Raypak C-R265-EN Question

[apwelb]

Hi.

I have finally won pool wars. Chlorine has held overnight and CC is 0.

Time to turn on the heater, right? Not so fast. We live in MN, the home be bought was a short sale. The pump and filter were new but the heater is old.

When I popped the top the heat exchanger tubes were covered with debris and the baffles are rusted to the point they need to be replaced. I vacuumed everything out, including 2 mouse nests, and then moved to the burners.

The burners are all in good shape (SST) but the burner spacer is trashed. There was significant rusted material in the bottom of the unit.

So, right now I am at about $100 in replacement parts (baffle kit and spacer) which I am OK with. I pressurized the unit and it is not leaking.

Can anybody else give me some ideas, given the corrosion problem I clearly had, of what else to check before I commit to these parts? I would like this thing to get me through this season, will likely replace in Spring. Clearing up my swamp was an expensive endeavor (I would term it brutal until I found this site), kids are in camp and jetting all over the country ($$$) so I would love to hold this expense off until early Spring.

I guess what I am asking for is some insight from guys who have been down this path, pitfalls, etc. The voice of experience, ya know?

I have some HVAC background, but don't know specifically what I should be concerned with on a heater like this. BTW, it is a RP2100 with electronic ignition.

 

[Melt In The Sun]

Sorry; can't help.

 

[JasonLion]

It is always difficult to tell with a heater. Some rust and debris in there is normal. What really matters is how the metal inside the heat exchanger is holding up, which is almost impossible to examine.

 

[waste]

Welcome to TFP!!

You should get a prize for pressure testing the heat exchanger

As long as it held, you should be fine to use the heater this season.

*Just because it held, doesn't mean that the tubes are 100%, they may be weakened by chemical abuse and fail at any time - keep an eye out for water puddling under the heater, but I think you'll be fine for this season :-D

 

[apwelb]

Thanks, guys. I stopped checking this thread because I figured I hit the ball too far into the outfield so I appreciate the replies.

I ordered the burner spacer and am going to have to do a little fabrication to get it in there right because I am not spending >$200 on a complete burner tray. I bought angle iron that matched the specs of the baffles and will cut and install them when the spacer shows up.

It's finally warming up here in MN, and it is dry enough I have had the cover on it the last 2 days so I am hoping this brought the temp a little, as well. The only one complaining about the temp is my wife.........but you know how that goes.