Propane Pool Heater Troubleshooting: When To Call a Pro

Propane pool heaters are used by many Long Island and Hamptons residents to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature. However, many people are unaware of how to check and maintain their heaters, causing them to malfunction.

When you have a broken pool heater and you don’t get it looked at, you’ll be forced to buy a new one. This can be avoided by calling a professional, so it’s best to know how to identify several problems. Read on to learn how to troubleshoot an issue with your propane pool heater and when to call a pro.

No Ignition

One of the main things that causes people to call a pro is when their heater won’t ignite. When the propane pool heater not working is causing distress, you can do a few things to troubleshoot it before calling someone.

• Check that the heater is turned on and that you’ve set the right temperature. If you set a lower temperature, it may not ignite because the room is already at that temperature. However, if you raise the temperature and it still doesn’t ignite, you may have to check the filter.
• Check your propane levels—it may be time to schedule a refill.
• You should also check the pilot and gas supply valve. If the pilot is lit and valves are open, there may be underlying problems that a professional will have to look at.

Inconsistent Water Flow

Another one of the most common propane pool heater problems is inconsistent water flow. Consistent water flow is necessary to have a functioning pool heater and you can use pressure sensors to check this. You can also add a backwash filter that will help the water to stay clean and have better water flow. Many modern sensors come with LCD screens that’ll show when it has a problem.

• If you see something like “Low Water Flow” on your heater’s screen, you’ll have to check the filter and pump basket.
• When the PSI on your filter’s pressure gauge is too high, the filter must be cleaned so that air can get through. As the PSI gets higher, water flow will become more inconsistent.
• You could also have a problem with the motor, which happens when you’re trying to run too many features at once. Consider investing in a larger motor if you plan on heating a larger pool so that you can have increased water flow when needed.

On and Off Cycles

In any gas pool heater troubleshooting, you’ll read about a heater cycling on and off. Whenever this happens, it’s a clear sign that the heater isn’t getting enough power. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the pool heater is having problems, but the power supply could be experiencing issues.

• Check the electrical connection that the pool heater is using. You can do this by connecting another device and monitoring how it operates. If the device is working properly, the power supply may be the issue.
• You can also inspect things like the pressure sensor and thermal regulator. When certain parts of the pool heater have corrosion or become defective, the rest of the system can stop working.
• Something as simple as cleaning the filter can also prevent a heater from cycling on and off. When a pool heater has too much or little pressure, it’ll turn off to prevent further damage from occurring.

It’s best to hire professional propane tank services to inspect your pool heater because a pro can go through a variety of troubleshooting steps to find the problem. When they figure it out, they’ll tell you how the problem can be resolved.

Heater Not Heating

Even if your propane pool heater is igniting, there’s a chance that it won’t heat to the desired temperature or generate any heat. These are common issues and usually happen when the temperature sensor malfunctions or the heater isn’t large enough. 

• If you have a larger pool, you’ll need a large pool heater to ensure that heat is distributed throughout it. Many professionals recommend getting a larger heater than what your pool needs so that you can heat it as quickly as possible.
• When a propane pool heater is not working, increase the thermostat’s temperature so you can see if it’s generating heat. You can then check the pool’s temperature after a while and determine whether it needs to get looked at by a pro.

Pool Heater Noise

Propane pool heaters will normally make only a small amount of noise when they’re operating. However, hearing things like grinding and bangs aren’t normal and should be inspected immediately by a professional.

• When your heater starts making unusual noises, there may be debris blocking the filter and other parts within the heater.
• If you find and remove debris in the filter, the noise should stop.

If there is no debris and the noise continues, you could have a faulty pressure switch that needs to be replaced—this will result in the pump turning off while the heater is running. In any case, a grinding or banging noise with no obvious cause indicates that a professional should be called.

Get Your Propane Pool Heater Looked at by a Pro

For some simple issues, you may be able to diagnose and fix your propane pool heater.  However, calling a pro will prevent you from running into long-term problems that’ll require a lot of time and money.

Serving the Long Island area including Suffolk County, Northern Nassau County, and the Hamptons, the professionals at Propane Depot can find out what the issue is and resolve it so that your heater can start operating normally again.

For help with your propane pool heater, contact Propane Depot today.

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