GE Appliances Geospring GEH50DEEDXX Original instructions

GEAppliances.com
49-50281-2 02-12 GE
Water Heaters
Important Safety Information ...2-4
Operating Instructions
Control Panel ..........................................5
Powering Unit .........................................6
Temperature Setting ............................7
Operational Modes ...............................8
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ..9
Appliance Communication
Module (ACM) ....................................... 10
Care and Cleaning ....................11, 12
Installation Instructions .........13–18
Troubleshooting Tips ...............19-21
Consumer Support
..................... 50
Write the model and serial
numbers here:
Model # ________________
Serial # _________________
You can nd them on the rating label
on the front side of your water heater.
GeoSpring Hybrid Electric Residential
GEH50DEEDXX
Owner’s Manual &
Installation Instructions
résidentiel hybride électrique
La section française commence à la page 25
Manuel d’utilisation
et d’installation
As an EnErgy Star® partner, GE has
determined that this product meets
the EnErgy Star® guidelines for
energy eciency.
*EnErgy Star® labeled product





For your safety, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of re or explosion, electric shock, or to
prevent property damage, personal injury, or loss of life.
Be sure to read and understand the entire Owner’ s Manual before attempting to install or operate this water heater. It may
save you time and cost. Pay particular attention to the Safety Instructions. Failure to follow these warnings could result in
serious bodily injury or death. Should you have problems understanding the instructions in this manual, or have any questions,
STOP and get help from a qualied service technician or the local electric utility.

Safety and energy conservation are factors to be considered when selecting the water temperature setting via the water
heater’s user interface. Water temperatures above 125°F can cause severe burns or death from scalding. Be sure to read
and follow the warnings outlined on the label pictured below. This label is also located on the water heater near the top of the
tank.

Temperature Time to Produce a Serious Burn
120°F (49°C) More than 5 minutes
125°F (52°C) 1-1/2 to 2 minutes
130°F (54°C) About 30 seconds
135°F (57°C) About 10 seconds
140°F (60°C) Less than 5 seconds
145°F (63°C) Less than 3 seconds
150°F (66°C) About 1-1/2 seconds
155°F (68°C) About 1 second
Table courtesy of Shriners Burn Institute
!
The chart shown above may be used as a guide in determining
the proper water temperature for your home.
Thermostat has been set at the factory to 120°F (49°C) to
reduce the risk of scald injury.





Mixing valves for reducing point-of-use water temperature by
mixing hot and cold water in branch water lines are available.
Contact a licensed plumber or the local plumbing authority for
further information.
2

 3



can be produced in a hot water system served by this water heater that has not been used for
a long period of time (generally two weeks or more). HYDROGEN GAS IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE!! To dissipate such gas and
to reduce risk of injury, it is recommended that the hot water faucet be opened for several minutes at the kitchen sink before
using any electrical appliance connected to the hot water system. If hydrogen is present, there will be an unusual sound such
as air escaping through the pipe as the water begins to flow. Do not smoke or use an open flame near the faucet at the time it
is open.

 - DO NOT store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other
appliance. Keep rags and other combustibles away.


California Law requires that residential water heaters must be braced, anchored or strapped to resist falling or
horizontal displacement due to earthquake motions. For residential water heaters up to 52 gallon (236.4 L) capacity, a
brochure with generic earthquake bracing instructions can be obtained from: Office of the State Architect, 400 P Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814 or you may call 916.324.5315 or ask a water heater dealer.
Applicable local codes shall always govern installation. For residential water heaters of a capacity greater than
52 gallons (236.4 L) consult the local building jurisdiction for acceptable bracing procedures.
 This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer,
birth defects or other reproductive harm.


4
 turn off power to water heater if
it has been subjected to overheating,
fire, flood or physical damage.
 turn on water heater unless
it is filled with water.
 turn on water heater if cold
water supply shut-off valve is closed.



 If there is any difficulty in understanding
or following the Operating Instructions
or the Care and Cleaning section, it is
recommended that a qualified person
or serviceman perform the work.

The water heater is equipped with a
temperature-limiting control (TCO) that
is located above the heating element in
contact with the tank surface. If for any
reason the water temperature becomes
excessively high, the temperature-limiting
control (TCO) breaks the power circuit to
the heating element. Once the control
opens, it must be reset manually. Resetting
of the temperature limiting controls should
be done by a qualified service technician.








 Turn off the power to the water
heater.
 Remove the jacket access panel(s)
and insulation.
The thermostat protective cover
should not be removed.
 Press the red RESET button.
 Replace the insulation and jacket
access panel(s) before turning on
the power to the water heater.






Do not operate the water heater
again until it has been thoroughly
checked by qualified service
personnel.



5
 



(See page 8 for description)

(See page 8 for description)

Use this button to alternate between
available modes.

Use this button to adjust the temperature
setting.


The filter is dirty and requires cleaning when
the Red light is illuminated. Filter is located
on top of the water heater. Press button and
hold for 5 seconds to reset filter alarm.

For use with ACM module. Press and hold to
bring unit out of Power Saver mode. Once
pressed and Power Saver mode is cancelled,
unit will remain out of Power Saver for the
next 18 hours.


For use with optional ACM module (see page
10 for details).
E NTER
F
C
DAYS
H EAT P UMP (ONLY)
H YBRID
H IGH D EMAND
E LECTRIC (FAN OFF)
V ACATION
Hold for
°F/°C
Hold to Override
PS-Power Saver
Hold to
Reset
POWER
F ILTER
M ODE SAVER

6

There is no power button for this unit. Once the
water heater is wired and power is supplied, it
will be on. The display will show the current water
temperature setting. Current operating mode for
the water heater is illuminated.
To comply with safety regulations, the controls are
factory preset to 120°F (49°C) and Hybrid Mode. It
is recommended that the unit be set to Heat Pump
(only) mode to maximize energy savings. Operating
in Hybrid mode provides a balance of energy
savings and hot water use convenience. Reported
energy consumption is based on operating the unit
in Hybrid mode at a temperature setting of 135°F
(57°C), and operation at lower temperature settings
or in Heat Pump (only) mode will provide even
greater energy savings.
E NTER
F
C
DAYS
H EAT P UMP (ONLY)
H YBRID
H IGH D EMAND
E LECTRIC (FAN OFF)
V ACATION
Hold for
°F/°C
Hold to Override
PS-Power Saver
Hold to
Reset
POWER
F ILTER
M ODE SAVER

 

Safety, energy conservation and hot water capacity
are factors to be considered when selecting the
water temperature setting of the water heater. To
comply with safety regulations, the water temperature
setpoint is factory set at 120°F (49°C). This is the
recommended starting temperature setting.
 According to US Dept of Energy, the average
residential water heater in the US is set at 135°F (57°C).
GE GeoSpring™ Hybrid Water Heater’s energy savings
claims are based on a 135°F (57°C) temperature
setting. The water temperature setpoint can be raised
from the factory setting of 120°F to 135°F (49°C to
57°C) without sacricing the claimed energy savings. If
a lower temperature setting than 135°F (57°C) is used,
greater savings in energy and operating costs may be
achieved.
See “To Adjust the Temperature” below to change the
water heater’s temperature.

If more hot water capacity is desired, increasing the
temperature from 120°F to 135°F (49°C to 57°C) will
enable the same tank of hot water to last about 25%
longer because more cold water is mixed in at the
shower or faucet.

Water temperatures above 125°F (52°C) can cause
severe burns or death from scalding. Be sure to read
and follow the warnings outlined in this manual and
on the label on the water heater. This label is located
on the water heater near the upper element access
panel.
See “Time/Temperature Relationship in Scalds”
below as a guide in determining the proper water
temperature for your home.

Mixing valves for reducing point-of-use water
temperature by mixing hot and cold water in branch
water lines are available. Contact a licensed plumber
or the local plumbing authority for further information.






Temperature Time to Produce a Serious Burn
120°F (49°C) More than 5 minutes
125°F (52°C) 1-1/2 to 2 minutes
130°F (54°C) About 30 seconds
135°F (57°C) About 10 seconds
140°F (60°C) Less than 5 seconds
145°F (63°C) Less than 3 seconds
150°F (66°C) About 1-1/2 seconds
155°F (68°C) About 1 second
Table courtesy of Shriners Burn Institute

Follow these steps:
1. Press the UP or DOWN arrow on the control
panel key pad to desired temperature.
2. Press ENTER to accept the new setting.
 To change between °F and °C, press and
hold MODE






7
ENTER
F
C
DAYS
HEAT PUMP (ONLY)
HYBRID
HIGH DEMAND
ELECTRIC (FAN OFF)
VACATION
Hold for
°F/°C
Hold to Override
PS-Power Saver
Hold to
Reset
POWER FILTER
MODE SAVER

8
This water heater defaults to the Hybrid operating
mode. Available modes are listed below and can
be selected using the MODE button.
—RECOMMENDED FOR
MAXIMUM SAVINGS
Heat Pump (only) is the most energy-ecient
mode for this water heater. It takes heat from
the surrounding air to heat the water. The time it
takes to heat the water is longer in this mode, so
it may not be sucient if you have a high-demand
situation such as a large household or company.

Hybrid mode combines the energy efficiency of
Heat Pump (only) with the recovery speed and
power of the Electric (Fan off)/Standard (Fan off)
mode in most water usage situations. Hybrid
mode will allow the unit to perform like a standard
electric water heater while providing significant
energy savings.
 Reported unit performance, energy
consumption and savings are based on Hybrid
Mode operation at a temperature setting of 135°F
(57°C).

This mode may be necessary if your household
has a higher-than-average water usage or the unit
is undersized for the household water demands.
In this mode, the unit will use the electric heating
elements only when the water demand rate is
high. When using the heating elements, the water
temperature will recover at a faster rate but it will
use more energy to heat it. Unlike Electric (Fan o)/
Standard (Fan o) mode, it will use the heating
elements only when needed, and use the heat
pump when water demand rates are lower.
The dierence between Hybrid mode
and High Demand mode is that in High Demand
mode the heating resistive elements are activated
sooner than in the Hybrid mode.

This mode uses only the upper and lower heating
resistance elements to heat the water. The time it
takes to heat the water is less in this mode, but it
is the LEAST energy-ecient mode.

This feature is used when you will be away from
the home for an extended period of time and hot
water is not needed. In this mode, the unit will drop
the water temperature down to 50ºF (10°C) and will
use the most ecient heating mode to conserve
energy while the heater is sitting idle. The unit will
automatically resume heating one day before your
return, so that hot water will be available.
For example if you will be gone 14 days, follow
these steps:
1. Select VACATION by using the Mode button
2. Input total days you will be gone (in this
example, 14) by pressing the UP arrow button
(the default is 7 days)
3. Press ENTER.
The unit will drop the water temperature down to
50ºF (10°C) for one day less than you will be gone
(in this example, for 13 days). At the end of the
day before you return (in this example, the 13th
day), it will automatically return to the previous
operating mode and heat the water to the original
temperature setting so hot water is available
upon your return.

1 Press the MODE button on the control to the
desired operating mode.
2 The green light will be illuminated on the
chosen mode.


 
9

Q: Why is there a lter?
A: In Hybrid and Heat Pump (only) the unit moves air
through the system. The lter protects the unit from dirt.
A clean air lter improves eciency.
Q: How to clean the lter?
A: Leave power on and remove lter from top of unit. Filter
can be vacuumed clean or rinsed with warm water. A
dirty lter will reduce water heater eciency!

Q: What is Heat Pump (only)?
A: Heat Pump (only) is the most-ecient mode. It takes
heat from
the air to heat water, thereby cooling the surrounding
air. Slower recovery but most-ecient mode.
Q: What is Hybrid?
A: The Hybrid mode combines benets of Heat Pump (only)
with the speed and power of Standard Electric. This
provides great performance with less energy.
Q: What is High Demand/Boost?
A: High Demand/Boost can be used when hot water usage
is higher than normal. The unit will be less ecient but
will heat water faster in response to long water draws.
For all normal draws, the unit will still use the ecient
Heat Pump the majority of the time.
Q: What is Vacation mode?
A: If you are gone for an extended period, this mode
lowers the water temperature to reduce energy used.
Unit will switch to the previous mode one day before
you get back.
Q: What is Electric (Fan o)/Standard (Fan o) ?
A: Electric (Fan o)/Standard (Fan o) mode uses only the
resistance heaters to heat the water. This gives faster
hot water recovery than Hybrid mode, but uses more
energy. This mode operates without the fan, stopping
the cool air normally discharged during heat pump
operation.

Q: Why can I hear the unit run?
A: In the most energy-ecient modes, Heat Pump (only),
Hybrid, and High Demand/Boost, the method used
to heat the water uses a fan that can be heard while
running.
Q: The heat pump is not running its normal length of time.
What causes this?
A: Under some conditions, the GeoSpring™ Hybrid Water
Heater will operate using the electric elements instead of
the heat pump to protect your unit and ensure hot water
is available to you. These conditions include extreme
cold ambient temperature (<45°F), extreme hot ambient
temperatures (>120°F), or very low voltage conditions.
The unit will return to normal operation when conditions
permit.

The Hybrid Electric heat pump water heater is compatible
with the 
) which can be purchased separately. Contact
your local utility or visit www.GEAppliances.com/
 to see if your area is using  technology.
Applying the ACM allows the unit to respond to utility
signals or to join a home network.
The following demand response features may be available
as part of a pilot test program with the local utility
company to help consumers reduce peak electricity
usage in the home.

The ACM module is equipped with magnets in the base
of the module that will enable it to be attached to the
painted metal exterior of the heat pump water heater.
Details on how to connect the cables to the module are
in the instructions that come with the module.
Once the cable from the ACM module is plugged into the
water heater’s connection, follow the power-up directions
included with the ACM module. As soon as the ACM
module is operating, the heat pump water heater is ready
to receive the ACM signals.

If your local utility company is utilizing ACM technology,
the ACM module will receive the signals sent from your
utility company. One of four signals will be sent:
• “Low” (represents lowest energy cost rate is available)
• “Medium” (represents increased energy cost rate)
• “High” (represents increased energy cost rate)
• “Critical”(represents “peak rate” energy cost rate)
A heat pump water heater equipped with a ACM module
will automatically recognize what energy cost rate is
available and adjust its mode and temperature setting to
use less energy when rates are medium, high and critical.
When the heat pump water heater responds to these
signals, the LED light above the Power Saver button will be
on, indicating energy pricing periods are in eect, and the
letters PS will be displayed on the LED if the user attempts
to change the temperature without rst pressing the
Power Saver override button.
When the signal is low or when no ACM module is
connected, the unit runs as normal. The following steps
show how the unit reacts to Medium, High and Critical
signal levels.
When the ACM signal is , the control will operate
in Heat Pump (only) Mode and the water temperature will
remain at the current user setting. The screen will display
the following (where xxx is the current user temperature
setting):
When the ACM signal is , the control will operate in
Heat Pump (only) mode, with a water temperature setting
of 110°F (43°C), and the screen will display:
When the ACM signal is , the control will operate in
Heat Pump (only) mode, with a water temperature setting
of 100°F (38°C), and the screen will display:
Appliance ACM connection carries voltage not
compatible to computers or accessories. Do NOT plug
laptops, modems, routers, etc into the Appliance RJ45
ACM connector. Use only with designated GE Appliance
Accessories. Connection to computers and accessories
may result in product damage.
When unit is operating in medium, high or critical, the LCD
above the Power Saver button will be lit. If at any time you
want to change the temperature setpoint while the unit is in
Power Saver mode, press and hold the Power Saver button to
override the Power Saver mode, then use the arrow buttons
to change to the desired setting. Override will be in place
for 18 hours. If you try to change the temperature without
overriding the powersaver function, the letters PS will show on
the display, indicating it is still in Powersaver mode.
XXX
F
C
DAYS

10
110
F
C
DAYS
100
F
C
DAYS
ACM module
ACM connector