The dog days of summer have been over for a while, but we’ve still been able to enjoy our pools because of Florida’s ever-warm climate.

However, winter is coming. So, it’s about time to start using your pool heater again if you want to keep swimming through the cold season.

As you begin using your pool heater, you may notice issues with your pool or spa not heating up properly. Water flow issues are the most common problems we see on both heat pump and gas pool heaters, making up about ⅓ of our calls. 

In this article, we are going to explain how your pool heater works and why water flow issues might be to blame for your cold pool. You may even be able to solve some of these issues on your own without spending the money to call a contractor to your home.

HOW POOL HEATERS WORK

We see two types of pool heaters: heat pumps and gas pool heaters. Heat pumps cycle refrigerant by evaporating, compressing, and condensing it to heat your pool or spa; these heaters work very similarly to the heat pump inside your home. Gas pool heaters supply gas to a flame, which heats the water; this type of pool heater works more like a gas furnace. In both cases, the pool heater uses a heat exchanger to pass heat off into the water.

Heaters also have a water pressure switch that opens on low pressure. A few different situations can cause low water pressure. For example, you may have low water pressures when the pump turns off. You can also have low pressure if something restricts the water flow. However, just because the water has “pressure,” that doesn’t necessarily mean there is an adequate flow to remove heat from the exchanger.

Heaters have high-limit switches for temperature, pressure, and refrigerant (if a heat pump). These high-limit switches will open and shut off the heater in a low-flow scenario.

In a heat pump, when the flow is low, the system will run high head pressure. In a gas heater, the exchanger can begin to cavitate and make a loud banging noise.

THE POOL PUMP CIRCUIT

Your pool and spa will cycle water through a circuit for filtration and heating.

Your pool has drains at the bottom of it and skimmers at the surface. A pump pulls in water from the pool and spa drains and skimmers. The pump uses multiple valves right before the pump to isolate different sections of the intake if needed. In essence, we can shut off the pool, spa, or skimmer individually from the pump’s intake.

Water enters the pump at a clear sight glass, and it meets a large screen trap that can catch any chunks of debris entering the pump. This screen trap gets dirty from time to time, so you may need a pool specialist to clean it.

Water then exits the pump into the pool’s filter. The filter is a large cartridge that has the actual filtering material inside. As with the screen trap, the filter can clog up and block water flow. A pool specialist or technician can clean the filter and may even leave it out while they test the pool.

After the filter, water goes into the pool heater. Usually, there is a water bypass valve right at the heater’s intake that allows water flow to go around the heater instead of through it. We don’t need heat during the summers (and most other parts of the year in Florida), so water bypasses the heater most of the time. When the heater is actually heating the water, the water passes through the heater’s heat exchanger and out.

Water then flows through a backflow safety valve before entering the high chemical chlorinator. This backflow safety valve is most commonly a one-way spring-loaded valve that closes when water flow stops. It protects the heater from chemicals flowing back into the exchanger when the pump is off.

Then, multiple valves direct water flow to the pool or spa jets or the waterfall/fountain fixture.

SPA MODE

Pools with a spa can have two automatic actuators installed: one at the pump’s pool/spa intake valves and one at the pool/spa jet return valves.

When in spa mode, the valve at intake closes off the section that pulls water out of pool drains and skimmers, only allowing water to be pulled from the spa drain.

And the second auto-actuator closes off the jet supply to the pool. So, it only feeds the spa jets. That is how the spa can be isolated and heated separately from the pool.

COMMON WATER FLOW ISSUES

All water flow issues deal with some sort of interruption to the pool pump circuit. Whether those interruptions occur at the filter, bypass valve, or skimmers, you will notice that your pool heater isn’t operating as it should.

DIRTY POOL FILTER

A dirty pool filter wins for the most popular water flow issue on a heater service call. Luckily, it’s also the easiest one to diagnose and fix.

You can overcome this issue by having a pool heater service tech or pool specialist remove the filter and run the pump again without a filter in. That is a temporary fix; most of the time, we will recommend that you contact your pool specialist to replace the filter.

If the issue is, in fact, a clogged filter, you should have no water flow problems once after replacing or cleaning the filter.

OPEN HEATER BYPASS VALVE

Another common water flow issue is an open heater bypass valve. A bypass valve is put in place near the intake to stop water from flowing through the heater when it’s not in use. 

When in bypass, the heater’s water flow switch (i.e., the pressure switch) should open, and the heater will not run. An open bypass is okay for the summer months because we don’t use the pool heater then. However, we want that bypass to be closed in the winter months so that the heater can work. If your pool heater’s issue is an open bypass, the simple fix is to close the bypass. 

The bypass valve is shown as closed in the picture below.

There is the occasional odd

AIR IN THE WATER CIRCUIT

You may notice lots of bubbles coming from the jets. If that’s the case, you likely have air in the water circuit, which is another common flow issue.

This problem usually happens when the water level is low. When the pool level is low, the pump will begin pulling air in through the skimmer, which disrupts and reduces water flow.

In that case, we would turn the valve from skimmers off. That will pull water just from drains at the bottom of the pool/spa, not the skimmers. However, that is just a short-term fix; in most cases, we would recommend calling your pool specialist to fill your pool before opening the skimmers again.

Most water pressure and flow problems are easy to diagnose once there’s a clear understanding of the pool circuit. We train our residential technicians to diagnose pool heater issues and offer options for fixing those issues. To learn more about what Kalos Services can do for your pool heater, visit www.kalosflorida.com/service/pool-heating-service/.

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It’s sometimes tough to distinguish between pool heaters because many of the marketing messages focus on benefits, not on what actually makes one pool heater different from another.

We’ve found that a key feature that separates a good quality heat pump pool heater from a poor unit is the type of heat exchanger used by the manufacturer.

What is a heat exchanger in a pool heat pump?

The heat exchanger actually does the bulk of the temperature change in a heat pump pool heater. Essentially, water is run across a hot coil, the water picks up heat as it runs across this hot surface, and then it’s pumped back into the pool. We like to use two analogies:

1. Firstly, it’s like taking a hot pan directly off of the oven and running water over it at the sink. The water hitting the pan usually makes a sound you can hear, and the water gets so hot that steam comes off of the pan. It’s hot to touch that water for a few seconds because the heat from the pan transfers to the water. That is what happens when the water runs across the hot surface.
2. Secondly, it’s like sitting in a bathtub and turning on the hot water again after you’ve already been in the tub for a while. Down by your feet, you can feel that hot water mixing in with the colder water, but the whole tub has not yet heated up. You’ll need to keep that hot water flowing into the tub for it all to feel comfortable again. That is what it’s like for the heat pump Pool Heating Services to heat your pool.

Most of a heat pump pool heater’s efficiency comes from how effectively it can transfer this heat from the heat exchanger into the pool. That’s why it’s called a heat “exchanger.” It is exchanging heat from one surface (the coil) to another (the water).

Tube-In-Tube

Traditionally, heat pump pool heaters have had what’s called a “tube-in-tube” heat exchanger. The water flows through a tubed pipe, and on the inside of that pipe is a heat exchanger coil (usually made of an alloy called cupronickel). The water flows between this outer-tube pipe and the inner-tube heat exchanger coil and picks up heat as it flows through it. This device was effective at heating the water, but one drawback to this style is the need to really push that water through that tube (it won’t just passively “flow” through that tube).

ThermoLink

AquaCal and Tropical heat pump pool heaters have been beautifully engineered with a “ThermoLink” heat exchanger. The water flows into the top of the heat exchanger assembly from the top. Then, it uses gravity to flow down to the exit valve at the bottom of the assembly. The water is heated much more passively as it flows like a waterfall through the assembly. Plus, the coil is made from titanium instead of the traditional cupronickel. The cupronickel alloy is much more susceptible to weakening from sanitizers and chemicals found in pool/spa water. Titanium is much longer-lasting than cupronickel because it is virtually impervious to water-chemistry damage (which is why AquaCal and TropiCal units have a lifetime heat exchanger warranty).

A variable-speed pool heat pump needs ThermoLink

In the past, when single-speed pool pumps were the norm, tube-in-tube heat exchangers were sufficient because the pump would always run at the same speed (pressure). In modern pool setups, we are seeing that two-speed or variable speed pool pumps are the new normal (new regulations will soon make them required by code). These pool pumps aren’t always running at the same “speed” (more accurately, they vary the water pressure).

Having a pool heater with a regular tube-in-tube heat exchanger renders the benefits of a variable-speed pool pump useless. That is because the pool pump must keep the water pressure at a high level in order to push the water through that tube-in-tube assembly. The patented ThermoLink heat exchanger in the AquaCal heat pumps allows the pool pump to ramp itself down to lower pressures, as low as 1560 RPMs. The tube-in-tube assembly has to run at over 2350 RPMs, a 33% decrease in efficiency. The ThermoLink heat exchanger will save customers approximately $25-94 monthly compared to tube-in-tube heat exchangers.

If you’re interested in a no-pressure, professional estimate, fill out our request form below!

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Plain and simple, many pool heater manufacturers are smaller and not as stable as most Americans have come to expect. There is a lot of turnover/buyouts, Every few years, there appears to be a new low-cost option that customers can choose, but they choose it at their own expense. Additionally, many pool heater manufacturers have very little support staff or quality distribution for their replacement and warranty parts. It’s this lack of support that makes us hesitant to suggest just any sort of pool heater for your home or business.

That being said, we are thoroughly impressed with three manufacturers: AquaCal (who also makes TropiCal units), Hayward, and Oasis.

We think AquaCal heat pump pool heaters are the industry leader when it comes to quality, warranty, and customer support.

AquaCal pool heaters’ quality

AquaCal has, in our opinion, the best heat pump pool heater on the market. The HeatWave SuperQuiet (the flagship product) from AquaCal is proven to be the quietest unit in the pool heater industry. While many other units even have some form of “quiet” in their name or marketing, the AquaCal is proven to be the best in terms of decibel rating. These units are virtually silent; you won’t hear them running if you’re any more than 10 feet away from them.

They are also the most efficient heat pump pool heaters. They accomplish that efficiency through their patented Thermo-Link Technology. Click here to learn more about the difference this heat exchanger makes for efficiency. This makes a huge difference in the units‘ efficiency when paired with a variable speed pool pump.

AquaCal’s HeatWave SuperQuiet also has a great feature for the Florida sun, a recessed control board. Pictured below (on the Tropical unit), this allows us to protect the control board from getting faded/damaged by the hot Florida sun. It’s a great and innovative feature.

AquaCal pool heaters’ warranty

One of our favorite features from AquaCal is the standard 2-year Labor Warranty. Unlike most pool heating companies, the AquaCal units come with a labor warranty that is completely executed by the manufacturer themselves (if you’re located in Florida, like us). With other pool heater manufacturers, if the unit ever has an issue, a technician from the local contractor who installed the unit would re-visit the property to diagnose the issue. AquaCal instead dispatches a technician who is employed by them, the manufacturer, to diagnose the issue and let you know what is wrong. Issues are incredibly rare, for one thing (we just have not had many issues at all with these units). However, the warranty terms show the length to which AquaCal will go to back up their product.

They also have a seven-year parts, seven-year compressor, and lifetime heat exchanger tube warranty.

AquaCal’s warranty is the best warranty for a pool heater that we have found to date.

Customer Support

A great part about living in Florida is the fact that we are the pool heater manufacturer capital of the country (and really the world). AquaCal’s factory and headquarters are based out of St. Petersburg, FL. Additionally, they have the same parent company as their distributor HornerXpress (both are part of Team Horner). In simpler terms, the company and all of its replacement parts are streamlined to work together very efficiently and effectively.

We’ve had no problems getting AquaCal replacement and warranty parts in a timely manner. So, you won’t be waiting for weeks for a repair part to come in when it’s not stocked locally. That is something we experience quite often when repairing many other heat pump pool heaters that aren’t as well supported.

In summary, we love the AquaCal Pool Heaters. Fill out this quick form below if you’re interested in getting a no-pressure estimate from us to install one!

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In the State of Florida and around the country, you hear stories all the time about unsuspecting homeowners being the victims of theft or scams by an unlicensed contractor who works or says he is going to do work on their homes.

Before you let a contractor into your home or business, you must know for sure if that person is a licensed professional or not. Hiring a licensed contractor offers many additional protections to the property owner, especially regarding residential property. First of all, a contractor cannot obtain a license without a minimum amount of experience, and they must pass a business management test. The applicant also may be subjected to a criminal history background check and must not have any unresolved contracting complaints outstanding.

Five Minutes Can Save You One Huge Headache

So, here’s our five-minute process that could potentially protect you from a huge financial mistake.

*We will be using The State of Florida as our example. If you live in another state, the laws will be similar, but check your government’s regulations and laws for differences.

For the fastest results, just follow this link to arrive at the search page.

This is part of the MyFlorida.com Department of Business and Professional Regulation website. You can also access the license verification database from the main page. Navigate to http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/. You will see two yellow buttons beneath the search bar, and the one on the right says “Verify a License.” Select that button.

If you are checking a particular company or a certain individual, click on Search by Name, but there are other options available as Next, click the Search button at the right.

Now, you can enter your information to search for a particular person or company. Usually, you will find who you are looking for with their name and correct city.

You’ll see a list of licenses on the screen, and in our particular case, see the Air Conditioning, Electrical and General Contractors license we hold. (You can also click into the entry to further investigate the company – to ensure that everything is up to date with their Florida license and that you are looking at the right company.)

Contractor Check Complete

There you go! Though this process won’t completely protect you from incompetence, it will at least protect you from scammers. This process can be a great resource when you’re doing business with anyone you have not properly vetted or without solid referrals. Check out websites like Angi or the Better Business Bureau for reviews on how that company does business. You can also see if their customers are pleased with them!

Do you have questions? We can help! Fill out the form below:

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At Kalos Services, we have worked with both short-term and long-term rental managers for over 8 years. We know how hard you work and how difficult your job can be. Over the years of working on air conditioning systems, pool heaters, and electrical applications, we have come up with some ideas and guidelines that we hope will help you out.

Today, we will discuss the different types of pool heaters. We will also share some tips to make managing your equipment a bit easier.

A pool is becoming a staple of what guests desire in a property they are considering for a short-term vacation rental home. We’ve found that pool heaters can be a great added feature when your guest is closing a booking on a home. Conversely, when there is an issue with the pool heating, you will get a lot of guest complaints. Hopefully, the information below will help you avoid that, keep your customers happy, and get great reviews and repeat business from them!

Types of Pool Heaters

There are typically two types of pool heaters a short-term property manager will want to look into: gas pool heaters and pool heat pumps.

Gas pool heaters make for very nice warm water, which means you will get fewer cold pool complaints. Unfortunately, gas pool heaters are more expensive to operate, and they generally begin to have significant corrosion after only 5 years or so. Gas pool heaters do not cost as much to replace, but they also do not come with very long warranties.

Pool heat pumps are much more cost-effective to run but do not get the water hot as quickly. Pool heat pumps also cost much more to install, but they usually have warranties of 5 years or more. Generally speaking, pool heat pumps will last 8-12 years before they experience a major failure.

It is unlikely that most pool heat pumps (electric) will maintain the pools at 85+ degrees during days where the low temperatures drop to near 40 or below. That inconvenience can be even worse on days where the high temperature does not go above 60 degrees.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Heater

1. Turn your pool heater on several days in advance to make sure the pool is up to temperature before the cold snap. If you wait until it is cold outside to turn on a heater, it may never catch up until the cold period ends; this is due to the way the heaters are sized, and some heaters will do better than others.

2. Increase the pump run time before the cold weather. We recommend setting the run time from 8 AM to 8 PM.

3. Have the guests cover the pool at night. If you can get them to cover the pool, it will GREATLY assist in the pool temperature and power usage.

4. Do not run a heat pump overnight on a cold night. Many pool heat pumps will ice over and require manual defrost if you do this.

5. Take care of issues ahead of time by scheduling annual maintenance on the pool heater. Catch small issues before they become larger ones, monitor trends, and improve your guest’s experience by being prepared. You can save yourself money, time, and grief by doing this, even if it feels unnecessary at the time.

As with everything, the temperature that a pool can maintain is directly related to the size of the pool and the capacity of the heater. Every location will also be different. Check out our Pool Heating Services page for more information!

We are happy to help you with questions or training at any time. If you give us a call, we will try to connect you with someone who has the answer. We would also be happy to speak at any of your company/organizational meetings or give onsite classes on the subject of your choosing. It is our pleasure to help, and we look forward to helping you succeed.

All the best,

Bryan Orr – Co-Founder Kalos Services Inc.

CFVRMA Associate Member

Do you have questions? We can help! Fill out the form below:

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