Pool Heater not heating water

[mikeyo87]

I have an Aquacomfort ST-4 75000 btu electric heater. This season after starting it up I don’t feel any heat coming from the water out line or the return jet. It’s running and the copper pipes within are getting hot but I don’t feel any heat and have in the past

My filter psi is 18 and I backwashed but even feeling the water right from the water out pipe of my heater feels Normal and not heated.

Any ideas or advice before calling it in for service ?

 

[PoolGate]

What is your water temp? With a heat pump it'll be hard to tell a difference in the water stream with just your hand. Have you tried putting a thermometer right in the output stream?

 

[mikeyo87]

What is your water temp? With a heat pump it'll be hard to tell a difference in the water stream with just your hand. Have you tried putting a thermometer right in the output stream?

Temp is 80 but doesn’t rise with the heater mostly from full sun. I’m gunna check with a thermometer and compare

 

[mikeyo87]

Temp no different with thermometer

 

[mikeyo87]

I do hear a slight whistling noise when the heater is on. Heater was installed only 3 years old

 

[PoolGate]

Are you sure the heater core is getting hot? It sounds like the compressor is not working with no heat coming out.

 

[ajw22]

You need to get an HVAC guy to check the refrigerant pressures.

If you have a clamp on ammeter you can see if the compressor is engaging.

 

[mikeyo87]

One of the copper pipes leading to the water out is hot to the touch. Another pipe is cool. However there is one pipe that feels neither hot nor cold and that’s the pipe going into the water in pipe

 

[ajw22]

If you have a hot pipe then heat is being generated.

If your refrigerant is low then the heat may not be at the rated output.

 

[mikeyo87]

Turned out to be low on refrigerant from a small leak at the cap. Not enough to trip the sensor but enough to make issues. Recharged and working again. Thanks again guys