Maintenance Instructions
Do not attempt to repair this water heater yourself. Call a qualified service person for assistance. Always unplug the power supply cord when the water is turned off or when servicing or draining the water heater. Before calling for service, first, confirm that the water heater is properly filled and that 110VAC power has not been interrupted.
WARNING: Before servicing or cleaning the water heater, disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet.
NOTE: For most maintenance operations, the water heater will be drained.
Draining and Removing the Water Heater
Unplug the water heater;
Open a hot water faucet to let hot water run out. Allow water to flow until water is no longer hot;
Turn off the cold water supply to the water heater;
Close the hot water faucet;
Disconnect the water heater from both the hot and cold water connections;
If possible, siphon out the remaining water;
Carefully detach the water heater from the wall;
Tilt the water heater to drain the remaining water out of the heater.
Removing the Heating Element
Turn off the power supply; unplug the water heater power cord and drain (see above);
Remove cover;
Disconnect all the line wires from the heating element;
Unscrew the heating element retaining nuts;
Remove the element.
Descaling the Heating Element
Scale deposits can affect the heating capability of the element. Heavy scale can even cause the element to burn out. The element can be descaled chemically or manually.
Remove the heating element (see above);
To descale chemically, soak the heating element in white vinegar or another descaling solution, then rinse well with fresh water;
To descale manually, let the element dry and then use a non-metallic brush, similar to a toothbrush, to brush off the residue. Avoid damaging the surface of the element;
Reinstall the element and gasket;
Refill the tank with water before turning on the power to the water heater.
Replacing the Heating Element
Unplug and drain the water heater (see prior instructions);
Remove the heating element, noting the original positions of all connections;
Install the new element with the gasket, ensuring the new element and gasket are positioned correctly;
Tighten the retaining nuts and reconnect the wires to their original locations.
Changing the Thermostat
Unplug the water heater from the electrical outlet;
Drain and remove the water heater;
Remove the bottom panel of the water heater;
Remove the thermostat knob and unscrew the two retaining screws. It may be necessary to pry the knob off the thermostat spindle;
Disconnect the push-pull wire connectors on the thermostat, noting which connector goes to which terminal. Terminals are marked;
Remove the thermostat probe from the well;
Install the new thermostat, attach the wires, and tighten the screws.
Resetting the High Limit Switch
The high-limit safety shut-off switch will shut the water heater down when water temperatures exceed 190°F. Power is automatically turned off to the heating element. The shut-off device may activate as a result of a power outage or an electrical storm.
Note: Do not attempt to reset the high-limit switch without first allowing the water heater to cool down.
Warning: Do not tamper with the reset button to override the overheating shutdown.
Unplug the water heater from the electrical outlet;
Drain and remove the water heater;
Remove the six screws retaining the bottom panel of the water heater and remove the panel;
Locate the high-limit reset button;
Press the small red button in the center of the junction box. Replace the bottom panel and put the water heater back into service.
Caution: Call a technician if the high limit needs to be reset frequently
Note: A lower temperature setting saves energy and reduces the risk of scalding.