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Pool Heating

Pool heating provides more enjoyment and comfort to swimmers. But since pool heating can add up to high heating bills and consumes a lot of energy, pool owners should use energy-saving pool heating systems such as solar pool heaters.

654 Questions

Is the thermocoupler bad if a Teledyne Laars series 1 EPG 250 pool heater pilot light ignites and burns high but does not light the burners?

It could be it. The pilot generator may be weak. The Valve could be defective. The High limit or other safties could also be defective. Could be corrosion on the connection. could be a water flow broblem. could be a weak flame

Why would a Teledyne Laars heater thermostat allow you to light pilot light but not allow you to turn it on?

Have you rotated the gas valve knob to "run".

Have you turned up the thermostat?

Is the pump running? No pump water flow - no heat -- no filtration.

Is the filter clean? When was the last time you cleaned the filter?

Ken

Can a gunite pool-spa have a heater added and if so what is involved with the installation?

You need to determine the:

gas heater size for the specific pool/spa (with spa use no less than 400,000 BTU). ( how fast do you want the spa to heat to temp?)

length of the gas run from the gas meter to the heater pad.

size of the gas meter

size of the gas pipe

at a minimum.

Ken

Is it best to direct the water return jet into the pool to the side or straight down?

Best to point flow sideways rather than downwards. Sideways direction should be such so as to maximize water flow towards the pool skimmer (consider wind direction also).

I would suggest diagonally downward and to the side. If you have more than one return, point them in the same sideways direction. Why? 1) Sideways in order to circulate water toward the skimmer. 2) downward to force the water that was just taken through the skimmer (surface water) down into the deeper cooler regions of the pool where free chlorine is more available and disinfection of the surface water more effective.

I have the best of both worlds with this great product. See web site

http://www.thecirculator.com/fnb.php

Can you run the pool filter at night with chlorine tabs in the capture well and still leave the pool cover on?

Yes you will use less chemical and loose less heat

To finish the statement above: . . . . . and lose less heat . . along with possibly loosing the copper heat exchanger inside the heater. The tabs in the "capture well" or skimmer: Tabs are highly acidic. While the filter/pump is running at night or daytime you get a certain amount of acidic water thru the equipment and system - still it is detremental (harmful) to the system. But, when the system shuts off for those few hours the tabs continue to dissolve. That accumulated dissolved tab (the dissolved solution has by now multilpied in strength) will then rush thru the heater stripping layers of the copper finned tubing with it and depositing the metal on the plaster, vinyl, anything it touches. Soon and very soon, you will have to call the service tech to find out why your heater is leaking or not working. A good place for the tabs is in a floater or better still in an automatic feeder located near the pool equipment - in stalled after the heater. Best yet switch to a salt generating system.

What do you put in the pool to eliminate the rust when you fill a 15' x 42 inch pool with city hard water?

AnswerIt's very tough to remove rust stains if they are already established. It sounds like you have an aboveground pool, possibly purchased at Canadian Tire. You can use a sequestering agent (such as Aqua Min-Out) to keep the rust-causing minerals in solution (in the water) so that they don't stain the pool. To remove existing stains, you can try dropping some granular PH Minus (PH Down) into the water so that it settles onto the rust spot or spots. Obviously, this will only work on the bottom of the pool and if the water is still. In addition, ensure that you have your water professional tested to determine the Free Chlorine, pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness and Stabilizer levels. Poor water balance can cause problems with the liner, and if the alkalinity is low, any metal parts (in the pump, etc.) will rust. AnswerTry BioGuard's product called Pool Magnet. It is great for removing various metals from the water.

Just a little added detail you can also purchase a filter that screws onto the end of your hose so the water is filtered clean of minerals before it even reaches your pool water.

Is it a California law that a pool has to be pre-plumbed for solar heat and if so would it automatically be included in the price?

To the best of my knowledge (and several other good sources), there is NO law in California that a pool must be pre-plumbed for solar heating. However, local building codes and common building practices may vary. I would simply call your local city or county building department and check the building codes for your local area. Pre-plumbing for solar heating may or may not be included in the price. Check with your contractor or installer to find out if it is included. Here is another good link to review: http://www.sdenergy.org/ContentPage.asp?ContentID=134&SectionID=120&SectionTarget=44 That being said, it may be a VERY good idea to pre-plumb your pool for solar heating. Solar heat has many great advantages and continues to gain popularity for pool heating, especially in sunny California. Hope this helps ... Yes - the system much be plumbed such that there is sufficient space/clearance to add the valves and pipes to roof for a future solar install. No added cost - law is just to make sure the physical layout of the original pipes allows for the addition of solar in the future.

Is there a Florida law that states condo pools cannot be heated above 79 degrees?

I'm licensed in pool service in the State of Florida. There is no state law in regards to your question. A condo pool is classified in Florida and many other states as a Class C: Semi Public Pool. The only temperature regulation is that spa or hot tub water cannot exceed 104 degrees. Perhaps your condo's by-laws have a rule that the pool water cannot be heated above 79 degrees. Recent research has indicated that the optimal pool water temp for rigorous swimming or excercise is 78 degrees.

What would cause the sides of your fiberglass pool to bubble up and how can you get rid of it?

Hi- There can be several reasons for blistering in fiberglass pools. If the pool is new- the chances are that it is a manufacturing defect so you should contact the manufacturer. If the pool is older- it is probably osmotic blistering which is common in fiberglass boats. For more information on this look up "osmotic blisters" on Google. The cure is usually to let it thoroughly dry out, fix the blisters, and paint with a good epoxy that will keep moisture out. Hope this is of help to you. The previous response sounde like the blisters are soft like bubbles. The blisters on my pool are hard - can't be pushed down with hand pressure.

What could be wrong if your gas pool heater works during the day but does not work at night when it is cold and damp?

your heater is more than likely to be working at night, but simply retain the temperature rather than increasing it. a solar cover will assist this.

Are you running the pool pump at night too. Pump not working nothing works.

What should you do if your pool cover has sunk into the pool around the pool pillow?

You must first DRAIN the water off the pool cover!! Get a hose or plastic tube (available from most pet stores (fish department) and syphon off the water. This will take th weight of the water off the cover so you can lift it off of the pool.

Do solar cover reels really make it easier to remove the cover and is it worth the money?

My pool is 44 x 20. If I didn't have a reel, there would be no way that I could pull the solar cover off by myself. I think it depends on how big your pool is but I couldn't use my solar cover without one. I find my reel a pain in the butt! The cover never unravels evenly on both sides (round pool with reel in center).

A: then your reel and cover are not installed correctly..... or is a very cheap model.

our cover reel works great on a 16 X 24 above ground. In the winter I unbolt from the deck and hang it in the garage.

Is the pilot light bad when it produces 200mv at the maximum temperature setting but won't start the burners on a Teledyne pool heater?

I was told by Teledyne Laars that your pilot generator needs to produce at least 500mv to open the gas valve. Mine makes 350mv and will not open the valve.

Hmm, I think that should be nearer to 600 mv - 700 mv.

Why would you have sediment at the bottom of your pool even after you run your DE filter and use Bacqaucil?

you might want to check into how much lime and calcium is in your water, also there are airborne particles that will settle onto the water.

Do all heat pump systems use Freon-22 or is there an environmentally friendly alternative?

There is a company called Enviro-safe that makes a replacement called es-22a. I cannot vouch for it's effectiveness since I haven't tried it. It is also marketed by different companies and can be found on Ebay. It is advertised as compatible with R-22 and R-22 systems, including oils, compressors, etc.

What should Swimming pool water temperature be for babies?

Hot tubs aren't even that great for adults on a regular basis. Some people keep them far too hot, and it truly isn't good for anyone. I wouldn't let a child into the hot tub until they are around 12 or more. Putting a child in as a toddler is asking for a disaster.

Marcy

How long will 30000 btu heater run on a 23 gallon tank?

The MH80CV, part of the Mr. Heater Contractor Series, is a 30,000-80,000 BTU Propane Convection heater. The MH80CV provides reliable heat for areas up to 1900 sq. feet. It will operate for up to 14 hours on a 20-lb propane tank. The MH80CV features a standing pilot, piezo push-button ignition, and 'insta-lock' chamber for easy assembly. The MH80CV comes ready to use with the included hose and regulator. It operates on a 20-lb or larger propane tank (not included).

There are a couple of other factors that may effect the time a 20 pound cylinder will last on a heater. Propane is stored in liquid form in the tank and must evaporate to be used in most heaters. The colder the temperature the propane tank is stored at the lower the pressure is in the tank. As the liquid propane evaporates it cools down the liquid propane still in the tank. As a result at minus -20 you might have a half full twenty pound tank and not have enough pressure to run the heater.

What should you do if the pilot won't stay lit on a Teledyne Laars pool heater but will stay on as long as the button on the control unit is pushed down but the flame goes out when released?

This is probably due to a faulty thermocouple. The thermocouple generates a small voltage when hot that is used as a security device that keeps the gas flowing to the pilot. These are relatively inexpensive (UK about �18).

You can check if this is the problem by measuring the voltage on the wires coming back from the pilot. When you have the red switch depressed, check the voltage (should be about 30mV). If there's no voltage, then change the thermocouple.

The thermocouple will generate up to 50mV in a pilot flame. If it falls below 20mV it should kill the fuel source. It may take a few minutes to generate enough voltage in order to keep the pilot lit, so you may have to depress the button for a minute or more. This would be typical if your unit has been off for an extended period of time.

Does hayward heat pro work?

We've had many people buy a Hayward Heat Pro heat pump for their pool. Whether or not it is the best for your pool depends on your pool and where you live. Here's a link to the Hayward Heat Pro:

http://shop.bluehaven.com/product/hayward-heat-pro/hayward-pool-heaters

What is wrong if your pool heater starts with a resounding boom as if the gas flow starts well before ignition occurs?

on my old heater I found that it was installed in a metal shed. When the door was closed I got a boom because there wasn't enought combustion air. I istall screened vents by the front of the heater and now no more problems.

Those screened vents must be of a certain size see the heater mfgr's absolute rule on this - so many sq. in. per btu of heater size and installed one at a high elevation in the room, one at a low elevation and at opposite sides of the room. Have a qualified tech inspect and correct the ignition problem.

k