Dewhot 6L Diaphragm Activated Gas Geyser

Important Safety Information & Operation

Read these instructions carefully before operating the gas geyser and familiarize yourself with the appliance before connecting it to the gas cylinder. Keep these instructions for future reference.

This appliance is manufactured to operate on LPG only. Do not tamper or modify the appliance.

If you smell gas

1. Turn off the gas supply at the bottle
2. Extinguish all naked flames
3. Do not operate any electrical appliances
4. Ventilate the area
5. Check for leaks as described in this manual
6. If gas smell persists, contact your dealer or gas supplier immediately

Do not use the appliance again until the installer has confirmed that it is safe to do so.

Burn-back

In the event of a burn-back, where the flame burns back to the jet, immediately turn the gas supply off at the gas cylinder. After ensuring the flame is extinguished, wait for 1 minute and then reignite the appliance as per normal. Should the appliance burn back again, close the gas cylinder and call a registered LPG installer.

Gas-pressure regulator

This appliance requires an operating pressure of 2.8 kPa. Only install an LPG regulator that complies with the SANS 1237 requirements.

Guarantee

After installation, please register your product on the Dewhot website (www.gasgeysers.co.za/product-registration). You will need your invoice and Certificate of Compliance (COC) to complete the registration.

Installation Requirements

Only a registered gas installer can install your gas geyser and must comply to SANS 10087-1.

User Responsibilities

• This appliance may only be installed by a registered LPG installer.
• Registered installers are issued with a card that displays their registration number. Insist on seeing this card and make a note of their registration number.
• When they have finished their installation, make sure the installer performs an operational and safety briefing.
• Before you sign off the installation, make sure you also receive your COC.

Installer Responsibilities

• This appliance may only be installed by an LPG Installer registered with the South African Qualification and Certification Committee (SAQCC).
• The appliance must be installed in accordance with the requirements of SANS 10087-1 for use with LPG and/or any fire department regulations and/or local bylaws applicable to the area.
• If in doubt, check with the relevant authority before continuing with the installation.
• Once an installation is complete, you are required to brief, in full, the operational and safety functions of the unit.

Technical Parameters

Parts Diagram

The gas geyser comprises the following main components:

• Deflector
• Hood
• Temperature Sensor
• Ignitor Pin
• Heat Exchanger (Radiator)
• Flame Sensor
• Flame Adjustor
• Controller Solenoid
• Burner
• Jets
• Flow Adjustor
• Battery Box
• Gas Inlet
• Cold Water Inlet
• Micro Switch
• Hot Water Outlet

Functions & Features

• SINGLE USE: Use only one tap at a time. Temperature is manually adjusted for summer and winter.
• EASY TO ADJUST: Temperature is controlled by water flow and gas flow. Restrict water flow at the tap to increase temperature.
• 20 MINUTE SAFETY CUT-OFF: The geyser automatically cuts off after 20 minutes of continuous usage. Turn the tap off and on to restart.
• 75 DEGREE CUT OFF: The temperature sensor automatically cuts off the geyser if the temperature is exceeded.
• SIMPLE TO USE: Set showering temperature and use the hot water tap only. Adjust flow for higher temperatures on kitchen sinks.
• MIXER COMPATIBLE: Works with balanced water pressure and mixer taps.
• FLAME OUT SENSOR: Automatically cuts off gas supply if the flame extinguishes or is not detected.
• PRESSURE RELIEF PROTECTION: Protects the appliance if water supply exceeds 10 Bar.
• FOR OUTDOOR INSTALLATION ONLY: This geyser must be installed outdoors with a protective weather box.
• WATER-CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC IGNITION: The geyser automatically ignites the burner when detecting water flow.

Appliance Safety Instructions

PROPER VENTILATION

To avoid the risk of fire, explosion, or asphyxiation, never operate the gas geyser unless it is installed properly and has adequate air supply.

FLAMMABLE MATERIALS

DO NOT handle, use, or store combustible materials near the gas geyser.

WEATHER BOX AND FLUE

For outdoor installation only, this geyser should be installed with a weather box. Never install this gas geyser indoors. Where applicable, this appliance should be fitted with a secondary flue.

WATER TEMPERATURE SETTING

Safety and energy savings need to be considered when setting the water temperature. Water temperatures above 52°C can cause severe burns. Refer to page 14/15.

1. Households with small children, disabled, or elderly people need to set the temperature to 49°C or lower.
2. Maximum water temperature occurs when the burner is on. To see the water temperature, look at the front panel of the gas geyser.
3. Always ensure you have tested the water temperature with your hand before bathing or showering.

TIME/TEMPERATURE EXPOSURE RESULTING IN BURNS

Hot water can create severe burns; we should rarely exceed the temperatures below:

Gas Type and Leak Detection

NATURAL AND LP GAS

Both LP and natural gas are odoured to help detect leaks. Appliances using LP gas are different from natural gas models. A natural gas geyser cannot function safely on LP gas and vice versa. Do not try to convert the gas geyser from a natural gas to an LP gas appliance and vice versa. This should only be done by the manufacturer, as it could damage the appliance or cause injuries or fires. Never connect the gas geyser to a fuel type that is not in accordance with the appliance's data table.

WHEN DETECTING A LEAK ON YOUR INSTALLATION

LP gas is heavier than air and may accumulate in low-lying areas and cavities. Before opening the hot water tap to test your gas geyser, have your installer check all gas fittings and connections with soapy water. Bubbles indicate a leak.

1. Turn off the gas cylinder immediately.
2. Do not ignite any appliance.
3. Do not touch any electrical switch.
4. Evacuate the house immediately with your family and pets.
5. Leave the doors open for ventilation and contact the gas supplier, registered LP Gas Installer, or Fire Department.
6. Stay away from the house (or building) until the service call has been made, the leak is fixed, and the space has been declared safe.
7. Ask the installer to show you where the gas shut-off valve is and how to use it.
8. Turn off the manual shut-off valve if the gas geyser has been subjected to overheating, fire, flood, physical damage, or if the gas supply fails to shut off.

Gas detectors are highly recommended and must be installed according to the detector manufacturer's regulations.

GAS SUPPLY

1. The gas type should match the specification table. This is a low-pressure gas appliance, and the appropriate regulator should be used.
2. Ensure there is sufficient gas pressure (2.8 kPa) for the gas supply.
3. The gas line should be equipped with a shut-off valve.
4. A soapy solution must be used to check all connections and fittings for gas leaks.
5. The COC should be issued and signed after the installation has been inspected.

Installation Instructions

MOUNTING THE GAS GEYSER

Install the appliance in a place that allows for easy access for future servicing and replacing batteries. Use at least 6mm concrete plugs and screws to mount the gas geyser to the wall. In the case of dry walling, use dry wall anchors. Do not permanently mount the gas geyser; it should be easily removable for servicing and repairs.

WATER SUPPLY

This appliance must only be used with the following water supply requirements:

1. Clean, potable water free of corrosive chemicals, sand, dirt, or other contaminants.
2. Inlet water temperatures above 0°C, but not exceeding 45°C.
3. Free of lime and scale deposits.
4. DO NOT reverse the hot and cold water connections; this will not allow the gas geyser to function.

GAS GEYSER LOCATION

1. Protected from freezing temperatures.
2. Clear 800mm of space from combustible surfaces.
3. Sufficiently ventilated.
4. Free of corrosive elements and flammable vapours.
5. Have sufficient space to service the appliance.
6. It should be securely mounted to the wall.
7. Installed at least 1400mm off the ground.

Connections and Testing

WATER SUPPLY CONNECTIONS

Plumbing should be carried out by a qualified plumber. Use approved plumbing materials only. The diameter of the pipe lines should be a minimum of 1/2" copper or PEX piping. Always ensure water pressure between the cold and hot water is balanced by using a 400-600 kPa PRV. To conserve energy and prevent freezing, insulate both the cold and hot water supply lines. DO NOT cover the drain valves.

WATER FLOW GUIDELINES

When in doubt, perform a bucket test on the hot tap. Operation of the gas geyser requires a minimum water flow rate of half its size in Litres/min. Eg., a 12L requires at least 6L/min to function optimally. For long pipe runs (25-30m or more), water pressure can drop, and additional water pressure may be required. It is not recommended to use this gas geyser for gravity-fed water.

GAS SUPPLY LEAK TESTING

1. The gas geyser and its gas connections must be tested for leaks at the normal operating pressures before using it.
2. Turn on the gas shut-off valve(s).
3. Use the soapy water solution to test for leaks at all connections and fittings. Bubbles indicate a gas leak that must be fixed.
4. Once the appliance is operating, the factory connections also need to be tested for leaks.

Important Tips & Warnings

WARNING

Never use an open flame to test for gas leaks, as this could result in property damage, personal injury, or death.

IMPORTANT TIPS

• If the water flow is too slow, the gas geyser will not ignite. Keep the shower head/outlets clean from debris that reduces flow rate.
• To keep the water pressure balanced, add a 400-600 kPa pressure-regulating valve on the cold water supply for municipal water feeds. Install a shut-off valve near the inlet of the gas geyser for service and draining purposes.
• Installation of demountables is recommended on the hot and cold water lines so that the gas geyser may easily be disconnected for servicing.
• Install a non-return valve on the outlet of the gas geyser to prevent water hammer.
• Do not solder the HOT or COLD water connections near the gas geyser. If solder connections are to be used, solder the fitting to the adapter before fitting the adapter to the water connections on the geyser. Any heat applied to the water supply fittings will permanently damage the internal components of the gas geyser.
• Hot water outlet connections between the gas geyser and the usage points should be as short as possible.
• Increasing the water flow will decrease the temperature.
• Decreasing the water flow will increase the temperature.
• DO NOT use lead or polycop pipe.
• To save energy and reduce heat loss, we recommend insulating the water piping.

NOTE: The flow rate of hot water may vary when more than two taps or fixtures are being used at the same time.

Installation Safety Instructions

• Never open your gas cylinder valve more than 1 full turn.
• Inspect the gas pipes and flexible hoses regularly. If you find joints that are not tightly secured or if there are cracks, you should stop using the appliance and your installer should perform the necessary maintenance.
• Turn off the gas shut-off valve if your gas geyser has been subjected to overheating, fire, flood, physical damage, or if the gas supply fails to shut off.
• Do not allow combustible materials such as newspaper, rags, or mops to accumulate near the appliance.
• Do not store or use petrol or other flammable vapours and liquids, such as adhesives or paint thinners, in the vicinity of this or any other gas appliance. If such flammables must be used, open doors and windows for ventilation.
• Appliances in the vicinity should be shut off to avoid vapours igniting from the gas burner. Flammable vapours can be drawn by air currents from surrounding areas to the inlet of the gas geyser.

FREEZING TEMPERATURES - ADJUSTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

When you have done a new installation and have connected the water, use a small or medium flat screwdriver to UNSCREW the grubscrew in the hollow centre of the over-pressurisation valve until water drips out. Then screw it BACK IN 1 full turn. This sets the pressure relief valve to your specific water pressure supply. In the event of water in the pipes freezing, the valve will push out a small amount of water, allowing the water to freeze in the geyser without causing damage. This will not protect against extreme freezing where water freezes in the pipes quickly. For further protection, please enquire about our Preventative Anti-Freeze Valve.

Operating Instructions

1. Open the battery box underneath the geyser and insert two D cell batteries, paying attention to polarity.
2. Open the cold water valve that has been installed on the cold water inlet pipe or turn on the main water supply. Open the hot water tap which your new geyser now feeds. You should hear the water flowing through the geyser. If the batteries are installed correctly, you will hear the geyser start to ignite. If the gas does not come through, it will turn itself off – this is one cycle. To initiate another cycle, turn the tap off and then back on again.
3. You can now open the gas cylinder (DO NOT open the valve more than one full turn) and any gas shut-off valves installed on the gas line. There may be an air lock inside the gas line, especially for gas piping longer than three to five meters. To get rid of this airlock, you will have to run the geyser through multiple cycles until the gas reaches the burners; it will then ignite. Should this not work after three cycles, bleed the gas through the gas inlet demountable, ensuring the geyser is off during this phase.
4. You can adjust the temperature of your new gas geyser by using the gas and water control knobs on the front panel (Also see page 14 and 15).
5. Turn the right-hand control knob all the way to the right and the left-hand control knob all the way to the left.
6. If the temperature is below 40 degrees, turn the left-hand gas knob clockwise to increase the temperature.
7. If the temperature is above 45 degrees, turn the right-hand water flow knob anti-clockwise to decrease temperature.
8. Use this principle to adjust your gas geyser settings between summer and winter.
9. Try setting your gas geyser between 40-45 degrees Celsius depending on your preference. You should not need to add much cold water, if any at all. This way, you are maximizing your efficiency by not using more gas than you need to by overheating the water. For longer runs in water pipe, you may need to make this temperature slightly higher.
10. For kitchen sinks, try reducing the water flow at the kitchen tap to achieve higher temperatures for dishes.
11. Never install this gas geyser indoors.

Operating Warnings

• Only install this gas geyser outside.
• If you find a gas leak, turn off the gas valve immediately. If the room smells of gas, turn off the gas water heater by turning off the tap and do not touch any electrical appliances or switches or turn on any hot or cold water taps. Call your installer immediately to determine the fault.
• When leaving the premises for extended periods, turn off your gas supply and turn off the gas geyser. In the event of a hot water leakage, the geyser will not turn on.
• The body of the gas geyser can get hot during operation; do not touch any part of the gas geyser, except for the gas and water control knobs.
• Do not put any foreign objects in the exhaust port, air inlet, or on top of the gas geyser to avoid incomplete combustion, which results in poisoning.
• Should you notice a yellow flame, which indicates abnormal combustion, you should close the gas valve right away and then contact the installer.
• Before outdoor temperatures reach below zero degrees, make sure the remaining water is emptied out of the gas geyser to avoid it freezing (Set your OPV, refer to page 13).
• Never open a gas cylinder valve more than one full turn. This allows for easy closing during an emergency. This applies to all gas cylinders and gas appliances. The pressure inside a gas cylinder is significantly higher than a gas appliance requires; therefore, the cylinder valve does not need to be opened more than one turn.

Setting Your Gas Geyser to the Correct Temperature

The gas geyser should be set to a temperature such that you do not have to add too much cold water. If you set the temperature too high and have to cool it down using cold water, you may be wasting gas. Try to set the geyser so that you only have to open the hot water tap.

Start by setting the geyser to 42°C for pipe runs shorter than 3m. If your pipe runs are from 3-5m, try setting the geyser at 43°C, and for pipe runs longer than 5m, try setting the geyser at 45°C. If you find these temperatures are not satisfactory, then increase the temperature by 1-2°C at a time until you feel the water is hot enough.

The hottest water temperature will be from the hot water tap closest to the gas geyser.

Always remember to test the water temperature with your hand before use and remember that hotter water settings increase the risk of injury.

The gas geyser is fitted with a device that will shut off the gas supply to the burner if the appliance exceeds normal operating temperatures at about 75°C.

The appliance won't operate with a water flow of less than half its maximum rated capacity. Eg., an 8L will not operate optimally with less than 4L/min. If this occurs, increase the water flow.

A GUIDE LINE OF SHOWERING TEMPERATURES

• Body temperature: 35-37 °C
• Summer time comfortable showering temperatures: 35-38 °C
• Warm shower in winter: 39 °C
• Hot showering temperature in winter: 42 °C (most preferred showering temperature)
• Very hot showering temperature in winter: 44 °C
• For a bath temperature in winter: 48-50 °C

Bear in mind a geyser showing 40°C will not be the same temperature at the shower head, as it loses heat travelling through the pipes. The further the run in pipes, the more heat will be lost. Bear in mind that slower flow rates lose more heat to the pipes, as the water spends more time travelling to the shower than with higher flow rates.

How to Set the Water Temperature

To set the temperature on your diaphragm-activated gas geyser, start by turning the right-hand control knob all the way to the right and the left-hand control knob all the way to the left. This is called the 10 o'clock - 2 o'clock principle. The gas control knob points towards 10 o'clock and the water control knob points towards 12 o'clock.

1. If the temperature is below 40 degrees, turn the left-hand gas knob clockwise to increase the temperature.
2. If the temperature is above 45 degrees, turn the right-hand water flow knob anti-clockwise to decrease temperature.
3. Use this principle to adjust your gas geyser settings between summer and winter.
4. Try setting your gas geyser between 40-45 degrees Celsius depending on your preference. You should not need to add “much” cold water if any at all. This way, you are maximizing your efficiency by not using more gas than you need to by overheating the water. For longer runs in water pipe, you may need to make this temperature slightly higher.

Principles of water flow and gas flow in a gas geyser:

• By increasing the water flow, you are decreasing the temperature.
• By decreasing the water flow, you are increasing the temperature.
• Higher gas flow will increase the temperature.
• Lower gas flow will decrease the temperature.

Never fully decrease the water flow and fully increase the gas flow; this will result in extreme temperatures that could severely burn you. In this case, the gas control knob and the water control knob would both point towards 2 o'clock.

Maintenance and Cleaning

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

If your gas technician maintains your gas geyser, you should not have any issues with it for years. We recommend that you periodically check the burner flame picture for a yellow flame. This needs to be done by a certified installer.

1. Inspect the area around the gas geyser to ensure that it is in a safe operating environment.
2. Make sure that the appliance has not been damaged. If there are traces of damage or denting, contact your supplier to check that the appliance is still functioning properly.
3. Check for any abnormal sounds while operating your appliance. A light humming sound is normal from time to time. Check for gas/water leaks.
4. The cold water supply filters should be cleaned once a year.
5. Perform regular maintenance on the geyser to prevent carbon monoxide dangers, excessive hot water temperatures, or other potentially hazardous conditions.

DO NOT

1. Continue to use the gas geyser if you feel that there is something wrong with it.
2. Allow children to operate or handle the appliance.
3. After you have checked, maintained, and/or cleaned the appliance, make sure that it is working properly by turning on the hot water tap.

COASTAL CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

For geysers installed near the coast, get your gas installer to remove the cover and spray electrical contact cleaner on all the electronic contacts. After the electrical spray has dried up, you can spray clear tectile or any other kind of electrical sealant to seal the joins and prevent corrosion from entering the electronics. This is highly advised and can be performed at any location inland or coastal. Do not perform this step if the geyser is on. Or ask your nearest Dewhot supplier to tectile the complete unit before purchasing; this can be done for a fee.

GENERAL CLEANING

1. DO NOT store household items near or on top of the appliance.
2. Inlet water filters should be cleaned on a regular basis.
3. DO NOT scrub the appliance with a brush.
4. Use only water; any chemicals can damage the surface of the appliance.
5. DO NOT remove any labels, including the rating table, when cleaning or servicing.
6. DO NOT splash water on the appliance when cleaning.

CLEANING THE WATER FILTER

• Turn the appliance off.
• Turn the water supply to the appliance off.
• Unscrew the water fitting and pull the filter out.
• Remove particles - use a soft brush and rinse it with running water.
• Put the filter back and screw it in.
• Turn on the cold water supply.

CAUTION

Cleaning of the main burner should always be performed by a Registered LPG Installer. A compressor can be used to clean the burner.

BURNER INSPECTION

Visually check the main burners 3-4 times a year. Use the sight glass or look underneath to check the flame picture; the flame should be a clean blue flame only. If a yellow flame occurs, the gas geyser should be shut down, and you should call a qualified installer to assess the appliance. Check to make sure that the air supply and the vent terminal have not been blocked or contain debris.

VACATION AND EXTENDED SHUT-DOWN

If the gas geyser is left for an extended period of time, the power and gas to the appliance should be turned off. The gas geyser and piping should be drained if they could be subjected to freezing temperatures over this period. After a long shut-down period, the gas geyser needs to be serviced and checked.

Symptoms and Faults

The LCD stays on after the water turns off

FAULT & SOLUTION

The micro-switch holder return-spring is broken or stuck. Change the micro-switch holder.

The geyser is not igniting at all when the water is turned on

FAULT & SOLUTION

Check for flat batteries. Check the micro-switch is being activated. By-pass the on-off switch. Corrosion on the batteries or battery box.

The geyser ignites and provides you with hot water but slowly goes cooler and cooler until the water is cold

FAULT & SOLUTION

Check for blockages in the tap outlets, gas geyser inlet, or pump inlet/outlet. Doing a bucket test will help solve this problem. After the bucket test, make sure there is adequate flow rate. Check the diaphragm for holes or damage. If none of the above resolves the issue, you may need to replace the control box.

Only 35-38 degrees reached on the LCD screen

FAULT & SOLUTION

Gas levels may be low. The regulator may be faulty. The water flow may be too high. The regulator may be undersupplying gas; check the gas inlet pressure is operating at 2.8 kPa while the appliance is running. The burners and jets may need to be cleaned.

The geyser ignites and burns but dies after a couple of minutes

FAULT & SOLUTION

Make sure the batteries are not flat (even flat batteries will measure 1.5V on a multimeter; rather replace with new batteries). If the geyser is reaching temperatures higher than 75°C, it may be cutting out the water temperature sensor; this is normal. Refer to setting the geyser correctly.

The geyser ignites and burns for 10 seconds only and then goes off

FAULT & SOLUTION

The flame out sensor may be faulty. If the geyser continues to ignite while the flame is on, replace the control box.

The geyser is dripping water from the over pressurization valve

FAULT & SOLUTION

This is normal during freezing temperatures. If it is not freezing, then turn the OVP screw inwards until the water stops dripping, then turn it 1 full revolution more.

The geyser ignites and you can hear the flame come on but dies immediately after less than 1 second or so

FAULT & SOLUTION

Flat batteries. The solenoid may be faulty. Check the 75deg temperature sensor for continuity.

The geyser tries to ignite but the flame does not come on

FAULT

There may be no gas to the geyser. Flat batteries. Faulty regulator. The temperature sensor may be faulty.

There is a bright yellow flame on the burners and you can see black soot building up around the top of the geyser

FAULT

The burner has been blocked, causing incomplete combustion seen as a yellow flame. Clean out the burners and jets and all black soot with a degreaser. DO NOT continue to use this gas geyser.

Different Types of Gas Geysers

• TYPE A: Geysers that do not require a flue. They are suitable for indoor use due to their low consumption rating.
• TYPE B: Geysers that always require a flue. They can be installed indoors (with a flue) or outdoors.
• TYPE C: Geysers designed for indoor installation. They are room-sealed and do not use oxygen from the room.
• TYPE D: Strictly outdoor gas geysers. They cannot be installed indoors. Some Type D geysers may not require a flue.

Product Registration

Register your product at warrantyportal.dewhot.com. This portal allows you to track your product journey, log faults, view terms & procedures, or talk to a technician.

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