What To Do When Your Pool Heater Stops Working?

You opened your pool for the year. The afternoons are warming up nicely. The evenings are still a bit chilly. But you have turned on your pool heater expecting the water to be at a nice warm temperature. You go out in the morning for your morning laps. You are chilled as the water temperature has not warmed up to your liking. What’s wrong? You remember turning on the heater, but it isn’t working. Have you been in this scenario? Let’s talk about what may have gone wrong.

Issues With The Heater

What could be wrong with your heater? There are a few things to take a look at in order to find the issue:

• The pilot won’t light. The most common result is that you have low gas. Is the gas turned on? I know it seems obvious but sometimes overlooked. If so, check your gas.
• The pilot lights but doesn’t stay lit. The thermocouple may be your issue. Clean it off and see if you can relight it. If it still doesn’t stay lit, you may need a new thermocouple.
• The pool heater won’t ignite. Make sure your gas valve is turned on. Set the temperature higher than the water temperature. If you hear a clicking or sparking sound and it won’t ignite this may be a bigger issue.
• The heater won’t reach the desired temperature. Sometimes the heater is set too low. Increase the temperature to see if this works. Adjust as needed.
• The heater cycles on and off. Are your chemicals imbalanced? This usually is the main reason that interferes with your equipment.
• Dirty swimming pool filter. Have you checked your filter? One of the major reasons that your heater isn’t working is due to dirt and debris in your filter. A dirty filter will restrict proper water flow.

Get The Longest Life Out Of Your Pool Heater

How can you make sure that you’re prolonging the life of your pool heater? Let’s talk about some preventative measures that you can take to keep it in good condition:

• Keep your heater clean and as dry as possible. Don’t cover around the heater, that traps moisture.
• Keep the foliage tidy around the heater to reduce debris and moisture.
• Clean under the burner tray and clean any leaves off the heat exchanger.
• The use of mothballs may help drive away rodents. Especially during the winter. This will prevent nesting animals from removing insulation and chewing on wires.
• Use an off-season pool heater cover when you close your pool in the off-season. This will help with wintertime damage from elements and pests.

When questions come up about your pool heater and you need help figuring them out, call us at Pool Works. We are here to help you get through any issues that arise with your pool. Call us at 863-967-2863 or fill out our online contact form. We are happy to set up an appointment that works with your schedule.

Pool Works was established in 1984, we have more than 3 decades of experience. We are a family-owned and a 3rd generation business. We specialize in pool cleaning, repair, and remodeling services. We are members of the FSPA (Florida Swimming Pool Association) and take part in continuing education through the association. We continue training and certification through the top manufacturers in the swimming pool industry.