Water Supplies. Solahart STREAMLINE ELECTRIC

WATER SUPPLIES

This water heater must be installed in accordance with this advice to be covered by the Solahart warranty.

This water heater is manufactured to suit the water conditions of most public reticulated water supplies.

However, there are some known water chemistries which can have detrimental effects on the water heater and its operation and / or life expectancy. If you are unsure of your water chemistry, you may be able to obtain information from your local water supply authority. This water heater should only be connected to a water supply which complies with these guidelines for the Solahart warranty to apply.

CHANGE OF WATER SUPPLY

The changing or alternating from one water supply to another can have a detrimental effect on the operation and / or life expectation of a water heater cylinder, a temperature pressure relief valve and a gas booster‟s copper heat exchanger.

Where there is a changeover from one water supply to another, e.g. a rainwater tank supply, bore water supply, desalinated water supply, public reticulated water supply or water brought in from another supply, then water chemistry information should be sought from the supplier or it should be tested to ensure the water supply meets the requirements given in these guidelines for the Solahart warranty to apply.

ANODE

The vitreous enamel lined cylinder of the water heater is only covered by the Solahart warranty when the total dissolved solids (TDS) content in the water is less than 2500 mg/L and when the correct colour coded anode is used. If an incorrect colour coded anode is used in the water heater, any resultant faults will not be covered by the Solahart warranty. In addition, the use of an incorrect colour coded anode may shorten the life of the water heater cylinder.

The correct colour coded anode must be selected and fitted to the water heater in accordance with the

following advice and the Anode Selection chart on page 13 for the Solahart warranty to apply to the water

heater cylinder.

Total Dissolved Solids Anode colour code

0 – 40 mg/L Green

40 – 150 mg/L

150 – 400 mg/L

400 – 600 mg/L

600 – 2500 mg/L

Green or Black

Black

Black or Blue

Blue

2500 mg/L + Blue (no cylinder warranty)

The changing of an anode must be carried out by a qualified person.

Note: Some water analysis reports may state the conductivity of the water rather than the level of total dissolved solids. Conductivity, measured in microsiemens per centimetre (µS / cm), is directly proportional to the TDS content of the water. TDS, in mg / L, is approximately 70% of the conductivity in µS / cm.

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS & CONDUCTIVITY

(vitreous enamel lined water heater cylinder)

0 40 warranty applies to a vitreous enamel lined water heater cylinder if the correct coloured anode is used for the TDS / conductivity level of water

150 400 600 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) - mg/L 2500 no warranty applies to a vitreous enamel lined water heater cylinder

Green

Black Blue Blue

0 60 215 570 860 CONDUCTIVITY - µS/cm

ANODE SELECTION

3570

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WATER SUPPLIES

ANODE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT

The anodes installed in a vitreous enamel lined steel water heater cylinder will slowly dissipate whilst protecting the cylinder. The life of the cylinder may be extended by replacing the anodes.

If the anodes are not replaced during a five year service (refer to “Major Five Year Service” on page 11) then

the maximum time after installation when the anodes should be replaced for this water heater is 8 years.

For water supplies which are either softened, desalinated or where the water supply may alternate between a water tank and a reticulated public supply or another supply, it is recommended the anodes be replaced within 5 years of installation.

CAUTION

If the water supply has a TDS greater than 150 mg/L and a green anode has not been changed to a black anode, or if the TDS is greater than 600 mg/L and an anode has not been changed to a blue anode, there is the possibility the anode may become overactive and hydrogen gas could accumulate in the top of the water heater during long periods of no use.

If, under these conditions, the water heater has not been used for two or more weeks the following procedure should be carried out before using any electrical appliances (automatic washing machines and dishwashers) which are connected to the hot water supply.

The hydrogen, which is highly flammable, should be vented safely by opening a hot tap and allowing the water to flow. There should be no smoking or naked flame near the tap whilst it is turned on. Any hydrogen gas will be dissipated. This is indicated by an unusual spurting of the water from the tap. Once the water runs freely, any hydrogen in the system will have been released.

SATURATION INDEX

The saturation index is used as a measure of the water‟s corrosive or scaling properties.

In a corrosive water supply, the water can attack copper parts and cause them to fail.

Where the saturation index is less than –1.0, the water is very corrosive and the Solahart warranty does not apply to a copper heat exchanger in a continuous flow water heater.

In a scaling water supply calcium carbonate is deposited out of the water onto any hot metallic surface.

Where the saturation index exceeds +0.40, the water is very scaling. An expansion control valve must be fitted on the cold water line after the non-return valve to protect and for the Solahart warranty to apply to the temperature pressure relief valve and water heater cylinder.

Where the saturation index exceeds +0.80, the Solahart warranty does not apply to a copper heat exchanger in a continuous flow gas booster water heater.

Water which is scaling may be treated with a water softening device to reduce the saturation index of the water.

Refer to the Saturation Index chart on page 15.

Refer to the cold water connection detail on page 37 for the position of the expansion control valve.

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WATER SUPPLIES

SATURATION INDEX (SI)

SOLAR WATER HEATERS - INTEGRATED GAS BOOST (CONTINUOUS FLOW)

WITHIN WARRANTY

SPECIFICATION very corrosive

-1.0

0 +0.4

SATURATION INDEX

(calculated @ 80°C water temperature) corrosive scaling very scaling

+0.8

SUMMARY OF WATER CHEMISTRY ADVICE AFFECTING WARRANTY

The water heater, solar collectors and their components are not suitable for certain water chemistries. Those chemistries are listed below. If the water heater is connected at any time to a water supply with the following water chemistry, the Solahart warranty will not cover any resultant faults on the components listed below:

Water Chemistry Component

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) > 2500 mg/L

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) not suitable for anode type water heater cylinder water heater cylinder

Saturation Index (SI) < -1.0

Saturation Index (SI) > +0.4

(if an expansion control valve is not fitted)

Saturation Index (SI) > +0.8 gas booster copper heat exchanger temperature pressure relief valve, water heater cylinder gas booster copper heat exchanger

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