10
FACTSTOCONSIDERABOUT THE LOCATION
Carefullychoose anindoorlocationforthe newwaterheater,because
the placement is a very important consideration for the safety of the
occupantsinthebuildingandforthemosteconomicaluseoftheappliance.
This water heater is not for use in manufactured (mobile) homes
or outdoor installation.
Whetherreplacing anoldwaterheaterorputtingthe waterheater ina
newlocation, thefollowingcriticalpointsmust beobserved:
1. Selectalocationindoorsascloseaspractical totheventterminalor
locationtowhichthewaterheaterventpipingisgoingtobeconnected,
andas centralizedwith thewaterpipingsystemas possible.
2. Selected location must provide adequate clearances for servicing
andproper operationofthewaterheater.
Installationofthe waterheatermustbe accomplishedinsucha manner
that if the tank or any connections should leak, the flow will not cause
damagetothe structure. Forthisreason,it isnotadvisableto installthe
waterheater inan atticorupperfloor. Whensuch locationscannotbe
avoided,asuitabledrainpanshouldbeinstalledunderthewaterheater.
Drainpansareavailableatyourlocalhardwarestore. Suchadrainpan
musthaveaminimumlengthandwidthofatleast2"(5.1cm)greaterthan
thewater heaterdimensions andmust bepipedtoanadequate drain.
Thepanmust notrestrictcombustionairflow.
Water heater life depends upon water quality, water pressure and the
environment in which the water heater is installed. Water heaters are
sometimesinstalled inlocations whereleakagemayresultin property
damage, even with the use of a drain pan piped to a drain. However,
unanticipateddamagecanbereducedorpreventedbyaleakdetectoror
watershut-offdeviceusedinconjunctionwithapipeddrain pan.These
devices are available from some plumbing supply wholesalers and
retailers,and detectandreacttoleakage invarious ways:
• Sensorsmounted inthedrain panthattriggeranalarmorturnoff the
incomingwater tothewaterheaterwhen leakageis detected.
• Sensorsmountedinthedrainpan thatturnoff thewatersupplytothe
entirehome whenwaterisdetectedin thedrainpan.
• Water supply shut-off devices that activate based on the water
pressure differential between the cold water and hot water pipes
connectedto thewaterheater.
• Devicesthat willturnoff thegassupply toagaswaterheaterwhileat
thesame timeshutting offitswatersupply.
INSTALLATIONSINAREASWHEREFLAMMABLELIQUIDS(VAPORS)
ARELIKELYTOBEPRESENTORSTORED(GARAGES,STORAGEAND
UTILITYAREAS,ETC.):Flammableliquids(suchasgasoline,solvents,
propane(LPor butane,etc.)andother substances(suchasadhesives,
etc.) emit flammable vapors which can be ignited by a gas water
heater’s hot surface igniter or main burner. The resulting flashback
andfirecan causedeath orserious burnstoanyone inthe area.This
waterheater isequippedwithaFV sensorfor detectingthe presence
of flammable vapors, see Figure 9. When the sensor detects those
vapors,theunit will shutdown and notoperate. Should thishappen,
pleasereferto thetroubleshootingguideonpages29-30. Eventhough
thiswater heateris aflammable vaporsignition resistantwaterheater
and is designed to reduce the chances of flammable vapors being
ignited, gasoline and other flammable substances should never be
stored or used in the same vicinity or area containing a gas water
heateror otheropen flameor sparkproducing appliance.
FIGURE9.
Also, the water heater must be located and/or protected so it is not
subjectto physicaldamage bya movingvehicle.
Thiswaterheater mustnotbeinstalleddirectlyoncarpeting. Carpeting
must be protected by metal or wood panel beneath the appliance
extendingbeyond thefullwidthanddepthofthe applianceby atleast
3"(7.6 cm)in anydirection, oriftheapplianceisinstalledinanalcove
orcloset,theentirefloormust becoveredby thepanel. Failureto heed
thiswarningmay resultina fire hazard.
Minimum clearances between the water heater and combustible
constructionare0inchatthesidesandrear,5"(12.7 cm)fromthefront
