Installation Guide
Residen al Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 23
MAINTENANCE
3
Remove the upper or lower 
access panel on the water 
heater and carefully fold back 
the insula on and plas c element/
thermostat cover. 
4
Make sure the replacement 
thermostat matches the 
original thermostat. 
5
Mark the wires with tape so 
you’ll know how to put them 
back on. 
6
Disconnect the wires from the 
bad thermostat and remove 
the thermostat from the metal 
moun ng clip. 
7
Install the new thermostat in 
the metal moun ng clip. 
8
Make sure the new thermostat 
fi ts snuggly against the tank. 
You should NOT be able to slip 
a business card between the thermo-
stat and the tank. If you can, bend the 
thermostat moun ng clip un l the 
thermostat fi ts  ghtly against the tank. 
9
A ach the wires following the 
wiring diagram on the water 
heater’s label. Make sure all 
wire connec ons are  ght. 
10
Replace the plas c element/
thermostat cover, insula on, 
and access panel. 
11
Replace the cover on the 
electrical junc on box.
12
Restore power to the water 
heater. It may take two hours 
for the tank to heat up. 
 T&P Relief Valve Maintenance
Read and follow the opera ng and an-
nual maintenance instruc ons provided 
by the manufacturer of the T&P Relief 
Valve (yellow label a ached to T&P 
Relief Valve). Minerals in the water can 
form deposits that cause the valve to 
s ck or create blocked passages, mak-
ing the T&P Relief Valve inopera ve. 
Follow these guidelines:
•   At least annually, operate the T&P 
Relief Valve manually to ensure the 
waterways are clear and the valve 
mechanism moves freely (above). 
Before operating the valve manually, 
check that it will discharge in a place 
for secure disposal. If water does 
not flow freely from the end of the 
discharge pipe, turn OFF the power 
to the water heater. Call a qualified 
person to determine the cause.
 WARNING! Hot water will be 
released. Before opera ng the T&P 
relief valve manually, check that it 
will discharge in a safe place. If water 
does not fl ow freely from the end of 
the discharge pipe, turn the power to 
the water heater OFF. Call a qualifi ed 
person to determine the cause.
Figure 38 - T&P Relief Valve
•   At least every five years, have a 
qualified person inspect the T&P 
Relief Valve and discharge pipe. 
Damage caused by corrosive water 
conditions, mineral deposits, or 
other problems can only be deter-
mined when a qualified person 
removes and inspects the valve and 
its components.
•   Note that a dripping T&P Relief 
Valve is usually caused by the 
home’s water pressure being too 
high or the lack of a Thermal Expan-
sion Tank. If your T&P Relief Valve 
drips, see page 19.
MAINTENANCE










