Completion
The necessities for gas heater installation focused on in this article are the key elements to a basic gas heater installation. During the installation check and general startup, with all connections properly made and the gas pressure correct, the heater should fire and function as planned.
If the heater fails to fire, additional checks, inspection and/or adjustment of the water pressure switch, temperature/remote control and other items as recommended in the manufacturer’s installation manual will need to be addressed to ensure the heater operates properly and safely.
Fault codes are evident via the electronic control and can be very helpful in guiding the installer to problematic areas. There are many potential combinations of causes for a heater to malfunction. So, a thorough look at the entire system and installation is required, along with some flexible thinking to resolve the problem(s).
Gas pool heaters are built to provide a long performance life when installed, operated and maintained properly. To keep the heater working properly, regular inspection by qualified service personnel is recommended.
Keeping vent areas on top of the heater clear of obstructions, while ensuring clearances are maintained for combustion and ventilation air around the heater are critical to its long life and reliable performance. Some parts of the country will also require winterization or draining of the heater to prevent freeze damage. This can be done by following the manufacturer instructions.
A safe and reliable gas heater installation will provide many years of pool owner satisfaction while increasing the usage and enjoyment of the swimming pool and hot tub.
Bruce Aubrey, product manager with Hayward Industries Inc. He has been in the swimming pool industry for more than 10 years in a variety of roles including marketing, product engineering and design. He can be reached via e-mail at baubrey@haywardnet.com.
