Establishing a heater maintenance program
It is important to establish a pool heater maintenance and service program for your customers. Here are four issues that will need to be addressed in this program.
- Buildup on the heat exchanger tubes: Heat exchanger tubes buildup with chemical residue and calcium that cause the heater to lower its water flow. If the pool water has a high pH, the water starts scaling, causing calcium to fall out of suspension. The calcium then adheres to the inside of the heater tubes, which lowers heater efficiency and could eventually destroy copper heat exchangers and thermal regulators. Ensuring proper water chemistry balance is the best way to protect against this issue.
- Low gas pressure: Having low gas pressure can also lead to buildup on the internal parts of the heater, which can block the heat exchanger. To avoid this issue, it is crucial to check gas pressure lines and ensure the installed heater is getting the correct gas pressure per the product manual. It is also important to check that the client is not running a 400,000 British thermal unit (Btu) heater using a gas line meant for a 200,000 Btu unit. If this is the case, the gas line will need to be upgraded to a larger model, so the heater can operate efficiently. The gas meter needs to be properly sized to ensure
it will supply enough gas to the heater and other gas appliances that may be used on the same meter. - Lack of ventilation: Insufficient air supply for proper combustion and ventilation acts as an insulating layer on the exchanger so the heat does not transfer to the water efficiently. The colour of the heater’s flame is a good indicator of whether the unit is receiving enough combustion air to function properly. A clear, blue flame indicates the unit is burning 100 per cent of the gas. If the flame is not getting enough air, it becomes orange and releases carbon that turns to soot and clogs heat exchangers. This is another reason to stress the importance of regular heater maintenance. Service technicians should also take the time to clean out spider webs, leaves, rodent nests, and debris that can gather within the vents and the heater itself, and prevent damaged heater components.
- Reduced water flow: Water that is moving too fast through the heater will cause condensation. If it is moving too slow, the heater cannot warm the water efficiently, and it might cause the unit to cycle on and off—ultimately, this can damage the heat exchanger. Checking the water flow going into the heater is an essential part of regular maintenance.
By addressing these four key areas, service professionals will be able to keep pool heaters operating as efficiently as possible. Because pool heaters can be expensive to use, taking the time to explain to clients how the heater works will make it easier to sell them on the importance of a maintenance program. Additionally, educating pool owners on heater operation and efficiency lays the groundwork for eventually upgrading to a more efficient pool heater in the future.
Explaining pool heater operation
Some pool professionals forget the importance of explaining how heaters work. However, even a basic description of the water heater mechanism will lead to an explanation of a pool heater maintenance program, or the need to eventually upgrade to a high-efficiency pool heater to enjoy the energy savings benefits.
It is important to explain the pump circulates the water, which is drawn from the pool, then passes through the filter and into the heater. Next, the heater’s combustion chamber ignites the gas, heating the copper tube arranged above the burner tray. As the water passes through, the heat from these copper tubes is conducted to the water, increasing the water temperature. The water then returns to the pool and recirculates for consistent heating. This simple process provides quick, controlled heating of the pool water. Explaining how a pool heater operates will lay the groundwork for understanding the efficiency rating of the heater.
