A.O. Smith Commercial Gas Water Heater BL-100

The following practices will ensure longer life and enable the unit to operate at its designed efficiency:

1. Once a month the heater should be flushed. Open the drain valve and allow two gallons of water to drain from the heater. Inlet water valve should remain open to maintain pressure in tank.

2. A cleanout opening is provided for periodic cleaning of the tank. Gas must be shut off and heater drained before opening cleanout.

To clean heater through cleanout opening, proceed as follows:

2. Remove outer cover plate from lower side of heater jacket.

3. Remove six (6) hex head screws securing tank cleanout plate and remove plate.

4. Remove lime, scale, or sediment using care not to damage the glass lining.

5. Inspect cleanout plate gasket, if new gasket is required, see replacement parts list for item number.

CAUTION! Property Damage Hazard. Avoid water heater damage. Inspection and replacement of anode rod required.

The anode rod is used to protect the tank from corrosion. Most hot water tanks are equipped with an anode rod. The submerged rod sacrifices itself to protect the tank. Instead of corroding the tank, water ions attack and eat away the anode rod. This does not affect water's taste or color. The rod must be maintained to keep the tank in operating condition.

Anode deterioration depends on water conductivity, not necessarily water condition. A corroded or pitted anode rod indicates high water conductivity and should be checked and/or replaced more often than an anode rod that appears to be intact. Replacement of a depleted anode rod can extend the life of your water heater. Inspection should be conducted by a qualified service technician, and at a minimum should be checked annually after the warranty period.

Artificially softened water is exceedingly corrosive because the process substitutes sodium ions for magnesium and calcium ions. The use of a water softener may decrease the life of the water heater tank.

The anode rod should be inspected after a maximum of three years and annually thereafter until the condition of the anode rod dictates its replacement. NOTE: Artificially softened water requires the anode rod to be inspected annually.

Anode rod diameter less than 3/8?

Significant sections of the support wire (approx. 1/3 or more of the anode rod's length) are visible?

Sign off on the anode rod inspection

Warning: Flood damage to a water heater may not be readily visible or immediately detectable. However, over a period of time a flooded water heater will create dangerous conditions which can cause DEATH, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Contact a qualified installer or service technician to replace a flooded water heater. Do not attempt to repair the unit! It must be replaced!

Visual inspection of the main burner and pilot burner

Inspect burner flames through viewport. Flames should be very small with a blue haze and small amounts of yellow or orange at the edges. After several minutes of operation the burner screen may glow red.

Check for sooting. Soot is not normal and will impair proper combustion.

Soot build-up indicates a problem that requires correction before further use. Turn 'OFF' gas to water heater and leave off until repairs are made, because failure to correct the cause of the sooting can result in a fire causing death, serious injury, or property damage.

If inspection of the burner shows that cleaning is required, turn the gas control knob clockwise ( ) to the “OFF” position, depressing slightly.

NOTE: The knob cannot be turned from “PILOT” to “OFF” unless knob is depressed slightly. DO NOT FORCE.

WARNING! Carbon Monoxide and Fire Hazard

Flue gases may escape if vent pipe is not connected.

Be alert for obstructed, sooted or deteriorated vent system to avoid serious injury or death.

Do not store corrosive chemicals in vicinity of water heater.

Chemical corrosion of flue and vent system can cause serious injury or death.

Contact a qualified installer or service agency.

Breathing carbon monoxide can cause brain damage or death. Always read and understand instruction manual.

At least once a year a visual inspection should be made of the venting system.

Check for obstructions which could cause improper venting. The combustion and ventilation air flow must not be obstructed.

DANGER: Burn hazard. Hot water discharge. Keep clear of Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve discharge outlet.

It is recommended that the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve should be checked to ensure that it is in operating condition every 6 months.

When checking the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve operation, make sure that no one is in front of or around the outlet of the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve discharge line, and that the water discharge will not cause any property damage, as water may be extremely hot.

Use care when operating valve as the valve may be hot.

To check the temperature-pressure relief valve, lift the lever at the end of the valve several times. The valve should seat properly and operate freely.

If after manually operating the valve, it fails to completely reset and continues to release water, immediately close the cold water inlet to the water heater and drain the water heater.

Replace the Temperature- Pressure Relief Valve with a properly rated/sized new one.

If the Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve on the water heater weeps or discharges periodically, this may be due to thermal expansion.

NOTE: Excessive water pressure is the most common cause of Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve leakage. Excessive water system pressure is most often caused by “thermal expansion” in a “closed system.” The Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve is not intended for the constant relief of thermal expansion.