A.O. Smith Commercial Gas Water Heater BTL-120

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:

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

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

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

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

CAUTION! Property Damage Hazard

Inspection and replacement of anode rod required.

The anode rod is used to protect the tank from corrosion.

Anode rod deterioration depends on water conductivity, not necessarily water condition.

Inspection should be conducted by a qualified technician, and at a minimum should be checked annually after warranty period.

Artificially softened water is exceedingly corrosive because the process substitutes sodium ions for magnesium and calcium ions.

The anode rod should be inspected after a maximum of three years and annually thereafter until condition of anode rod dictates its replacement.

Warning: This inspection requires trained personnel with PPE!

Is the intake air screen attached to the inlet end of the combustion blower?

Is the intake air screen clean of any buildup of debris or foreign material?

Sign off on the intake air screen inspection

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 (1) no one is in front of or around outlet of Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve discharge line, and (2) that water discharge will not cause any property damage, as water may be extremely hot. Use care when operating valve as valve may be hot.

Check the pressure relief valve, lift lever at the end of 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 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.

Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve leakage due to pressure build up in a closed system that does not have a thermal expansion tank installed is not covered under the limited warranty. Thermal expansion tanks must be installed on all closed water systems.

DO NOT PLUG THE TEMPERATURE-PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE OPENING. THIS CAN CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Turn off the electrical supply to the water heater

Turn off the gas supply at the Main Gas Shutoff Valve if the water heater is going to be shut down for an extended period

Ensure the cold water inlet valve is open

Open a nearby hot water faucet and let the water run until the water is no longer hot

Close the cold water inlet valve to the water heater

Connect a hose to the water heater drain valve and terminate it to an adequate drain

Open the water heater drain valve and allow all the water to drain from the storage tank

Close the water heater drain valve when all water in the storage tank has drained

Close the hot water faucet opened in Step 4