Bradford-White Corp BWCV User Manual

Internet Version for Reference Only

Page 12

Copper Brute II

Page 13

Do not use open flame to check for leaks. An open 

flame could lead to explosion, which could result in 

property damage, serious injury or death.

NOTE: The Copper Brute II appliance and all other 

gas appliances sharing the gas supply line must be 

firing at maximum capacity to properly measure the 

inlet supply pressure. The pressure can be measured 

at the supply pressure port on the gas valve. Low 

gas pressure could be an indication of an undersized 

gas meter, undersized gas supply lines and/or an 

obstructed gas supply line.

Hot water piping should be supported by suitable 

hangers or floor stands. Do not support piping with 

this heater. Due to expansion and contraction of 

copper pipe, consideration should be given to the type 

of hangers used. Rigid hangers may transmit noise 

through the system resulting from the piping sliding in 

the hangers. It is recommended that padding be used 

when rigid hangers are installed.

The heater can be used with several different 

types of readily available storage tanks. A pump draws 

water from the storage tank and pumps the water 

through the heater and back into the tank. Pump-

mounted units have a circulating pump built into the 

water heater. The pumps used are sized for the head 

loss through the heater, plus 30 feet (9.1m) of full-

sized piping (same size as heater outlet) and a normal 

number of fittings. Pumps used on pump-mounted unit 

are sized for soft/normal or hard water, so make sure 

a pump-mounted unit matches the water quality of the 

installation.

Pipe the outlet from the heater’s relief valve 

such that any discharge from the relief valve will be 

conducted to a suitable place for disposal when relief 

occurs. Do not reduce line size or install any valves in 

this line. The line must be installed to allow complete 

drainage of both the valve and the line.

Suggested piping diagrams are shown in Figures 

4, 5, 6 and 7. These diagrams are meant only as a 

guide. Components required by local codes must be 

properly installed.

Note the recommended location of the 

temperature sensor on the diagrams. The heater is 

shipped with an additional sensor that can be used for 

more full-featured domestic water heating control. To 

get these features, you must provide a location for the 

additional sensor. It can be strapped to a pipe from 1" 

to 4" diameter, or inserted into a tank immersion well.

The minimum inlet water temperature for the 

Copper Brute II is 120°F (49°C) to avoid condensing 

on the copper coils.

Follow the tank manufacturer’s guidelines for 

completion of the hot water system connections.

If the water heater is installed in a closed 

water supply system, such as one having a backflow 

preventer in the cold water supply line, the relief valve 

may discharge periodically, due to thermal expansion. 

Means (such as a properly-sized expansion tank) shall 

be provided to control thermal expansion. Contact the 

water supplier or local plumbing inspector on how to 

control this situation.

In a water heating application (an open system), 

new water is constantly being introduced. With the 

new water comes a fresh supply of minerals that can 

be deposited on the unit’s heat exchanger. This is 

commonly known as scaling. The amount of minerals 

will depend upon the hardness of the water. Water can 

also be aggressive, and can erode metals, including 

copper, if the water is moved too quickly. The water 

flow requirements for the Copper Brute II water heater 

are based upon the hardness of the water. The water 

flow is kept high enough to prevent scaling, but low 

enough to prevent tube erosion. For extremely soft or 

hard water, cupro-nickel tubes are available. Contact a 

Bradford White representative if you have questions or 

concerns about water quality.

Pump-mounted water heaters can be ordered 

with standard pumps for soft or normal water or with 

pumps for hard water. The pumps used are sized for 

the head loss through the heater, plus 30 feet (9.1m) 

of full-sized piping (same size as heater outlet) and a 

normal number of fittings. 

Table 8 specifies water flow rates for water 

heaters, which will enable the user to size a pump. The 

head loss shown is for the heater only, and the user 

will need to add the head loss of the piping system to 

properly size the pump.