Installation Guide
Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 23
OPERATION
Residen al Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 23
OPERATION
Ligh ng Instruc ons
WARNING! Explosion Hazard – 
Replace viewport if glass is missing or 
damaged. Failure to do so can result 
in death, explosion or fi re.
Read and understand these direc ons 
thoroughly before a emp ng to light 
or re-light the pilot. Make sure the 
viewport is not missing or damaged. 
Make sure the tank is completely fi lled 
with water before ligh ng the pilot. 
Check the data plate near the gas 
control valve to ensure the correct gas 
type. Do not use this water heater with 
any gas other than the one listed on the 
data plate. If you have any ques ons or 
doubts, consult your gas supplier or gas 
u lity company.
NOTICE! A newly installed water heater 
will have air in the gas line. It may take 
several ligh ng a empts to clear all the 
air from the gas line and light the pilot.
Follow these steps to light the pilot:
1
Make sure the manual gas 
valve for the water heater’s 
supply line is ON.
Figure 32 - Gas valve in “on” position
2
Turn the gas control knob to 
the PILOT posi on.
Figure 33 - Gas control/valve.
3
Press the gas control knob in 
fully and hold it in. While 
holding in the gas control 
knob, repeatedly click the igniter bu on 
(approximately once per second) for up 
to 90 seconds or un l the Status Light 
starts to fl ash. You can tell the pilot is lit 
when the Status Light fl ashes once 
every three seconds.
Figure 34 - Status light.
4
Once the Status Light starts 
fl ashing, release the gas 
control knob. Adjust the gas 
control knob to the desired tempera-
ture se ng.
5
If the Status Light doesn’t start 
fl ashing a er 90 seconds, 
release the gas control knob 
  and wait 10 minutes.
6
Repeat ligh ng steps 2 through 
5 at least two addi onal  mes 
or un l the Status Light starts 
fl ashing once every three seconds. Wait 
10 minutes between ligh ng a empts.
7
A solid Status Light means the 
pilot was lit but is now off . 
Release the gas control knob 
and wait 10 minutes. Once the Status 
Light goes out, repeat ligh ng steps 2 
through 5.
8
If the Status Light doesn’t start 
fl ashing a er three ligh ng 
a empts, turn the gas control 
knob to the OFF posi on and refer to 
the “Troubleshoo ng-No Hot Water” 
sec on (see page 25).
9
When a gas water heater is fi rst 
lit and the tank is cold, conden-
sa on o en forms inside the 
water heater. You may hear drips or a 
sizzling sound when the water heater is 
fi rst lit or, you may see a small puddle on 
the fl oor. Condensa on is not a leak and 
will go away once the tank reaches 
normal opera ng temperature. 
10
The air fi lter at the bo om of 
the water heater must be 
cleaned from  me to  me. See 
the Maintenance sec on for steps on 
cleaning the air fi lter. If the air fi lter is 
not cleaned as needed, the water 
heater’s pilot may go out. 
Shut down Instruc ons
Turn the gas control/temperature knob 
counterclockwise to the “OFF” se ng. 
The status light will stop blinking and stay 
on for a short  me a er the water heater 
is turned off .
Emergency Shut down
Should overhea ng occur or the gas 
supply fail to shut off , turn off  the water 
heater’s manual gas control valve and call 
a qualifi ed person.
Checking the Vent
System and Air Supply
Once the water heater is lit and the gas 
control knob is set to the desired temper-
ature, the burner will light (if the tank is 
cold). Perform an air supply and vent test 
to make sure the unit is ven ng properly 
and the air supply is adequate:
1
The main burner must be on 
for this test. With a newly 
installed water heater full of 
cold water, turning the temperature 
control knob to HOT should cause the 
main burner to come on. You can view 
the burner through the sight glass at 
the base of the water heater.
2
Close all windows and doors 
and turn on all gas appliances 
and air-moving devices (range 
hoods, bathroom exhaust fans, ceiling 
fans, etc.) in your home. Also, close any 
fi replace dampers.










