Water Heater Safety

Venting

By venting your water heater properly, you can keep exhaust created by your water heater outside of your home. There are many types of vent configurations available, each designed to fit specific needs. Be sure to consult a professional plumbing contractor to inspect your home's venting before installation to provide recommendations that are best suited for your needs.

Glass-Lined Tank

A. O. Smith changed the water heater market over 80 years ago by introducing the glass-lined tank for all tank water heaters. By lining the inside of the water heater with glass, heat stays within the tank and protects the steel exterior from rusting and becoming a safety risk.

Anode Rod

Built into all A. O. Smith glass-lined tank water heaters will be an anode rod to protect the tank and extend its life. The anode rod produces a low resistance electrical current to establish an electrical circuit in the water heater that controls corrosion through cathodic protection. Cathodic protection can be defined as a means of protecting a surface from corrosion by making that surface cathodic through the use of a current derived from an anode. This naturally induced voltage is created due to the potential difference between various metals (batteries are based upon this same principle). Anode rods help protect your water heater's glass lining and water heater tank from the corrosive characteristics of your incoming water.

Energy Cut Off (ECO)

To protect your water heater from overheating, A. O. Smith water heaters are built with a high temperature cut off switch. Each water heater has a differential temperature range to keep your water heater at your desired temperature. In the rare case that the water temperature vastly exceeds this temperature range, it will switch off to keep your home safe. If you experience overheating within your water heater, we recommend that you consult a professional plumbing contractor for assistance.

Temperature and Pressure (T&P) Relief Valve

In the unlikely case that the water temperature vastly exceeds the nominal temperature or the pressure is substantially higher than nominal, the T&P valve may open to release excess pressure and hot water. Water expands during the normal water heating process, creating higher pressure inside the tank. We generally recommend the use of an expansion tank to keep the pressure in the tank at a reasonable level. If an expansion tank is not used, then the expanded water has nowhere to go and it will increase the pressure in the system. A leaking T&P valve may indicate an unsafe temperature or pressure situation. If this occurs, we recommend that you consult a professional plumbing contractor for assistance.

FVIR (Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant)

Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of a water heater or any other appliance. Our residential gas water heaters are designed to comply with the ANSI Standard (ANSI Z21.10.1-current edition) regarding the accidental or unintended ignition of flammable vapors, such as those emitted by gasoline.