User Guide
20
CHECKING GAS INPUT
Withthisheaterinoperation,determinewhetheritisreceivingthe
fullratedinputofgas.Thismaybedonebytimingthegasmeter
andmeasuringgaspressurewithagaugeormanometer.Whenthe
heaterisoperatingatfullcapacity(fullgasinput)itshouldconsume
approximately1cubicfootofgasinthetimeshowninTable5.
TABLE 5. INPUT CHECK TIME REQUIRED
TO CONSUME 1 CU. FT. OF GAS
Model Type of Gas
BTU Per
Cu. Ft.
Approx. Time Required To
Consume 1 Cu. Ft. of Gas
BL-80
BL-100
Natural 1050 50.3sec.
Use this formula to “clock” the meter. Be sure that other gas
consumingappliancesarenotoperatingduringthisinterval.
3,600XH=Btu/Hr
T
T=Timeinsecondsneededtoburnonecubicfootofgas.
H=HeatingvalueofgasinBtu’spercubicfootofgas.
Btu/Hr=Actualheaterinputrate.
Example:
T=50.3seconds/ft
3
H=1,050Btu/ft
3
(naturalgas)
Btu/Hr=?
3,600X1,050=75,100Btu/Hr(22.0kW)
50.3
Comparetheactualinputratetothatgivenontheheater’srating
plate.Intheexample,theBL-100’sfullinputrateshouldbe75,100
Btu/Hrfornaturalgas.
Because of the suddenness and amount of water, condensation
watermaybediagnosedasa“tankleak”.Afterthewaterinthetank
warmsup(about1-2hours),theconditionshoulddisappear.
Do not assume the water heater is leaking until there has been
enoughtimeforthewaterinthetanktowarmup.
Anundersizedwaterheaterwillcausemorecondensation.Thewater
heatermustbesizedproperlytomeetthefamily’sdemandsforhot
waterincludingdishwashers,washingmachinesandshowerheads.
Excessivecondensationmaybenoticedduringthewinterandearly
springmonthswhenincomingwatertemperaturesareattheirlowest.
Goodventingisessentialforagasredwaterheatertooperateproperly
aswellastocarryawayproductsofcombustionandwatervapor.
SMOKE/ODOR
Itisnotuncommontoexperienceasmallamountofsmokeandodor
duringtheinitialstart-up.Thisisduetoburningoffofoilfrommetal
parts, and will disappear in a short while.
STRANGE SOUNDS
Possiblenoisesduetoexpansionandcontractionofsome metal
partsduringperiodsofheat-upandcool-downdonotnecessarily
representharmfulordangerousconditions.
Condensationcausessizzlingandpoppingwithintheburnerarea
duringheatingandcoolingperiodsandshouldbeconsiderednormal.
See“Condensation”inthissection.
OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS
SMELLY WATER
Ineachwaterheaterthereisinstalledatleastoneanoderodfor
corrosionprotectionofthetank.Certainwaterconditionswillcausea
reactionbetweenthisrodandthewater.Themostcommoncomplaint
associatedwiththeanoderodisoneofa“rotteneggsmell”inthe
hotwater.Thisodorisderivedfromhydrogensuldegasdissolved
inthewater.Thesmellistheresultoffourfactorswhichmustallbe
presentfortheodortodevelop:
a.Aconcentrationofsulfateinthesupplywater.
b.Littleornodissolvedoxygeninthewater.
c.A sulfate reducing bacteria which has accumulated within the
waterheater(thisharmlessbacteriaisnontoxictohumans).
d.Anexcessofactivehydrogeninthetank.Thisiscausedbythe
corrosionprotectiveactionoftheanode.
Smellywatermaybeeliminatedorreducedinsomewaterheater
modelsbyreplacingtheanode(s)withoneoflessactivematerial,
andthenchlorinatingthewaterheatertankandallhotwaterlines.
Contactthelocalwaterheatersupplierorservicetechnicianfor
furtherinformation concerning an AnodeReplacement Kit and
thischlorinationtreatment.
Ifthesmellywaterpersistsaftertheanodereplacementandchlorination
treatment,wecanonlysuggestthatchlorinationoraerationofthewater
supplybeconsideredtoeliminatethewaterproblem.
Do not remove the anode leaving the tank unprotected. By doing
so, all warranty on the water heater tank is voided.
“AIR” IN HOT WATER FAUCETS
HYDROGEN GAS: Hydrogen gas can be produced in a hot
watersystemthathasnotbeenusedforalongperiodoftime
(generally two weeks or more). Hydrogen gas is extremely
ammable and explosive. To prevent the possibility of injury
underthese conditions, we recommend the hotwaterfaucet,
locatedfarthestaway, be opened for severalminutes before
anyelectricalapplianceswhichareconnectedtothehotwater
systemareused(suchasadishwasherorwashingmachine).If
hydrogengasispresent,therewillprobablybeanunusualsound
similartoairescapingthroughthepipeasthehotwaterfaucet
isopened.Theremustbenosmokingoropenamenearthe
faucetatthetimeitisopen.
HIGH WATER TEMPERATURE SHUT OFF SYSTEM
Thiswaterheaterisequipped withan automaticgasShut-off
system.Thissystemworkswhenhighwatertemperaturesare
present.ThehightemperatureShut-of fisbuiltintothegascontrol
valve.Itautomaticallyresetswhenthetemperatureatthermostat
leveldropsbelow120degreesFahrenheit.