The question is: why is my electric pool heater not working? All pool heating systems have their share of issues, and your pool heater is not an exception. You may wonder why my electric pool heater is not working.
For instance, if your pool heater does not heat the swimming pool anymore, it can be attributed to various reasons.
In this post, let us assess the different instances that your pool heater may stop working as usual and see what could have caused that to happen. Then, we will discuss what you can do to solve the issue. Read below!
Instances Of An Electric Pool Heater Not Working
In this section, let us discuss the four different ways you may find out that your electric heater is not working. We will discuss what possibly causes it to happen. Here are the answers to your question: why is my electric pool heater not working?
#1. The heater pilot does not start
This happens when your heater has improper venting, insufficient air supply, or low pressure. When this happens, you have to make sure that you have turned the power to your electric pool heater. You should also the water overflowing from the sprinklers or roof that is flooding your pool heater. Make sure that the tubing of the pilot is not clogged and intact. Also, check the orifice because it may be clogged with small insects and rust.
#2. The desired temperature is not reached
One possibility is that you have set the thermostat too low. You may notice that the pool heater input is lesser than heat loss. This happens when the power supply is insufficient. Some other causes are the too small size of the heater and the too low air temperature outside. For this issue, a solar cover may be necessary so that the heat loss will be slowed down. Each pool heater features a switch that automatically shuts off when it overheats. If this switch is faulty, your heater may shut off and stop working. But your heater may cause heater overheats due to improper exhaust.
#3. The heater keeps cycling off before the correct temperature is reached
If the filter is dirty, the water to the pool heater may not be enough. This can also happen due to external bypass, closed valve, pressure adjustment being switched out, or the water connections being reversed. Another possibility is that the thermostat already needs to be replaced since it is out of adjustment. It won’t work on low-speed flow pumps for variable-speed or low-speed pool heaters.
#4. The heater produces a clicking sound but does not ignite
If your electric heater tries to light, but both the pilot light and burner tray do not ignite, it might be due to various reasons. Check the owner’s manual that comes with your unit. Check the connections and ensure that everything is correct.
Steps To Fix Your Electric Pool Heater
When your electric pool heater is not working, you should do some things to diagnose your unit to identify what is causing the issue. If there is no significant issue with your heater, the steps below should be sufficient to fix it.
Step #1. Checking the water flow
If the water flow is insufficient, the heater will not transfer the heat to the pool from the heater’s refrigerant. The insufficiency of water flow will lengthen the healing time and damage the internal components of your pool heater. To check the water flow, make sure that the valves are open and the filters are clean.
Step #2. Get rid of all the obstructions in the evaporator coil
Air-source pool heaters rely on the outside air for heat to be transferred to the swimming pool. If the air outflow and inflow if not sufficient, the pool heater cannot heat the pool as efficiently as usual. This will slow down the heating of your pool which also means that your energy bill will increase. To avoid that, you need to remove anything that may obstruct the airflow from the sides and top of your pool heater. This may include twigs, pine needles, and leaves.
Step #3. Checking the air temperature
As mentioned earlier, air-source pool heaters transfer the heat from outside air to the pool. In other words, they depend on the temperature of the air to produce heat. Since more heat is available when the temperature is high, an electric pool heater will function more efficiently when the air is warm. On the other hand, if the air is cool, the pool heater would be less efficient. It also means that more time is needed before heating the swimming pool. So if your pool heater seems not to work, consider whether the temperature is high or not.
It’s A Wrap!
All homeowners can come to a point where they ask themselves why is my electric pool heater not working? If you are experiencing that now, then may this post have helped you identify the issues that cause your pool heater to malfunction. The solutions are also provided to you above. Consider following the steps above. But if nothing happens or your electric pool heater does not work still, then professional help might be necessary. You may want to read related articles; know how long does a pool heater lasts and how to turn on a pool heater.