local plumbing
inspector,
water supplier,
and/or
the Sears Service Center
for
assistance in controlling
these situations.
Thermal
Expansion Tank Specifications
Model
Tank Capacity
Dimensions
in Inches
Pipe Fitting
Number
In Gallons
Diameter
_ Length
On Tank
153.331020
2
8 inches
12_ inches
_" Male
[153.331050
5
l i inches-14_inches
_';Male
Expansion Tank Sizing Chart
Water Heater Capacity
(Gallons)
Inlet*
Water
Expansion
Pressure
30
Tank
40psi
2
Capacity
50psi
2
Needed
60psi
2
70psi
2
80psi
2
40
2
2
2
2
5
50
66
2
5
2
5
5
5
5
5
5
82
5
5
5
5
5
*Highest recorded inlet water pressure in a 24 hour period or
regulated water pressure.
NOTE:
Expansion
tanks are pre-charged
with a 40 psi air
charge. If the inlet water pressure is higher than 40 psi, the
expansion tank's air pressure must be adjusted to match that
pressure, but most not be higher than 80 psi.
22
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