Rheem Manufacturing GP Series User manual

Part No. AP12171-4 (3/01) Pub. No. 49-50008-4 03-01JR
Manufact ured under t rademark license by:
Rheem Manufacturing Company
P. O . B o x 2 4 4 0 2 0 , M o n t g o m e r y , A L 3 6 12 4 - 4 0 2 0
FOR YOUR SAFETY!
—Do not s t o r e or u s e gas ol i n e or o t h er f l amma bl e
vapor s or l i qui d s or ot her combus t i bl e mat er i al s
in t he vicinit y of t his or any ot her appliance. To
do so may result in an explosion or fire.
— WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS
●Do n ot t r y t o l i g ht any a ppl i a nce.
●Do n ot t ou ch a ny el ect r i c a l s wi t ch ; d o not
use any phone in your building.
●Immediat ely call your gas supplier from a
neighbor’s phone. Follow t he gas supplier’s
inst ruct ions.
●If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call
thefiredepartment.
●Do n ot r et ur n t o yo u r ho me u nt i l au t hor i zed
by t he gas supplier or f ire depar t ment .
— Improper inst allat ion, adjust ment , alt erat ion,
service or maint enance can cause injury,
propert y damage or deat h. Refer t o t his
manual. Inst allat ion and service must be
performed by a qualif ied inst aller, service
agency or t he gas supplier.
WARNING: If the information in these instructions is not followed exactly,
a fire or explosion may result causing property damage, personal injury or death.
Model: HG Series, GG Series, GP Series, PG Series, SG Series,
SG Series with SmartWater™ Ignition System
The pu r pos e o f t h i s ma nual i s t wof ol d : on e, f or t he i ns t a l l i ng cont r a ct or, t o p r ovi d e r eq ui r ement s and
recommendat ions for t he proper inst allat ion and adjust ment of t he wat er heat er; and t wo,
for the owner–operat or, to explain the feat ures, operat ion, safety precautions, maint enance and
troubleshootingof thewater heater.This manual includes aparts list.
It is imperat ive t hat all persons who are expect ed t o inst all, operat e or adjust t his wat er heat er read
theinstructions carefullysothat theymayunderstand howtodoso.
Any quest ions regarding t he operat ion, maint enance, service or warrant y of t his wat er heat er should
be direct ed t o t he ent it y f rom whom it was purchased. If addit ional inf ormat ion is required, refer t o
thesectiononHowtoObtainServiceAssistance.
Do no t d es t r oy t hi s manua l . Pl ea s e r ea d ca r ef u l l y a nd keep i n a s a f e p l ac e f o r f ut ur e r ef er en ce.
Recogni ze t hi s s ymbol a s an i nd i cat i on o f I mpor t a nt Saf et y Inf or mat i on!
Proposition 65: This appliance cont ains fiberglass insulat ion. Respirable part icles of
fiberglass are known to the State of California to cause cancer. Exhaust gas from this
appliance cont ains chemicals, including carbon monoxide, known t o t he St at e of California t o
cause birt h defect s or ot her reproduct ive harm.
Residential 30, 40 and 50 Gallon
Use & Care Manual
With Installation Instructions for the Contractor
Pr i n t ed i n US A
Water Heaters
Gas Residential
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Safety Information
Safet y Precaut ions. . . . . . 3–6
LP Gas Models . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Installation Instructions
Locat ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Wa t er Co n n e c t i o n s . . . . . . . . 9
Gas Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Po t a b l e S p a c e H e a t i n g . . . . 13
Operating Instructions
Light ing Inst ruct ions . . . 14, 15
Wa t er Te m p e r a t u r e . . . . . . . . 16
Adjust ment s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Care and Cleaning
Draining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Burner Inspect ion . . . . . . . . 19
Ext ended Shut -Down . . . . . 19
Troubleshooting Tips
Before You Call
Fo r S er vi c e . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 , 2 1
Customer Service
Pa r t s L i s t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2
Product Regist rat ion. . 23, 24
Inside you will f ind many helpful hint s on how t o use and maint ain
your wat er heat er pr operly. Just a lit t le prevent ive care on your
part can save you a great deal of t ime and money over t he life of
your wat er heat er.
Yo u ’ l l f i n d m a n y a n s wer s t o c o m m o n p r o b l e m s i n t h e B ef o r e Yo u
Ca l l Fo r S er vi c e s ec t i o n . I f yo u r evi ew o u r c h a r t o f Tr o u bl es h o o t i n g
Ti ps f i r s t , you may not need t o cal l f or s er vi c e at al l .
READ THIS MANUAL
FOR YOUR RECORDS
Write the model and serial numbers here:
#
#
Yo u c a n f i n d t h em o n a l a b el o n t h e a p p l i a n c e.
Staple sales slip or cancelled check here.
Pr o o f o f t h e o r i g i n a l p u r c h a s e d a t e i s n eed ed t o o b t a i n s er vi c e
under t he warrant y.
IMPORTANT!
Fill out and r et ur n t he Cons umer Pr oduct Regi s t rat i on Card t hat is
in t he back of t his manual.
If you do need service, you can relax knowing help is only a phone
call away. For service call 8 0 0 -431-1549.
IF YOU NEED SERVICE
Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
2

Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
Be sure t o read and underst and t he ent ire Use and Care Manual before at t empt ing t o inst all or operat e
this water heater.It maysaveyoutimeandcost.Payparticular attentiontotheSafetyInstructions.
Fai l u r e t o f ol l ow t hes e war ni ng s co ul d r es u l t i n s er i o us bod i l y i nj ur y or d eat h . Sho ul d yo u ha ve pr obl ems
underst anding t he inst ruct ions in t his manual, or have any quest ions, STOP, and get help f rom a qualif ied
service t echnician, or t he local elect ric ut ilit y.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
3
Fai l ur e t o i n s t a l l t he d r af t ho od a nd p r o per l y vent t he wat er heat er t o t he o u t d oo r s as
out lined in t he Vent ing Sect ion of t he Inst allat ion Inst ruct ions in t his manual can result in
unsafe operat ion of t he wat er heat er. To avoid t he risk of fire, explosion, or asphyxiat ion
from carbon monoxide, never operatethis water heater unless it is properly vented and has
an adequat e air supply for proper operat ion. Be sure t o inspect t he vent syst em for proper
inst allat ion at init ial st art -up; and at least annually t hereaft er. Refer t o t he Care and
Cl ea n i n g s ec t i o n o f t h i s m a n u a l f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n r eg a r d i n g ven t s y s t em i n s p ec t i o n .
DANGER!
INSTALL THE DRAFT HOOD AND PROPERLY VENT THE
WATER HEATER…
Gasoline, as well as ot her f lammable mat erials and liquids (adhesives, solvent s, et c.), and
thevapors theyproduceareextremelydangerous.DONOThandle,useor storegasolineor
ot her flammable or combust ible mat erials anywhere near or in t he vicinit y of a wat er heat er.
Be sure t o read and follow t he warning label pict ured below and ot her labels on t he wat er
heat er, as well as t he warnings print ed in t his manual. Failure t o do so can result in
propert y damage, bodily injury or deat h.
WARNING!
DANGER
!
FLAMMABLES
Flammable Vapors
Vapors from flammable
liquids will explode and
catch fire causing death or
severe burns
Do not use or store flammable
products such as gasoline,
solvents or adhesives in the
same room or area near the
water heater.
Keep flammable products:
1. far away from heater,
2. in approved containers,
3. tightly closed and
4. out of children’s reach.
Water heater has a main
burner and pilot flame.
The pilot flame:
1. is on all the time and
2. will ignite flammable
vapors.
Vapors:
1. cannot be seen,
2. are heavier than air,
3. go a long way on the
floor and
4. can be carried from
other rooms to the pilot
flame by air currents.
Installation:
Do not install water heater
where flammable products will
be stored or used unless the
main burner and pilot flames
are at least 18ʺabove the
floor. This will reduce, but not
eliminate, the risk of vapors
being ignited by the main
burner or pilot flame.
Read and follow water heater warnings and instructions. If owners
manual is missing, contact the retailer or manufacturer.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
4
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
Bot h LP and nat ural gas have an odorant added t o aid in det ect ing a gas leak. Some
people may not physically be able t o smell or recognize t his odorant . If you are unsure or
unfamiliar wit h t he smell of LP or nat ural gas, ask t he gas supplier. Ot her condit ions, such
as “odorant f ade”, which causes t he odorant t o diminish in int ensit y, can also hide or
camouflage a gas leak.
DANGER!
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM MODELS
●Wa t e r h e a t er s u t i l i z i n g L P g a s a r e
different from nat ural gas models. A
nat ural gas wat er heat er will not funct ion
safely on LP gas and vice versa.
●No at t empt should ever be made t o
convert t he wat er heat er from nat ural gas
toLPgas.Toavoidpossibleequipment
damage, personal injury or fire, do not
connect t he wat er heat er t o a f uel t ype
not in accordance wit h t he unit dat a
plat e. Propane for propane unit s. Nat ural
gas for nat ural gas unit s. These unit s are
not cert if ied for any ot her fuel t ype.
●LP appliances should not be ins t alled
below grade (for example, in a basement )
if such inst allat ion is prohibit ed by
federal, st ate and/or local laws, rules,
regulat ions or cust oms.
●Pr o p a n e o r LP g a s m u s t b e u s ed wi t h
great caut ion. It is heavier t han air and
wi l l col l ect f i r s t i n l ower ar eas maki ng i t
hard t o det ect at nose level.
●Make sure t o look and smell for LP gas
leaks before at t empt ing t o light t he
appliance. Use a soapy solut ion t o check
all gas fit t ings and connect ions. Bubbling
at a connect ion indicat es a leak t hat
must be correct ed. When smelling t o
det ect an LP leak, be sure t o sniff near
thefloor too.
●Gas det ect ors are recommended in LP
applicat ions and t heir inst allat ion should
be in accordance wit h t he manuf act urer’s
recommendat ions and/or local laws, rules,
regulat ions or cust oms.
●It is recommended t hat more t han one
met hod be used t o det ect leaks in LP gas
applicat ions.
If LP gas is present or suspected:
●Do not at t empt t o f ind t he cause
yourself.
●Do not trytolight anyappliance.
●Do not touchanyelectrical switch.
●Do not use any phone in your building.
●Leave t he house immediat ely and make
sure your family and pet s leave also.
●Leave t he doors open f or vent ilat ion and
cont act t he gas supplier, a qualified
service agency or t he fire depart ment .
●Keep t he area clear unt i l t he s er vice call
has been made, t he leak is correct ed and
a qualified agency has det ermined t he
area t o be safe.

5
Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
Time/Temperature Relationship in Scalds
Te m p e r a t u r e T i m e To P r o d u c e a S e r i o u s B u r n
12 0 °F. M o r e t h a n 5 m i n u t e s
12 5 °F. 11 ⁄2to2 minutes
13 0 °F. A b o u t 3 0 s ec o n d s
13 5 °F. A b o u t 10 s e c o n d s
14 0 °F. L e s s t h a n 5 s e c o n d s
14 5 °F. L e s s t h a n 3 s e c o n d s
15 0 °F. A b o u t 11 ⁄2seconds
15 5 °F. A b o u t 1 s e c o n d
Table courtesy of Shriners Burn Institute
The char t s hown above may be us ed as a gui d e
in det ermining t he proper wat er t emperat ure for
your home.
NOTE: Households with small children, disabled,
or elderly persons may require a 120°F. or lower
thermostat setting to prevent contact with “HOT”
water.
Maximum wat er t emperat ures occur just af t er
burner has shut of f. To f ind hot wat er t emperat ure
being delivered, t urn on a hot wat er faucet and
place a t hermomet er in t he hot wat er st ream and
read t he t hermomet er.
The t emper at ur e of t he wat er i n t he heat er can be
regulat ed by set t ing t he t emperat ure dial on t he
front of thethermostat. To comply with safety
regulat ions t he
thermostat was set at
it s lowest set t ing before
wat er heat er was s hi pped
from thefactory.
The i l l us t r at i on at t he l ef t
det ails t he approximat e
wat er t emper at ur e
for each mark on the
Ther mos t at Temp er at ur e
Dial .
DANGER: There is a Hot Water SCALD Potential if
the thermostat is set too high.
DANGER
!
HOT
Water temperature over 125°F can
cause severe burns instantly or
death from scalds.
Children, disabled and elderly are
at highest risk of being scalded.
See instruction manual before
setting temperature at water
heater.
Feel water before bathing or
showering.
Temperature limiting valves are
available, see manual.
BURN
WARNING!
WATER TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENT
Safet y and energy conservat ion are f act ors t o be considered when select ing t he wat er
temperaturesettingof water heater’s thermostat.Water temperatures above125°F.can
cause severe burns or deat h from scalding. Be sure t o read and follow t he warnings out lined
on t he label pict ured below. This label is also locat ed on t he wat er heat er.
Mixing valves for reducing point of use wat er
temperaturebymixinghot andcoldwater inbranch
wat er l i nes ar e avai l abl e. Cont a ct a l i cens ed pl umber or
thelocalplumbingauthorityfor further information.
U N I T R O L
W
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S
H
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WARNING
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE LIGHTING
“Danger Range” “Safety Range”
130°F.
Temperatures are
approximate
120°F.
140°F.
150°F.
160°F.
110°F.
100°F.
90°F.
80°F.
70°F.
60°F.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
6
Have t he inst aller show you t he locat ion of t he gas shut -of f valve and how t o shut it of f if
necessary. Turn of f t he manual shut -off valve if t he wat er heat er has been subject ed t o
overheat ing, f ire, f lood, physical damage or if t he gas supply f ails t o shut off.
●Read t hi s manual ent i r el y bef or e
inst alling or operat ing t he wat er heat er.
●Use t his appliance only f or it s int ended
purpose as described in t his Use and
Ca r e M a n u a l .
●Be sure your appliance is properly
inst alled by a qualified t echnician in
accordance wit h t he provided inst allat ion
inst ruct ions.
●Do not a t t emp t t o r ep ai r or r epl a ce a ny
part of your wat er heat er unless it is
specifically recommended in t his manual.
All ot her servicing should be referred t o a
qualified t echnician.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
WARNING!
Fo r yo u r s a f et y, t h e i n f or mat i o n i n t h i s ma n u a l mu s t be f o l l o wed t o mi n i mi ze t h e r i s k o f f i r e
or explosion, elect ric shock, or t o prevent propert y damage, personal injury, or loss of life.
FOR INSTALLATIONS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Ca l i f o r n i a La w r eq u i r es t h a t r es i d en t i a l wa t er h ea t er s m u s t b e b r a c ed , a n c h o r ed o r
st rapped t o resist falling or horizont al displacement due t o eart hquake mot ions. For
resident ial wat er heat ers up t o 52 gallon capacit y, a brochure wit h generic eart hquake
bracing inst ruct ions can be obt ained f rom: Of f ice of t he St at e Archit ect , 40 0 P St reet ,
Sacrament o, CA 9 58 14 or you may call 9 16 -324-53 15 or ask a wat er heat er dealer.
However, applicable local codes shall govern inst allat ion. For resident ial wat er heat ers
of a capacit y great er t han 52 gallons, consult t he local building jurisdict ion for accept able
bracing procedures.
READ AND FOLLOW THIS SAFETY INFORMATION
CAREFULLY.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Installing the water heater.
Thi s wat er heat er mus t be i ns t a l l ed i n a ccor d ance wi t h t hes e i ns t r uct i ons, l ocal cod es , ut i l i t y company
requirement s, and/or in t he absence of local codes, use t he lat est edit ion of t he American Nat ional
St andard/Nat ional Fuel Gas Code. A copy can be purchased f rom eit her t he American Gas Associat ion,
15 15 Wi l s o n B l vd . , A r l i n g t o n , VA 2 2 2 0 9 a s b o o k l e t Z 2 2 3 . 1 o r N a t i o n a l F i r e Pr e ve n t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n ,
Bat t er ymarch Park, Quincy, MA 0 226 9 as booklet NFPA No. 54.
Location
The wat er heat er s houl d not be l ocat ed
in an area where leakage of t he t ank or
connect ions will result in damage t o t he
area adjacent t o it or t o lower floors of
thestructure.
Wh en s u c h a r e a s c a n n o t b e a vo i d e d i t i s
recommended t hat a suit able cat ch pan,
adequat ely drained, must be inst alled
under t he wat er heat er.
The pa n mus t not r es t r i ct combus t i on
air flow t o t he bot t om of t he wat er heat er.
Ca t c h p a n ki t s a r e a vailable from t he st ore
wher e t he wat er heat er was pur chas ed ,
or any wat er heat er dist ribut or.
A gas f ired wat er heat er should not be
inst alled in a space where liquids which
give of f f lammable vapors are t o be used
or st ored. Such liquids include gasoline,
LP gas ( but ane and pr opane) , pai nt or
adhesives and t heir t hinners, solvent s
or removers.
Because of nat ural air movement in a
room or ot her enclosed space,
flammable vapors can becarried some
dist ance from where t heir liquids are
being used or st ored. The open f lame of
thewater heater’s pilot light or main
burner can ignit e t hese vapors causing
an explosion or f ire which may result in
severe burns, deat h or propert y damage.
Fo r t hes e r ea s o n s i ns t al l a t i on o f a ga s f i r ed
wat er heat er i n a gar age i s not d es i r abl e.
Rai s i n g t he ga s f i r ed wat er heat er wi l l
reduce, but not eliminat e, t he possibilit y
of light ing t he vapor of any flammable
liquids which may be improperly st ored
or accident ally spilled.
St and kit s t o raise t he wat er heat er 18 ʺ
above t he floor are available from t he st ore
wher e t he wat er heat er was pur chas ed ,
or any wat er heat er dist ribut or. These
kit s must comply wit h local codes.
The wat er heat er mus t be l ocat ed s o i t i s
not subject t o physical damage, for example,
by moving vehicles, area f looding, et c.
●The wat er heat er s houl d be i ns t al l ed
as close as pract ical t o t he gas vent
or chimney.
●Long hot wat er lines should be insulat ed
toconservewater andenergy.
●The wat er heat er and wat er l i nes
should be prot ect ed from exposure
tofreezingtemperatures.
●Do not inst all t he wat er heat er in
bat hrooms, bedrooms, any occupied
rooms normally kept closed, or in
out door unprot ect ed areas.
●Minimum clearance f rom combust ible
const ruct ion is 1ʺsides and rear; 3ʺ
from front of control; 12ʺfrom the
top.If theclearances stated onthe
Inst ruct ion/Warning Label, locat ed on
thefront of theheater differ,install
thewater heater accordingtothe
clearances st at ed on t he label.
●The wat er heat er may be i ns t al l ed o n
combust ible f loors, but not direct ly on
carpet ing. If t he wat er heat er must be
inst alled on carpet ing, place a met al
or wood panel beneat h t he wat er
heat er, ext ending beyond it s f ull widt h
and dept h at least 3ʺin all direct ions.
●If t he wat er heat er is inst alled in an
alcove or closet , t he ent ire floor must
be covered by a wood or met al panel. A
minimum of 24ʺclearance from t he
front and top should beavailablefor
adequat e inspect ion and servicing.
WARNING: Combustible construction
refers to adjacent walls and ceilings
and should not be confused with
combustible or flammable products
and materials. Combustible and/or
flammable products and materials
should never be stored in the vicinity
of this or any gas appliance.
The auxiliary catch pan
installation MUST conform
to local codes.
Max.
2ʺ
Diameter of
water heater
plus 2ʺmin.
7
Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
WARNING: If a location
in a garage is the only
alternative, the gas water
heater should be installed
so that the open flame of
the pilot and main burner
are no less than 18ʺabove
the garage floor, unless
specifically exempted from
this by local code, rule,
regulation or custom.

8
Installing the water heater.
Pr o p er o p er a t i o n o f t h e wa t er h ea t er r eq u i r es a i r f o r c o m bu s t i o n a n d ven t i l a t i o n . Pr o vi s i o n s f o r
combust ion and vent ilat ion air must comply wit h referenced codes and st andards.
Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
Combustion and Ventilation Air
NOTE: If the water heater is installed in
an unconfined space within a building of
conventional frame, masonry or metal
construction, infiltration air is normally
adequate for proper combustion and
ventilation. If the water heater is
installed in a confined space,
provisions for combustion and
ventilation air must be made.
A confined space is one having a volume
of less t han 50 cubic feet per 100 0
BTUH of t he aggregat e input of all
appliances wit hin t hat space.
The ai r mus t be s u ppl i ed t h r ough t wo
permanent openings of equal area. One
is t o be locat ed wit hin 12ʺabove t he
floor and the other is to be located
wi t hi n 12 ʺbelow t he ceiling.
The mi n i mu m net f r ee ar ea of ea ch open i ng
must not be less t han one square inch
per 10 0 0 BTUH of t he t ot al input rat ing
of all t he appliances in t he enclosure
(but not less t han 100 square inches), if
each opening communicat es wit h ot her
unconfined areas inside t he building.
Buildings of unusually t ight const ruct ion
shall have t he combust ion and vent ilat ion
air supplied from out doors, or a f reely
vent i l at ed at t i c or cr awl s pace.
If air is supplied f rom out doors, direct ly
or t hrough vert ical duct s, t here must be
twoopenings located as specified above
and each must have a minimum net free
area of not less t han one square inch
per 40 0 0 BTUH of t he t ot al input rat ing
of all t he appliances in t he enclosure.
If horizont al duct s are used t o
communicat e wit h t he out doors, each
opening must have a minimum net free
area of not less t han one square inch
per 2000 BTUH of t he t ot al input rat ing
of all t he appliances in t he enclosure. If
duct s are used, t he minimum
dimensions of rect angular air duct s
shall not be less t han 3ʺ.
NOTE: If the duct openings are to be
covered with a protective screen or
grill, the net free area of the covering
material must be used in determining
the size of the openings. Protective
screening for the openings must not
be smaller than 1/4ʺmesh to prevent
clogging by lint or other debris.
Corrosive Atmospheres
The ai r i n beaut y s hops , d r y cl eani ng
es t abli s hment s , phot o pr oces s i ng labs,
and st orage areas for liquid and
powdered bleaches or swimming pool
chemicals of t en cont ain such
halogenat ed hydrocarbons.
An air supply cont aining halogenat ed
hydrocarbons may be safe t o breat he,
but when it passes t hrough a gas f lame
corrosive element s are released t hat
wi l l s hor t en t he l i f e o f a ny ga s bur ni ng
appliance.
Pr o p el l a n t s f r o m c o m m o n s p r a y c a n s o r
gas leaks from ref rigerat ion equipment
are highly corrosive af t er passing
throughaflame.
The wat er heat er war r ant y i s voi d ed when
failureof the heater is dueto operation
in a corrosive at mosphere.
NOTE: The water heater
should not be installed
near an air supply
containing halogenated
hydrocarbons.
Inspect Shipment
Inspect t he wat er heat er for possible damage. Check t he markings on t he rat ing
plat e of t he wat er heat er t o be cert ain t he t ype of gas supplied corresponds t o t he
wat er heat er r eq ui r ement s.

9
Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
Thermal Expansion
Determine if a check valve exists in the inlet water line. It may have been inst alled
in t he cold wat er line as a separat e back flow prevent er, or it may be part of a pressure
reducing valve, wat er met er or wat er soft ener. A check valve locat ed in t he cold wat er inlet line
can cause what is referred t o as a “closed water system”. A cold wat er inlet line wit h no
check valve or back f low prevent ion device is referred t o as an “open” wat er syst em.
As wat er is heat ed, it expands in volume and creat es an increase in t he pressure wit hin t he
wat er s ys t em. Thi s act i on is r ef er r ed t o a s “thermal expansion”. In an “open” wat er syst em,
expandi ng wat er which exceeds t he capacit y of t he wat er heat er f lows back int o t he ci t y main
wher e t h e pr es s ur e i s ea s i l y d i s s i pat ed .
A “closed water system”, however, prevent s t he expanding wat er f rom flowing back int o t he
main supply line, and t he result of “thermal expansion” can creat e a rapid and dangerous
pressure increase in t he wat er heat er and syst em piping. This rapid pressure increase can
quickly reach t he safet y set t ing of t he relief valve, causing it t o operat e during each heat ing
cycle. Thermal expansion, and t he result ing rapid, and repeat ed expansion and cont ract ion of
component s in t he wat er heat er and piping syst em can cause premat ure f ailure of t he relief
val ve, an d p os s i bl y t he heat er i t s el f . Repl a ci ng t he r el i ef val ve will not correct t he problem!
The s u gges t ed met ho d o f c ont r o l l i ng t her mal exp ans i o n i s t o i ns t a l l an exp ans i o n t a nk i n t he
cold wat er line bet ween t he wat er heat er and t he check valve (see illust rat ion below). The
expans i on t ank i s des igned wit h an air cus hi on bui l t i n t hat compr es s es as t he s ys t em
pressure increases, t hereby relieving t he over pressure condit ion and eliminat ing t he repeat ed
operat ion of t he relief valve. Ot her met hods of cont rolling t hermal expansion are also available.
Co n t a c t y o u r i n s t a l l i ng c o n t r a ct o r, wa t er s u pp l i er o r p l u m bi n g i n s p ec t o r f o r a d d i t i o n a l
informat ion regarding t his subject .
Typical Installation
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Heat trap
6ʺminimum
Heat trap
6ʺminimum
Union
Hot water outlet
to fixtures
Temperature and
pressure relief valve
Relief valve
discharge line to
suitable open drain.
To gas supply
Sediment trap
Cap
Jacket door
Auxiliary catch pan
Ground joint union
Drain
valve
To cold water
supply
6ʺair gap
Shut-off
valve
Draft hood
Pitch up 1/4ʺ
per foot
Union
Thermostatic gas valve
Anode
Vent connector
to chimney
Manual gas shut-off
5 feet
from the
ground
minimum
Water Supply Connections
Ref er t o t he i l l u s t r a t i on bel ow f o r s ugges t ed t ypi c al i ns t a l l at i on . The i ns t al l at i o n of u ni ons o r
flexiblecopper connectors is recommended on thehot and cold water connections so that the
wat er hea t er may be eas i l y d i s con nect ed f or s er vi c i ng i f neces s a r y. The HOT and COLD wat er
connect ions are clearly marked and are 3/4ʺNPT on all models. Inst all a shut -of f valve in t he
cold wat er line near t he wat er heat er.
IMPORTANT: Do not apply
heat to the HOT or COLD
water connections. If sweat
connections are used,
sweat tubing to adapter
before fitting adapter to the
cold water connections on
heater. Any heat applied to
the cold water supply
fittings will permanently
damage the dip tube.
WARNING: The water heater should not be installed in a space where liquids which give off flammable vapors
are to be used or stored.
Shut-off valve
Thermal expansion
tank (if required)

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
10
Installing the water heater.
A new combinat ion t emperat ure and pressure relief valve, complying wit h t he St andard for Relief Valves and
Aut omat ic Gas Shut -Off Devices for Hot Wat er Supply Syst ems, ANSI Z21.22, is supplied and must remain
in t he opening provided and marked for t he purpose on t he wat er heat er. No valve of any t ype should be
inst alled bet ween t he relief valve and t he t ank. Local codes shall govern t he inst allat ion of relief valves.
Relief Valve
The pr es s ur e r a t i ng of t h e r el i ef val ve
must not exceed 150 PSI, t he maximum
wor king pr es s ur e of t he wat er heat er as
marked on t he rat ing plat e.
The BTUH r at i ng of t he r el i ef va l ve mus t
equal or exceed t he BTUH input of t he
wat er heat er as mar ked on i t s rat i ng pl at e.
Po s i t i o n t h e o u t l e t o f t h e r e l i e f va l v e
above a suit able open drain t o eliminat e
pot ent ial wat er damage. Piping used
should be of a t ype approved for hot
wat er d i s t r i but i on.
The d i s cha rge l i ne mus t be no s ma l l er
thantheoutlet of thevalveandmust
pit ch downward f rom t he valve t o allow
complet e drainage (by gravit y) of t he
relief valve and discharge line.
The end o f t h e d i s char ge l i n e s h oul d not
be t hreaded or concealed and should be
prot ect ed f rom f reezing. No valve of any
type,restrictionor reducer coupling
should be inst alled in t he discharge line.
To Fill the Water Heater
Make cert ain t hat drain valve is closed,
thenopentheshut-off valveinthecold
wat er s uppl y l i ne.
Open ea ch ho t wat er f aucet s l o wl y t o
allow t he air t o vent from t he wat er
heat er and piping.
A st eady flowof wat er from t he hot wat er
faucet(s) indicates a full water heater.
WARNING: The tank
must be full of water before
heater is turned on. The
water heater warranty does
not cover damage or failure
resulting from operation
with an empty or partially
empty tank.
Condensation
Co n d en s a t i o n c a n f o r m o n t h e t a n k wh en
it is first filled wit h wat er. Condensat ion
might also occur wit h a heavy wat er
draw and very cold inlet wat er
temperatures.
Dr ops of wat er f al ling on t he bur ner can
produce a sizzling or pinging sound, and
thewater mayalsobeseenbeneaththe
wat er heat er.
Thi s co nd i t i o n i s not unu s ua l , a nd wi l l
disappear aft er t he wat er becomes
heat ed. If, however, t he condensat ion
cont inues, examine t he piping and
fittings for possible leaks.

Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
11
WARNING: Do not attempt to convert this water heater for use with a different type of gas other than the type
shown on the rating plate. Such conversion could result in hazardous operating conditions.
Leak Testing
The wat er heat er and i t s gas
connect ions must be leak t est ed at
normal operat ing pressures before
it is placed in operat ion.
Tu r n o n t h e m a n u a l g a s s h u t - o f f
val ve near t he wat er heat er.
Use a soapy wat er s olut ion t o t est
for leaks at all connections and
fittings. Bubbles indicatea gas leak
that must becorrected.
The f act or y connect i ons t o t he
thermostat shouldalsobeleaktested
af t er t he wat er heat er is placed in
operat ion.
High Altitude…
Rat i ngs o f g as appl i ances a r e ba s ed
on sea level operat ion and need not be
changed for inst allat ions at elevat ions
up t o 2,0 0 0 feet .
Fo r i n s t a l l at i o ns a bo ve 2 ,0 0 0 f eet , t h e
input must be reduced per t he Nat ional
Fuel Gas Code f or each 1,0 0 0 f eet above
sea level. Cont act t he local gas supplier
for more informat ion.
Pressure Testing the Gas Supply System
The wat er heat er and i t s manual gas
shut -off valve must be disconnect ed
from thegas supply piping system
during any high pressure t est ing of
that systemat pressures inexcess
of 1/2 psi (14ʺw. c . ) .
The wat er heat er mus t be i s ol at ed f r om
thegas pipingsystembyclosingthe
manual gas shut -of f valve during any
pressure t est ing of t he gas supply piping.
Gas Supply
The br anch gas s u ppl y l i ne t o t he wat er
heat er should be clean 1/2ʺblack st eel
pipe or ot her approved gas piping
mat erial.
A ground joint union or ANSI design
cert ified semi-rigid or flexible gas
appliance connect or should be inst alled
in t he gas line close t o t he wat er heat er.
A manual gas shut -off valve should be at
least 5 f t . above t he floor and readily
accessible.
Co m p o u n d u s ed o n t h e t h r ea d ed j o i n t s
of t he gas piping must be of t he t ype
resist ant t o t he act ion of LP gas. Use
compound sparingly on male t hreads only.
A sediment t rap should be inst alled at
thebottomof thegas line.
Do no t us e exces s i ve f or ce ( over 3 1.5 f t
lbs.) in t ight ening t he pipe joint at t he
thermostat inlet,particularlyif teflon
pipe compound is used, as t he valve
body may be damaged.
The i nl et gas pr es s ur e t o t he wat er
heat er must not exceed 14ʺw. c . f o r
nat ural or LP gas. For purposes of input
adjust ment , t he minimum inlet gas
pressure (wit h main burner on) is shown
on t he wat er heat er rat ing plat e. If high
or low gas pressures are present , cont act
your gas supplier for correct ion.
WARNING: Never use an
open flame to test for gas
leaks, as bodily injury,
property damage or death
could result.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
12
Installing the water heater.
The wat er heat er mus t be i ns t al l ed wi t h t he f act or y s uppl i ed d r af t hood i n pl ace.
Venting
Ve n t c o n n e c t o r s m u s t b e a t t a c h e d t o
thedraft hood outlet toconnect the
wat er heat er t o t he gas vent or chi mney.
The vent connect or s mus t be t he s ame
size (diamet er) as t he draft hood or
larger, never smaller.
Fo r p r o p er vent i n g i n cer t a i n
inst allat ions a larger vent connect or size
may be needed. Consult t he Vent Tables
in Appendix G of t he lat est version of
theNational Fuel Gas Code(ANSI
booklet Z223.1or NFPA booklet 54.)
Horizont al vent connect ors must be
pit ched upward t o t he chimney at least
1/ 4 ʺper foot of lengt h. Single wall vent
connect ors must be at least 6 ʺfrom
adjacent unprot ect ed combust ible
surface. Vent joint s must be securely
fastened by sheet metal screws or other
approved met hod.
Fo r i n c r ea s ed en er g y e f f i c i en c y, s o m e
wat er heat er s ha ve been s uppl i ed wi t h
two(2) twentyfour inchsections of pipe
insulat ion. Please inst all t he insulat ion,
according t o t he illust rat ion on t he lef t ,
that best meets your requirements.
The manuf a ct ur er ’s war r an t y d oes not
cover any damage or defect caused by
inst allat ion, at t achment or use of
any t ype of energy saving or ot her
unapproved devices (ot her t han t hose
aut horized by t he manufact urer) int o,
ont o or in conjunct ion wit h t he wat er
heat er. The use of unaut horized energy
saving devices may short en t he life of
thewater heater andmayendanger life
and proper t y.
The manuf a ct ur er d i s cl a i ms a ny
responsibilit y for such loss or injury
result ing from t he use of such
unaut horized devices.
CAUTION: Application of any
external insulation to this water heater
will require careful attention to the
following:
●Do no t c over t h e o per at i n g or wa r n i ng
labels at t ached t o t he wat er heat er or
at t empt t o relocat e t hem on t he
ext er i or of ins ulat ion blanket .
●Do no t a pp l y i ns u l a t i o n t o t h e t o p
of t he wat er heat er. This will int erfere
wi t h t he s af e oper at i on of t he d r af t
hood.
●Do no t cover t he bu r ner acc es s p a n el ,
thermostat/gas valveor pressureand
temperaturerelief valve.
●Do no t appl y i ns ul at i o n t o t he bot t om
of t he wat er heat er or t he 2ʺspace
bet ween t he bot t om pan of t he wat er
heat er and t he floor. This area must
be unobst ruct ed so as not t o rest rict
combust ion air f low t o t he burner.
●Inspect t he insulat ion blanket
frequently making certain it has not
sagged and is rest rict ing t he
combust ion air t o t he bot t om of t he
wat er heat er. Thi s cou l d r es u l t i n an
unsafe operat ing condit ion.
DANGER: Failure to
install the draft hood and
properly vent the water
heater to the outdoors as
outlined in the Venting
section of this manual will
result in unsafe operation of
the water heater causing
bodily injury, explosion, fire
or death. To avoid the risk
of fire, explosion, or
asphyxiation from carbon
monoxide, NEVER operate
the water heater unless it
is properly vented and has
adequate air supply for
proper operation as
outlined in the Venting
section of this manual.
WARNING: If local codes
require external application
of insulation blanket kits
the manufacturer’s
instructions included with
the kit must be carefully
followed.
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Typical vertical piping
arrangement
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Typical horizontal piping
arrangement

Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
Supplemental instructions for gas water heaters
installed in potable/space heating applications.
Local codes or plumbing aut horit y requirement s may var y f r om t he ins t r uct ions or diagrams provided in
this manual and takeprecedent over theseinstructions.
Tee fitting for vertical hot
water supply lines.
Combination Potable and Space Heating Application
Tee f i t t i n g m u s t b e i n s t a l l ed a s s h o wn .
Thi s i ns ur es t ha t any a i r i n t he wat er
lines will be purged t hrough t he domest ic
wat er f aucet s and s hower s .
WARNING: When this system
requires water for space heating at
elevated temperatures (above 125°F.), a
mixing or tempering valve must be
installed in the hot water supply line to
the house in order to reduce the scald
hazard potential.
WARNING: Any piping or components
used in the installation of this water
heater in a combination potable and
space heating application must be
suitable for use with drinking water.
WARNING: If this water heater is
installed in an application intended to
supply domestic hot water needs and
hot water for space heating purposes,
do not connect the heater to an existing
heating unit or components of a heating
system that have previously been used
with a non drinking water system. Toxic
chemicals such as those used for boiler
treatment may be present and will
contaminate the drinking water supply
causing possible health risks. Never
introduce toxic chemicals, such as
those used for boiler treatment, into
this system.
Tee fitting for horizontal hot
water supply lines.
Hot water
supply to
house
From HOT
outlet on
water heater
From HOT
outlet on
water heater
Hot water
supply to
heating
unit
Hot water
supply to
house
Hot water supply
to heating unit
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Typical Piping Diagram for Combination Potable/Space Heating Installation
Spring loaded check valve in
heating unit hot water supply line
and cold water return line (not
supplied with water heater)
NOTE: This valve is incorporated in
some heating units. Refer to the
installation instructions supplied
with specific heating unit to
determine if it is required.
See diagrams above for proper
pipe application for vertical
or horizontal supply lines
Gas line to water heater
Cold water return line
from heating unit
Hot water
supply line into
heating unit
Heating unit
Isolation valve in
cold water return
line from heating
unit (not supplied
with water heater)
Mixing or tempering
valve (refer to
warning above)
Gas water heater
Temperature and
pressure relief valve
discharge line
Drain valve
(not supplied
with water
heater)
6ʺair gap
Isolation valve in hot water
supply line to heating unit
(not supplied with water heater)
Incoming cold water supply
Domestic hot water supply
13
Air vent

Lighting the water heater.
Before operat ing t his wat er heat er, be sure t o read and follow t he inst ruct ions on t he label pict ured below
and all ot her labels on t he wat er heat er, as well as t he warnings print ed in t his manual. Failure t o do so
can result in unsafe operat ion of t he wat er heat er result ing in propert y damage, bodily injury, or deat h.
Should you have any problems reading or following t he inst ruct ions in t his manual, STOP, and get help
from a qualified person.
Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
A. This appliance has a pilot which must be lighted by hand.
When lighting the pilot, follow these instructions exactly.
B. BEFORE PUTTING THIS APPLIANCE INTO SERVICE—
Smell all around the appliance area for gas. Be sure to
smell next to the floor because some gas is heavier than
air and will settle on the floor.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS:
• Do not try to light the appliance.
• Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any
phone in your building.
• Immediately call your gas supplier from a neighbor’s
phone. Follow the gas supplier’s instructions.
• If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the fire
department.
C. Use only your hand to turn the gas control knob. Never
use tools. If the knob will not turn by hand, don't try to
repair it, call a qualified service technician. Force or
attempted repair may result in fire or explosion.
D. Do not use this appliance if any part has been under
water. Immediately call a qualified service technician
to inspect the appliance and to replace any part of the
control system and any gas valve that has been under
water.
FOR YOUR SAFETY READ BEFORE OPERATING
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
TO TURN OFF GAS TO APPLIANCE
WARNING: If you do not follow these instructions exactly, a fire or explosion may
result causing property damage, personal injury or loss of life.
1. STOP! READ THE SAFETY INFORMATION ABOVE
ON THIS LABEL.
2. TURN GAS COCK KNOB CLOCKWISE TO
“OFF” POSITION.
3. TURN TEMPERATURE DIAL
COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO LOWEST SETTING.
4. WAIT FIVE (5) MINUTES TO CLEAR OUT ANY GAS.
IF YOU SMELL GAS, STOP! FOLLOW “B” IN THE
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOVE ON THIS LABEL.
IF YOU DON’T SMELL GAS, GO TO THE NEXT STEP.
5. REMOVE BOTH THE INNER DOOR AND OUTER DOOR
FROM THE WATER HEATER.
6. FOLLOW THE METAL TUBES FROM GAS CONTROL
THRU DOOR OPENINGS.
THE PILOT IS
LOCATED ON THE
HORIZONTAL LEG OF THE
LARGER TUBE (OR BURNER).
7. TURN THE GAS COCK KNOB COUNTER CLOCKWISE
TO “PILOT” POSITION.
8. PUSH DOWN ON THE “RED BUTTON” UNTIL IT COMES
TO REST ON THE TOP OF CONTROL. IT MUST CLEAR
THE NOTCH PROVIDED IN THE “GAS COCK KNOB”. HOLD
“RED BUTTON” DOWN AND LIGHT THE PILOT WITH A
MATCH. CONTINUE TO HOLD THE “RED BUTTON” IN FOR
ABOUT ONE (1) MINUTE AFTER THE PILOT IS LIT.
RELEASE BUTTON AND IT WILL POP BACK UP.
PILOT SHOULD REMAIN LIT. IF IT GOES OUT, REPEAT
STEPS 2 THROUGH 8.
•
IF THE BUTTON DOES NOT POP BACK UP WHEN
RELEASED, STOP AND IMMEDIATELY CALL YOUR
SERVICE TECHNICIAN OR GAS SUPPLIER.
• IF THE PILOT WILL NOT STAY LIT AFTER SEVERAL
TRIES, TURN THE “GAS COCK KNOB” TO “OFF”
AND CALL YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN OR GAS
SUPPLIER.
9. REPLACE INNER AND OUTER DOORS.
10. TURN “GAS COCK KNOB” COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO
“ON”.
11. TURN THE TEMPERATURE DIAL TO THE DESIRED
SETTING.
UNITROL
RED BUTTON INDEX
PILOT
BURNER
TEMPERATURE DIAL
GAS COCK KNOB
THERMOCOUPLE
1. TURN TEMPERATURE DIAL COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO LOWEST SETTING.
2. TURN GAS COCK KNOB CLOCKWISE TO “OFF” POSITION.
14

Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
15
Lighting the water heater. (With SmartWater™ Ignition System)
Before operat ing t his wat er heat er, be sure t o read and follow t he inst ruct ions on t he label pict ured below
and all ot her labels on t he wat er heat er, as well as t he warnings print ed in t his manual. Failure t o do so
can result in unsafe operat ion of t he wat er heat er result ing in propert y damage, bodily injury, or deat h.
Should you have any problems reading or following t he inst ruct ions in t his manual, STOP, and get help
from a qualified person.
A. This appliance is equipped with a piezoelectric igniter
which lights the pilot. When lighting the pilot, follow these
instructions exactly.
B. BEFORE PUTTING THIS APPLIANCE INTO SERVICE—
Smell all around the appliance area for gas. Be sure to
smell next to the floor because some gas is heavier
than air and will settle on the floor.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS:
• Do not try to light the appliance.
• Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any
phone in your building.
• If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the fire
department.
C. Use only your hand to turn the gas control knob. Never
use tools. If the knob will not turn by hand, don’t try to
repair it, call a qualified service technician. Force or
attempt to repair may result in a fire or explosion.
D. Do not use this appliance if any part has been under
water. Immediately call a qualified service technician
to inspect the appliance and to replace any part of the
control system and any gas control which has been
under water.
FOR YOUR SAFETY READ BEFORE OPERATING
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
TO TURN OFF GAS TO APPLIANCE
WARNING: If you do not follow these instructions exactly, a fire or explosion may
result causing property damage, personal injury or loss of life.
1. STOP! READ THE SAFETY INFORMATION ABOVE
ON THIS LABEL.
2. TURN THE GAS COCK KNOB CLOCKWISE TO
“OFF” POSITION.
3. TURN THE TEMPERATURE DIAL
COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO LOWEST SETTING.
4. WAIT FIVE (5) MINUTES TO CLEAR OUT ANY GAS.
IF YOU SMELL GAS, STOP! FOLLOW “B” IN THE
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOVE ON THIS LABEL.
IF YOU DON’T SMELL GAS, GO TO THE NEXT STEP.
5. REMOVE BOTH THE INNER DOOR AND OUTER DOOR
FROM THE WATER HEATER.
7. TURN THE GAS COCK KNOB COUNTERCLOCKWISE
TO “PILOT” POSITION.
8. PUSH DOWN THE “RED BUTTON” UNTIL IT COMES TO
REST ON THE TOP OF CONTROL. IT MUST CLEAR
THE NOTCH PROVIDED IN THE “GAS COCK KNOB”.
HOLD “RED BUTTON” DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY
DEPRESS THE IGNITER UNTIL YOU HEAR A LOUD
CLICK. REPEAT IMMEDIATELY IF PILOT DOES NOT
LIGHT ON THE FIRST TRY. IF PILOT DOES NOT
LIGHT BY THE FOURTH ATTEMPT, REPEAT STEPS 2
THROUGH 8. AFTER THE PILOT IS LIT, CONTINUE TO
HOLD THE “RED BUTTON” IN FOR ABOUT ONE (1)
MINUTE. RELEASE BUTTON AND IT WILL POP BACK UP.
PILOT SHOULD REMAIN LIT. IF IT GOES OUT, REPEAT
STEPS 2 THROUGH 8.
• IF THE BUTTON DOES NOT POP BACK UP WHEN
RELEASED, STOP AND IMMEDIATELY CALL YOUR
SERVICE TECHNICIAN OR GAS SUPPLIER.
• IF THE PILOT WILL NOT STAY LIT AFTER SEVERAL
TRIES, TURN THE “GAS COCK KNOB” TO “OFF” AND
CALL YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN OR GAS SUPPLIER.
10. TURN “GAS COCK KNOB” COUNTERCLOCKWISE
TO “ON”.
INDEX
TEMPERATURE DIAL
GAS COCK KNOB
1. TURN TEMPERATURE DIAL COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO LOWEST SETTING.
2. TURN GAS COCK KNOB CLOCKWISE TO “OFF” POSITION.
9. REPLACE INNER AND OUTER DOORS.
6. FOLLOW THE METAL TUBES
FROM GAS CONTROL THROUGH
DOOR OPENINGS. THE PILOT IS
LOCATED ON THE HORIZONTAL
LEG OF THE LARGER TUBE
(OR BURNER).
• Immediately call your gas supplier from a neighbor’s
phone. Follow the gas supplier’s instructions.
RED BUTTON
PIEZOELECTRIC
IGNITER
PILOT
BURNER THERMOCOUPLE
PIEZO-
ELECTRIC
IGNITER
UNITROL
11. TURN THE TEMPERATURE DIAL TO THE DESIRED
SETTING.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
16
Time/Temperature Relationship in Scalds
Te m p e r a t u r e T i m e To P r o d u c e a S e r i o u s B u r n
120°F. More than 5 minutes
125°F. 11⁄2to 2 minutes
130°F. About 30 seconds
135°F. About 10 seconds
140°F. Less than 5 seconds
145°F. Less than 3 seconds
150°F. About 11⁄2seconds
155°F. About 1 second
Table courtesy of Shriners Burn Institute
DANGER: There is a hot
water scald potential
if the thermostat is set
too high. Households with
small children, disabled, or
elderly persons may require
a 120°F. or lower thermostat
setting to prevent contact
with HOT water.
Water Temperature Setting
The t emper at ur e of t he wat er i n t he
wat er heat er can be r egul at ed by s et t i ng
thetemperaturedial onthefront of the
thermostat.
Safet y and energy conservat ion are
factors to be considered when selecting
thewater temperaturesettingof the
wat er heat er ’s t her mos t at ( s ) . The l ower
thetemperaturesetting,thegreater the
savings in energy and operat ing cost s.
To c o m p l y wi t h s a f et y r eg u l a t i o n s t h e
thermostat was factoryset at 120°F.or
less where local codes require. This is t he
recommended st art ing point .
Wa t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s a b o ve 12 5 °F.
can cause severe burns or deat h f rom
scalding. Be sure t o read and follow t he
war ni ngs out l i n ed i n t hi s manu al an d o n
thelabel onthewater heater.This label
is locat ed on t he wat er heat er near t he
thermostat access panel.
Mixing valves for reducing point of use
wat er t emper at ur e by mi xi ng hot and
cold wat er in branch wat er lines are
available. Cont act a licensed plumber or
thelocalplumbingauthorityfor further
informat ion.
The ch ar t bel ow ma y be us ed a s a gui d e
in det ermining t he proper wat er
temperaturefor your home.
Safety Precautions
Do turnoff manual gas shut-off valveif water
heat er has been subject ed t o over heat ing, fire,
flood, physical damage or if thegas supply fails
toshut off.
Do Not turnonwater heater unless it is filled
wi t h wat er.
Do Not turnonwater heater if coldwater supply
shut -off valve is closed.
Do Not allow combust ible mat erials such as
newspaper, rags or mops t o accumulat e near
wat er heat er.
Do Not st ore or use gasoline or ot her flammable
vap or s and l i q ui d s, s u ch as ad hes i ves or p ai nt
thinner,invicinityof this or anyother appliance.
If such flammables must be used, open doors
and windows for vent ilat ion, and all gas burning
appliances in t he vicinit y should be shut off
including t heir pilot light s, t o avoid vapors light ing.
NOTE: Flammable vapors may be drawn by air currents
from surrounding areas to the water heater.
If t here is any difficult y in underst anding or
following t he Operating Instructions or the
Ca r e a n d Cl ea n i n g s ec t i o n , i t i s r ecommended t hat
a qualif ied person or servi ceman per f or m t he wor k.
Operating the water heater.
CAUTION: Hydrogen gas 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.

Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
17
Operating the water heater.
If adjustment is necessary…
Maximum wat er t emperat ures occur just
af t er t he burner has shut off. To
det ermine t he hot wat er t emperat ure
turnonahot water faucet andplacea
thermometer inthehot water stream.
The wi d e r ef er ence mar k near WA RM
on t he rim of t he t emperat ure dial,
represent s an approximat e wat er
temperatureof 120°F.
The l ong wi d e r ef er ence mar k, t o t he l ef t ,
represent s an approximat e wat er
temperatureof 130°F.
Each ref erence mar k above or below
thesepoints indicates anapproximate
change of 10°F.
To a d j u s t t h e t e m p e r a t u r e, t u r n t h e
temperaturedialtothedesiredsetting.
The t her mos t at i s cons t r uct ed wi t h a
built in safet y shut -of f device designed
toshut off thegas supplytotheburner
if t he pilot flame is ext inguished for any
reason.
The t her mo s t at i s al s o eq ui pp ed wi t h a
single use gas shut off device t hat will
shut off t he gas supply t o t he burner if
thewater heater exceeds normal
operat ing t emperat ures. Refer t o t he
BEFORE YOU CALL FOR SERVICE sect ion
of t his manual, or cont act your dealer.
WARNING: Should overheating occur
or the gas supply fail to shut off, turn
off the manual gas control valve to the
appliance.
If t he wat er heat er has been subject ed
tofire,floodor physicaldamage,turn
off t he manual gas cont rol (shut -off )
val ve, and d o not oper at e t he wat er
heat er again unt il it has been checked
by qualif ied personnel.
NOTE: Replace any par t of t he gas cont rol
syst em which has been under wat er.
“Danger Range” “Safety Range”
Temperature dial
(temperatures are approximate)
U N I T R O L
W
A
R
M
V
A
C
A
T
I
O
N
H
O
T
C
A
U
T
I
O
N
T
H
E
R
I
S
K
O
F
S
C
A
L
D
I
N
J
U
R
Y
W
A
T
E
R
I
N
C
R
E
A
S
E
S
H
O
T
T
E
R
WARNING
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE LIGHTING
130°F.
Gas cock knob
120°F.
140°F.
150°F.
160°F.
110°F.
100°F.
90°F.
80°F.
70°F.
60°F.
Red Button

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
18
Care and cleaning of the water heater.
Draining the Water Heater
CAUTION: Shut off gas to the water
heater at the thermostat gas cock or
manual shut-off valve before draining
water.
DANGER: Before manually operating
the relief valve, make certain no one will
be exposed to the hot water released by
the valve. The water drained from the
tank may be hot enough to present a
scald hazard and should be directed to
a suitable drain to prevent injury or
damage.
In order t o drain t he wat er heat er, t urn
off t he cold wat er supply. Open a hot
wat er f auc et or l i f t t he ha nd l e on t he
relief valve t o admit air t o t he t ank.
At t ach a garden hose t o t he drain
val ve on t he wat er heat er and d i r ect
thestreamof water toadrain.Open
thevalve.
Routine Preventative Maintenance
Pr o p er l y m a i n t a i n ed , yo u r wa t er h ea t er
wi l l pr ovi d e yea r s of d epend abl e t r o ubl e-
freeservice.
It is suggest ed t hat a rout ine prevent ive
maint enance program be est ablished
and followed by t he user.
It is furt her recommended t hat a
periodic inspect ion of t he t hermost at ,
burner, relief valve, int ernal f lue-way and
vent i ng s ys t em s houl d be mad e by
service personnel qualified in gas
appliance repair.
At least once a year, lif t and release t he
lever handle on t he t emperat ure pressure
relief valve, locat ed near t he t op of t he
wat er heat er, t o make cer t ai n t he val ve
operat es freely. Allow several gallons t o
flush through thedischarge lineto an
open drain.
NOTE: If t he t emperat ure and pressure
relief valve on t he hot wat er heat er
discharges periodically, t his may be due
tothermalexpansioninaclosedwater
syst em. Cont act t he wat er supplier or
your plumbing cont ract or on how t o correct
this.Donot plugtherelief valveoutlet.
A wat er heat er’s t ank can act as a
set t ing basin for solids suspended in
thewater.It is thereforenot uncommon
for hard wat er deposit s t o accumulat e
in t he bot t om of t he t ank. It is
suggest ed t hat a few quart s of wat er be
drained from t he wat er heat er’s t ank
ever y mont h t o clean t he t ank of t hes e
deposit s.
Rapi d cl os i ng o f f a ucet s or s o l enoi d
val ves i n a ut omat i c wat er us i ng
appliances can cause a banging noise
heard in a wat er pipe. St rat egically
locat ed risers in t he wat er pipe syst em
or wat er hammer arrest ing devices can
be used t o minimize t he problem.
The anod e r od s houl d be r emoved f r om
thewater heater’s tankannuallyfor
inspect ion and replaced when more t han
6ʺof core wire is exposed at eit her end
of t he rod.
Make sure t he cold wat er supply is
turnedoff beforeremovinganoderod.
Housekeeping
Va c u u m a r o u n d t h e b a s e o f t h e w a t e r
heat er for dust , dir t and lint on a
regular basis.
To i n s u r e s u f f i c i e n t ven t i l a t i o n a n d
combust ion air supply, proper clearances
must be maint ained.
DANGER: Combustible materials,
such as clothing, cleaning materials,
or flammable liquids, etc., must
not be placed against or next to
the water heater.
DANGER: Before
manually operating the
relief valve, make certain
no one will be exposed to
the danger of coming in
contact with the hot water
released by the valve. The
water may be hot enough
to create a scald hazard.
The water should be
released into a suitable
drain to prevent injury or
property damage.

Safety Instructions Installation Instructions Operating Instructions Care and Cleaning Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service
19
Venting System Inspection
The wat er heat er ’s i nt er nal f l ue mus t be
inspect ed annually t o be cert ain it is
clean by removing t he draf t hood and
flue baffle.
Wh e n r ei n s t a l l i n g t h e f l u e b a f f l e m a k e
cert ain it is hung securely by it s hanger
at t he t op of t he f lue way.
Remo ve any s cal e t hat may ha ve f al l en
on t he burner or floor shield and
reinst all t he draft hood.
Inspect t he gas vent ing syst em and t he
chimney.
Make cert ain t he vent connect or from
thedraft hood tothechimneyis
properly posit ioned and securely
at t ached.
If af t er inspect ion of t he vent syst em
you f ound s oot ing or det eriorat ion
call t he local gas ut ilit y t o correct t he
problem and clean or replace t he flue and
vent i n g bef or e r es u mi n g o per at i o n
of t he wat er heat er.
Burner Inspection
Vi s u al l y i ns p ec t t h e b ur n er s a nn u al l y.
Inspect t he main burner while firing
and pilot burner flame wit h t he main
bur ner of f.
If any unusual burner operat ion is not ed,
thewater heater shouldbeshut off until
qualif ied service assist ance can be
obt ained.
Fo r c l ea n i n g , r em o ve t h e b u r n er f r o m t h e
wat er heat er. A vacuum cl eaner can be
used on t he burner and f loor shield
inside t he wat er heat er. The burner can
also be cleaned by scrubbing wit h mild
det ergent .
CAUTION: For your safety, cleaning
of the main burner should be performed
only by qualified service personnel.
Proper burner and pilot flame
pattern.
Vacation and Extended Shut-Down
If t he wat er heat er is t o remain idle for an
ext ended per iod of t ime, t he power and
wat er t o t he appl i ance s houl d be t ur ned
off t o conserve energy and prevent a
build-up of dangerous hydrogen gas.
The wat er heat er and pi p i ng s houl d be
drained if t hey might be subject ed t o
freezing temperatures.
Af t er a long shut -down period, t he wat er
heat er’s operat ion and cont rols should
be checked by qualif ied service personnel.
Make cert ain t he wat er heat er is
complet ely filled again before placing it
in operat ion.
NOTE: Refer to the
Hydrogen Gas Caution in
the Operating Instructions.
Anode Rod
Thi s wat er heat er i s eq ui pped wi t h an
anode rod designed t o prolong t he life of
theglass lined tank.Theanoderodeis
slowly consumed cat hodically, t hereby
eliminat ing or minimizi ng cor r osion of
theglass lined tank.
Wa t e r s o m e t i m e s c o n t a i n s a h i g h
sulfat e and/or mineral cont ent and
together withcathodicprotection
process can produce a hydrogen sulf ide,
or rot t en egg odor in t he heat ed wat er.
Ch l o r i n at i o n o f t h e wa t er s u p p l y s h o u l d
minimize t he problem.
NOTE: Do not remove
the anode rod from the
water heater’s tank,
except for inspection
and/or replacement, as
permanent removal will
shorten the life of the glass
lined tank and affect the
water heater warranty.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Care and Cleaning Operating Instructions Installation Instructions Safety Instructions
20
Problem Possible Causes What To Do
Condensation Thi s us ua l l y ha ppens when ●Thi s i s nor mal . Af t er t he wat er i n t he t ank war ms
a new wat er heat er is up t he condensat ion will disappear. If, however, t he
filled for thefirst time. condition persists, examinethepiping and fittings
for possible leaks.
Moist ure f rom t he product s ●Thi s i s nor ma l and wi l l d i s a ppea r i n t i me. Exces s i ve
of combust ion condensing condensat ion can cause pilot out age.
on t he t ank surface.
An undersized wat er ●Use a wat er heat er s ize t hat meet s t he requirement s
heat er will cause of your needs.
condensat ion.
Yellow flame Scale on t op of t he burner. ●Shut of f t he wat er heat er and remove scale.
or sooting Co m b u s t i o n a i r i n l et s o r ●Remo ve l i nt or d ebr i s a nd i ns pect a i r i nl et openi ng
flue-way restricted. for restriction.
Not enough combust ion or ●Pr o p er o p er a t i o n o f t h e wa t er h ea t er r eq u i r es a i r f o r
vent i l a t i on ai r s up pl i ed t o co mbus t i on and vent i l at i on. See t h e Co mbus t i on and
thewater heater location. VentilationAir informationintheLocatingthewater
heat er sect ion of t his manual.
Unable to light Tem p er a t u r e d i a l n o t ●See t he Light ing t he wat er heat er sect ion of t his
the pilot correct ly posit ioned. manual.
Pi l ot or i f i c e cl o gged . ●The pi l o t s h oul d be cl ea ned or r epl aced by a q ual i f i ed
service t echnician.
Pi l ot t ube p i nc hed or ●The pi l o t s h oul d be cl ea ned , r ep ai r ed or r ep l aced by a
clogged. qualified service t echnician.
Air in gas line. ●Co n t a c t a q u a l i f i ed s er vi c e t ec h n i ci a n t o p u r g e t h e a i r
from the gas line.
Pilot does not stay Loos e t her mocouple. ●The connect i on at t he t her mos t at s houl d be t i ght ened
lit when the RED by a qualif ied service t echnician.
button is released
Ther mo cou pl e br ea kd o wn. ●The t her mo coupl e s houl d be r ep l aced by a q ual i f i ed
service t echnician.
Safet y magnet breakdown. ●Th e t her mos t at s h oul d be r epl a ced by a q ual i f i ed
service t echnician.
Ther mos t at ’s s i ngl e ●The t her mos t at s h oul d be r epl a ced by a q ual i f i ed
use gas shut -of f device service t echnician.
has opened.
CAUTION: For your safety DO NOT attempt repair of gas piping, thermostat, burners, vent connectors or other
safety devices. Refer repairs to qualified service personnel.
Before You Call For Service…
Troubleshooting Tips
Save time and money! Review the charts on
the following pages first and you may not
need to call for service.