Instructions / Assembly
52
1. Should you have any questions about your new water heater,
or if it requires adjustment, repair, or routine maintenance,
it is suggested that you first contact your installer, plumbing
contractor or
previously agreed upon service agency. In the event that the
firm has moved, or is unavailable, refer to the telephone
directory commercial listings or local utility for qualified
service assistance.
2. Should your problem not be solved to your
complete satisfaction, you should then contact the
Manufacturer’s National Service Department at one of the
following addresses:
Rheem Manufacturing Co., Water Heater Division
ATTN: Technical Service
800 Interstate Park Drive
Montgomery, AL 36109
Wholesale: 1-800-432-8373
Retail: 1-866-279-4566
When contacting the manufacturer, the following information
should be made available:
a. Model and serial numbers of the water heater as shown on
the rating plate attached to the jacket of the heater.
b. Address where the water heater is located and can be seen.
c. Name and address of the installer and any service agency
who performed service on the water
heater.
d. Date of original installation and dates any service work was
performed.
e. Details of the problem as you can best describe them.
f. List of people, with dates, who have been
contacted regarding your problem.
HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICE ASSISTANCE
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires compliance with regulation 5�08: Modifications to NFPA-54,
Chapter 10 : 248 CMR 4�00 and 5�00 for installation of through – the – wall vented gas appliances as follows:
(1) Revise NFPA-54 section 10�5�4�2 by adding a second exception as follows:
Existing chimneys shall be permitted to have their use continued when a gas conversion burner is installed,
and shall be equipped with a manually reset device that will automatically shut off the gas to the burner in the
event of a sustained back-draft�
(2) Revise 10�8�3 by adding the following additional requirements:
(a) For all side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment installed in every dwelling, building or structure
used in whole or in part for residential purposes, including those owned or operated by the Commonwealth
and where the side wall exhaust vent termination is less than seven (7) feet above finished grade in the area
of the venting, including but not limited to decks and porches, the following requirements shall be satisfied:
1� INSTALLATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS� At the time of installation of the side wall
horizontal vented gas fueled equipment, the installing plumber or gasfitter shall observe that a hard wired
carbon monoxide detector with an alarm and battery back-up is installed on the floor level where the gas
equipment is to be installed� In addition, the installing plumber or gasfitter shall observe that a battery
operated or hard wired carbon monoxide detector with an alarm is installed on each additional level of the
dwelling, building or structure served by the side wall horizontal vented gas fueled equipment� It shall be
the responsibility of the property owner to secure the services of qualified licensed professionals for the
installation of hard wired carbon monoxide detectors
a� In the event that the side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment is installed in a crawl space or an
attic, the hard wired carbon monoxide detector with alarm and battery back-up may be installed on the next
adjacent floor level�
b� In the event that the requirements of this subdivision can not be met at the time of completion of
installation, the owner shall have a period of thirty (30) days to comply with the above requirements; provided,
however, that during said thirty (30) day period, a battery operated carbon monoxide detector with an alarm
shall be installed�
2� APPROVED CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS� Each carbon monoxide detector as required in
accordance with the above provisions shall comply with NFPA 720 and be ANSI/UL 2034 listed and IAS
certified�
3� SIGNAGE� A metal or plastic identification plate shall be permanently mounted to the exterior of the
building at a minimum height of eight (8) feet above grade directly in line with the exhaust vent terminal for
the horizontally vented gas fueled heating appliance or equipment� The sign shall read, in print size no less
than one-half (1/2) inch in size, "GAS VENT DIRECTLY BELOW� KEEP CLEAR OF ALL OBSTRUCTIONS"�
4� INSPECTION� The state or local gas inspector of the side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment
shall not approve the installation unless, upon inspection, the inspector observes carbon monoxide detectors
and signage installed in accordance with the provisions of 248 CMR 5�08(2)(a)1 through 4�
(b) EXEMPTIONS: The following equipment is exempt from 248 CMR 5�08(2)(a)1 through 4:
1� The equipment listed in Chapter 10 entitled "Equipment Not Required To Be Vented" in the most current
edition of NFPA 54 as adopted by the Board; and
2� Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment installed in a room or structure
separate from the dwelling, building or structure used in whole or in part for residential purposes�
(c) MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS EQUIPMENT VENTING SYSTEM PROVIDED� When the
manufacturer of Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas equipment provides a venting system
design or venting system components with the equipment, the instructions provided by the manufacturer for
installation of the equipment and the venting system shall include:
1� Detailed instructions for the installation of the venting system design or the venting system components;
and
2� A complete parts list for the venting system design or venting system�
(d) MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS EQUIPMENT VENTING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDED� When
the manufacturer of a Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment does not provide
the parts for venting the flue gases, but identifies "special venting systems", the following requirements shall
be satisfied by the manufacturer:
1� The referenced "special venting system" instructions shall be included with the appliance or equipment
installation instructions; and
2� The "special venting systems" shall be Product Approved by the Board, and the instructions for that system
shall include a parts list and detailed installation instructions�
(e) A copy of all installation instructions for all Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled
equipment, all venting instructions, all parts lists for venting instructions, and/or all venting design instructions
shall remain with the appliance or equipment at the completion of the installation�
Important Instructions for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts