Pool heater bypass - is it necessary ??

[cjmrdm]

Hello! I have a couple issues actually. I am hoping one solves the other. First, I have a leaking ball valve going to my heater. I also have a leak at the elbow in one of the two pipes coming out of my heater. Secondly, my Raypak heater has an error code "clean filter". All filters are clean.

Will fixing these leaks in turn fix the heater?
Another Heater issue that it has always had is the fact it says on the heater that the water temp. is 104 but it is no where near this.
One tech suggested just removing the temp. sensor since it doe not go through my automation any longer anyway.

The bypass ball valve to the heater is leaking. I was originally going to replace it with a three way Jandy valve. However, another pool guy I spoke to the other day said that he plans to just remove it all together since I have a VS pump. He said the bypass is not necessary if I have a VS pump. Is this true?

FYI ... I have a VS pump on the pool but the spa pump is a single speed.

Thank you in advance!!

 

[lshonda310]

When using my heater I lose 10 gpm running the water through it, so I need to bump up my VS pump rpm more to compensate for it, so if I don't need my heater I will always bypass it so I can slow my pump back down.

 

[Catanzaro]

When using my heater I lose 10 gpm running the water through it, so I need to bump up my VS pump rpm more to compensate for it, so if I don't need my heater I will always bypass it so I can slow my pump back down.

Ishonda:

How do you know that it is 10 gpm? I am curious about this one as I had shut off valves installed and so far never bypassed the heater. Assuming that my pressure will change, going lower, not higher. Do you have something built in to the plumbing showing the flow? Thanks!

 

[lshonda310]

Ishonda:

How do you know that it is 10 gpm? I am curious about this one as I had shut off valves installed and so far never bypassed the heater. Assuming that my pressure will change, going lower, not higher. Do you have something built in to the plumbing showing the flow? Thanks!

I recently redid all of my plumbing and put a flow meter in, knowing I was getting a VS pump I wanted to know what my actual water flow was. Here is the one I bought on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-White-Flowmeter-Pipe-Horizontal-Installation/dp/B00170X2LQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1530101720&sr=8-4&keywords=pool+flow+meter&dpID=41QUUUSxVeL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I went to 2" piping, which helps my flow, but the heater I have has alot smaller internal piping which restricts my flow there

 

[Catanzaro]

Can you tell me how much your pressure changed, and if up or down with and without? This will give me an idea of variables.

Also, my heat pump coils are large and I also have 2" plumbing, which is huge for flow. The only issue is that I have a heat pump, and the temperature must be maintained, therefore not shutting off at all. My flow is excellent, and I doubt bypassing my heater should increase this much, but you never know.

 

[lshonda310]

your heat pump is twice the size as mine, so yours might have larger internal plumbing.
I didn't pay real close attention to pressure

You have me thinking now, I need to start keeping a log of how much gpm and psi I have at each pump speed and heater bypassed or not. That way I will know if my filter needs backwashed or not.

EDIT: see post below for updated readings

 

[gsrel]

I recently redid all of my plumbing and put a flow meter in, knowing I was getting a VS pump I wanted to know what my actual water flow was. Here is the one I bought on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-White-F...pID=41QUUUSxVeL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I went to 2" piping, which helps my flow, but the heater I have has alot smaller internal piping which restricts my flow there

I have the same flow meter (2"), I get around 62gpm at my pumps highest speed. Unfortunately the min amount of GPM reading on the 2" flow meter is 20gpm so its hard to determine what a slower speed is giving you (under 20gpm)

Model: F-30200 Size: 2” SCH 40: 20 – 120 GPM SCH 80: 18 – 100 GPM

 

[lshonda310]

I have the same flow meter (2"), I get around 62gpm at my pumps highest speed. Unfortunately the min amount of GPM reading on the 2" flow meter is 20gpm so its hard to determine what a slower speed is giving you (under 20gpm)

Model: F-30200 Size: 2” SCH 40: 20 – 120 GPM SCH 80: 18 – 100 GPM

because the 2" only started at 20 is why I bought the 1 1/2" flow meter, and put a 1 1/2" pipe after the sand filter to be able to utilize the meter.

 

[lshonda310]

If anyone is interested I took psi and flowmeter readings at different rpm's and with heater bypassed and not
all was done with a fresh backwashed sand filter, PSI reading at filter

Heater not bypassed
RPM PSI GPM
1500 3.5 16
2000 6 21
2500 9 26
3450 16 38

Heater bypassed
1200 2 15
1500 3 18
2000 5 26
2500 7 35
3450 13 50


Heater and SWCG bypassed
1500 2 21
2000 4 29
2500 6 37
3450 12 53

here are pics of my pump, filter, and SWCG. Most all PVC is 2"
I still need to run the wiring in conduit and install a pipe for the vacuum hose

 

[ajw22]

You dont have your location in your profile.

My heater bypass is used every year at spring pool opening. The heater is bypassed until the PH is stable and in normal range.

The heater core is the most sensitive part of your plumbing to corrosion. It is best to bypass the heater if you are having water quality and PH issues.

Here is my Jandy heater bypass. Heater in and out is on the left.