Rheem 491 Technical Document

This water heater must be installed and serviced by a qualified person.
Please leave this guide with the householder.
Owner’s Guide
and
Installation Instructions
Electric Domestic Water Heater
Model 491/492 (400L)

PATENTS
This water heater may be protected by one or more patents or registered designs
in the name of Rheem Australia Pty Ltd or Rheem New Zealand Limited.
TRADEMARKS
® Registered trademark of Rheem Australia Pty Ltd or Rheem New Zealand Limited.
TM Trademark of Rheem Australia Pty Ltd or Rheem New Zealand Limited.
Note: Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy in preparation of this
publication. No liability can be accepted for any consequences,
which may arise as a result of its application.

3
CONTENTS
HOUSEHOLDER
This booklet contains important information about your
new water heater, including terms of the Rheem warranty.
We recommend you read pages 8 to 41,
and the terms of the Rheem warranty on pages 4 to 7.
The other pages are intended for the installer but may be of interest.
Warranty .......................................................................................4
About Your Water Heater............................................................8
Maintenance Requirements ......................................................14
Water Supplies...........................................................................17
Save A Service Call ...................................................................21
Installation..................................................................................24
Connections –Plumbing .................Error! Bookmark not defined.2
Connections –Electrical.........................................................377
Commissioning..........................................................................39
Draining The Water Heater .....................................................400
RHEEM NEW ZEALAND LIMITED www.rheem.co.nz
For Service Telephone [phone] NEW ZEALAND

4
RHEEM ELECTRIC DOMESTIC MAINS PRESSURE
WATER HEATER WARRANTY –NEW ZEALAND ONLY
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS 491/492 MODELS
In addition to your legal right, in New Zealand Rheem New Zealand Limited
makes the following promise to the owner. We will repair or, if necessary, replace
a defective unit or part of it, which has failed due to faulty manufacture on the
following terms and conditions:
1. THE RHEEM WARRANTY –GENERAL
1.1 This warranty is given in respect of sales in New Zealand by Rheem New
Zealand Limited of 475 Rosebank Road Avondale Auckland 1026.
1.2 Rheem offer a trained and qualified national service network who will repair or
replace components at the address of the unit subject to the terms of the
Rheem warranty in New Zealand –contact your Rheem Service Centre on
0800 657 335.
1.3 For details about this warranty, you can contact your Rheem Service Centre in
New Zealand on 0800 657 335.
1.4 The terms of this warranty and what is covered by it are set out in sections 2
and 3 and apply to water heaters manufactured from 1st October 2018.
1.5 If a subsequent version of thiswarranty is published, the terms of that warranty
and what is covered by it will apply to water heaters manufactured after the
date specified in the subsequent version.
2. TERMS OF THE RHEEM WARRANTY AND EXCLUSIONS TO IT
2.1 The decision of whether to repair or replace a faulty component is at Rheem
New Zealand Limited’s sole discretion.
2.2 Where a failed component or cylinder is replaced under this warranty, the
balance of the original warranty period will remain effective. The replacement
does not carry a new Rheem warranty.
2.3 Where the unit is installed outside the boundaries of a metropolitan area,
defined by Rheem as further than 25 km from a Rheem Service Centre, the
cost of transport, insurance and travelling between the Rheem Service Centre
and the installed site shall be the owner’s responsibility.
2.4 Where the unit is installed in a position that does not allow safe or ready
access, the cost of that access, including the cost of additional materials
handling and/or safety equipment, shall be the owner’s responsibility. In other
words, the cost of dismantling or removing cupboards, doors, walls, roofs or
trap doors and the cost of any special equipment to bring the unit to floor or
ground level or to a serviceable position is not covered by this warranty.

RHEEM ELECTRIC DOMESTIC MAINS PRESSURE
WATER HEATER WARRANTY –NEW ZEALAND ONLY
5
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS 491/492 MODELS
2.5 This warranty only applies to the original and genuine Rheem unit in its original
installed location and anygenuine Rheem replacement parts. It does not cover
any plumbing, gas fitting or electrical parts supplied by the installer, that are
not an integral part of the unit, e.g. pipe-work, pressure limiting valve, stop
valves, non-return valves, electrical switches, pumps and fuses.
2.6 The Rheem warranty does not cover faults that are a result of:
a) Accidental damage to the unit or any component, for example Acts of God
such as floods, storms, fires, lightning strikes and the like and Third party
acts or omissions.
b) Misuse or abnormal use of the unit.
c) Installation or use not in accordance with the Owner’s Guide and
Installation Instructions, New Zealand Building Code requirements or with
relevant statutory and local requirements including failure to install a
properly drained safe tray where required by the owners guide and
installations.
d) Connection at any time to a water supply that does not comply with the
water supply guidelines as outlined in the Owner’s Guide and Installation
Instructions, or poor water quality outside the limits specified in the owners
guide and installation instructions.
e) Repairs, attempts to repair or modifications to the unit by a person other
than Rheem Service or a Rheem Accredited Service Technician.
f) Faulty plumbing or faulty power supply.
g) Failure to maintain the unit in accordance with the Owner's Guide and
Installation Instructions.
h) Transport damage.
i) Fair wear and tear from adverse conditions (for example, corrosion).
j) Cosmetic defects.
2.7 If you require a call out and we find that the fault is not covered by the Rheem
warranty, you are responsible for Rheem Service Centre call out costs. If you
wish to have the relevant component repaired or replaced by Rheem that
service will be at your cost.

RHEEM ELECTRIC DOMESTIC MAINS PRESSURE
WATER HEATER WARRANTY –NEW ZEALAND ONLY
6
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS 491/492 MODELS
2.8 Subject to any statutory provisions to the contrary, this warranty excludes any
and all claims however arising including under contract or tort for damage to
furniture, carpet, walls, foundations or any other consequential loss or
incidental expenses either directly or indirectly due to leakage from Rheem
unit, or due to leakage from fittings and/ or pipe work of metal, plastic or other
materials caused by water temperature, workmanship or other modes of
failure.
2.9 This warranty excludes to the extent permissible all implied warranties set out
in the Sale of Goods Act 1908 (New Zealand) and all guarantees set out in the
Consumers Guarantees Act 1993 (New Zealand) to the extent that the goods
are acquired for the purpose of resupply in trade consumption in the course of
a process of production or manufacture or repairing or treating in trade other
goods or fixtures on land.
3. WHAT IS COVERED BY THE RHEEM WARRANTY
FOR THE WATER HEATERS DETAILED IN THIS DOCUMENT
3.1 Rheem will repair or replace a faulty component of your unit if it fails to operate
in accordance with its specifications as follows:
What components
are covered
The period from the date
of installation in which
the fault must appear in
order to be covered
What coverage you receive
491/492 series models
All components
Year 1
Repair and/or replacement of the
faulty component, free of charge,
including labour.
The cylinder
(if the water heater
is installed in a
single-family
domestic dwelling)
Years 2 to 12
Replacement cylinder, free of
charge. Installation and repair
labour costs are the
responsibility of the owner.
The cylinder
(if the water heater
is not installed in a
single-family
domestic dwelling)
Years 2 & 3
Replacement cylinder, free of
charge. Installation and repair
labour costs are the
responsibility of the owner.

RHEEM ELECTRIC DOMESTIC MAINS PRESSURE
WATER HEATER WARRANTY –NEW ZEALAND ONLY
7
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS 491/492 MODELS
4. ENTITLEMENT TO MAKE A CLAIM UNDER THIS WARRANTY
4.1 To be entitled to make a claim under this warranty you need to:
a) Be the owner of the unit or have consent of the owner to act on their behalf.
b) Contact Rheem New Zealand Limited Service Department without undue
delay after detection of the defect and, in any event, within the applicable
warranty period.
c) Return the faulty component or unit as directed by the Rheem New
Zealand Limited Service Department.
4.2 You are not entitled to make a claim under this warranty if your unit:
a) Does not have its original serial numbers or rating labels.
b) Is not installed in New Zealand.
5. HOW TO MAKE A CLAIM UNDER THIS WARRANTY
5.1 If you wish to make a claim under this warranty, you need to:
a) Contact Rheem New Zealand on 0800 657 335 and provide the owner’s
details, address of the unit, a contact number and date of installation of the
unit or if that’s unavailable, the date of manufacture and serial number
(from the rating label on the unit).
b) A Rheem Service Centre will arrange for the unit to be tested and
assessed on-site.
c) If Rheem determines that you have a valid warranty claim, Rheem will
repair or replace the unit in accordance with this warranty.
5.2 Any expenses incurred in the making of a claim under this warranty will be
borne by you.
6. THE CONSUMER GUARANTEES ACT 1993 (NEW ZEALAND)
6.1 Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Consumer
Guarantees Act 1993 (New Zealand). If the goods fail to comply with the
applicable guarantees set out under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (New
Zealand) being the guarantee as to acceptable quality, the guarantee as to
correspondence with description or the guarantee as to repair and parts, or if
the goods fail to comply with any express guarantee given by Rheem, then you
are entitled to a replacement or refund and for compensation for any other
reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
6.2 The Rheem warranty (set out above) is in addition to any rights and remedies
that you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (New Zealand).

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ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER
WATER HEATER APPLICATION
This water heater is designed for use in a single family domestic dwelling for the
purpose of heating potable water. Its use in an application other than this may
shorten its life.
MODEL TYPE
The Rheem®491/492 series water heater you have chosen is suitable for either
indoor or outdoor installation.
Rheem®491/492 series models are available with either a single heating unit or
with twin heating units (refer to “Single Element Model” on page 11 and “Twin
Element Model” on page 11).
Water is stored in a vitreous enamel lined steel cylinder and heated by the
electric immersion heating unit. The thermostat controls the temperature.
Automatic safety controls are fitted to the water heater to provide safe and
efficient operation.
A Rheem®491/492 series water heater
have caps covering brass plugs on one
side of the tank. The plugs and caps
block off alternative connection points
and are not to be tampered with or
removed.
HOW HOT SHOULD THE WATER BE?
The water heater features an adjustable
thermostat, which allows you to choose
the most suitable temperature for your
hot water needs. Refer to “Temperature
Adjustment” on page 9.
A Rheem®491/492 series water heater
is temperature limited to deliver water
not exceeding 50°C to sanitary fixtures
used primarily for personal hygiene
purposes.
To meet the requirements of the
National Plumbing Standard the
temperature of the stored water must
not be below 60°C.
minimum thermostat setting
and minimum recommended
stored water temperature.
top heating unit thermostat
setting on a twin element
model (not adjustable)
maximum thermostat setting
491/492 series 400 models
maximum recommended
supply temperature to
bathrooms and ensuites

ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER
9
HOTTER WATER INCREASES THE RISK OF SCALD INJURY
This water heater can deliver water at temperatures which can cause scalding.
Check the water temperature before use, such as when entering a shower or
filling a bath or basin, to ensure it is suitable for the application and will not cause
scald injury.
We recommend and it may also be required by regulations that an approved
temperature limiting device be fitted into the hot water pipe work to the bathroom
and ensuite when a Rheem®491/492 series water heater is installed. This will
keep the water temperature below 55°C at the bathroom and ensuite. The risk of
scald injury will be reduced and still allow hotter water to the kitchen and laundry.
THERMOSTAT
The thermostat automatically controls the electricity supply to the heating unit so
a constant temperature is maintained. The thermostat and its protective over
temperature cut out is mounted inside the front cover of the water heater. There
is no need to switch the water heater off when it is not in use, except when you
are on an extended holiday. The thermostat is fully automatic and power is only
used when heating is required.
TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENT
A Rheem®491/492 series water heater features a tradesperson adjustable
thermostat. This requires a licensed electrical worker to make any temperature
adjustments. The bottom thermostat (twin element models) has a maximum
temperature setting of 70°C and a minimum temperature setting of 60°C. The
top thermostat on a twin element model has a fixed setting of 60°C and cannot
be adjusted.
We advise you to have an authorised person adjust the thermostat to the lowest
temperature setting that meets your needs, especially if there are young children
or elderly people in your home. Refer to “Hotter Water Increases The Risk of
Scald Injury” on page 9.

ABOUT YOUR WATER HEATER
10
SAFETY
This water heater is supplied with a thermostat, an over-temperature cut-out and
a combination temperature pressure relief valve. These devices must not be
tampered with or removed. The water heater must not be operated unless each
of these devices is fitted and is in working order.
The operation of the over-temperature cut-out on the thermostat indicates a
possibly dangerous situation. If the over-temperature cut-out operates, it must
not be reset and the water heater must be serviced by a qualified person.
If the electrical conduit to the water heater is damaged, it must be replaced by a
qualified person in order to avoid a hazard. Phone Rheem Service or their
nearest Rheem Service Centre to arrange for an inspection.
The Rheem warranty may not cover faults if relief valves or other safety
devices are tampered with or if the installation is not in accordance with
these instructions.
WARNINGS
This water heater is only intended to be operated by persons who have the
experience or the knowledge and the capabilities to do so.
This water heater is not intended to be operated by persons with reduced
physical, sensory or mental capabilities i.e. the infirm, or by children. Children
should be supervised to ensure they do not interfere with the water heater.
This water heater uses 240 V AC power for the electrically operated
components. The removal of the front cover(s) will expose 240 V wiring. It
must only be removed by a qualified person.
For continued safety of this water heater it must be installed, operated and
maintained in accordance with the Owner’s Guide and Installation
Instructions.
MAINS PRESSURE
The water heater is designed to operate at mains pressure by connecting directly
to the mains water supply. If the mains supply pressure in your area exceeds
that shown on page 25, a pressure limiting valve must be fitted. The supply
pressure should be greater than 350 kPa for true mains pressure operation to be
achieved.