Freeze shows the leak in my heater...

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wedward

wedward

Silver Supporter
Oct 20, 2018
56
McKinney, TX
Pool Size
14000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
I replaced my old heater in 2022 after the big freeze of 2021, and the unit was showing a very slight leak from the front corner from day 1. I took photos and asked the installer to check it out, which he came back with there was no leak from the unit, and it had to be from the other equipment. Well, I made sure to fill the pool up this year and with the last few days of freeze, that small leak is pretty obvious now. Small leak only when the pump is running.
IMG_8743.jpeg

Here's the day after the install:
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Normally it's very hot and dry outside, so when we run the pump it must not leak enough to really show like it does when frozen. Hoping there is no real damage. Of course, it had a 1 year warranty, so I expect to be paying for any fixes at this point. Anyone have any ideas of what to check? I already checked the connections and they were always dry. It seems to be coming from the front corner.
 
You need to open up the heater and dig into it to find the source of the leak.
 
wedward said:
I replaced my old heater in 2022 after the big freeze of 2021, and the unit was showing a very slight leak from the front corner from day 1. I took photos and asked the installer to check it out, which he came back with there was no leak from the unit, and it had to be from the other equipment. Well, I made sure to fill the pool up this year and with the last few days of freeze, that small leak is pretty obvious now. Small leak only when the pump is running.
View attachment 550424

Here's the day after the install:
View attachment 550425

Normally it's very hot and dry outside, so when we run the pump it must not leak enough to really show like it does when frozen. Hoping there is no real damage. Of course, it had a 1 year warranty, so I expect to be paying for any fixes at this point. Anyone have any ideas of what to check? I already checked the connections and they were always dry. It seems to be coming from the front corner.
Click to expand...
You're going to have to remove that front panel and look for the leaking area. The heat exchanger is in a sealed "tub" so the water should not be coming from there but it could be that the manifold is leaking at the mounting plate, possibly loose bolts. A picture facing the side with the plumbing connections would help.
 
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1poolman1 said:
You're going to have to remove that front panel and look for the leaking area. The heat exchanger is in a sealed "tub" so the water should not be coming from there but it could be that the manifold is leaking at the mounting plate, possibly loose bolts. A picture facing the side with the plumbing connections would help.
Click to expand...
Here's the connections side - best I could get with the ice.
IMG_8747.jpeg
 
Unscrew the 4 screws on that gray pannel and look inside. You arent going to be able to tell much just looking at the outside.
 
I popped the front panel and don't see much there - other than the slushy ice at the very bottom. It looks as if it's coming from underneath somewhere. I also checked the copper line/sensor and see no evidence of dripping or leaks there.
Other than lifting this unit up to see the bottom, what else could I check?
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IMG_8757.jpeg
 
wedward said:
I popped the front panel and don't see much there - other than the slushy ice at the very bottom. It looks as if it's coming from underneath somewhere. I also checked the copper line/sensor and see no evidence of dripping or leaks there.
Other than lifting this unit up to see the bottom, what else could I check?
View attachment 550523
View attachment 550524
View attachment 550525
Click to expand...
May need to remove more panels, those at the inlet/outlet manifold, to see. Water could be dripping down the back side of the manifold then running under the combustion chamber, looking like the leak is at the back of the heater.
 
1poolman1 said:
May need to remove more panels, those at the inlet/outlet manifold, to see. Water could be dripping down the back side of the manifold then running under the combustion chamber, looking like the leak is at the back of the heater.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I did look at doing that but wasnt sure if they'd just pop off. Will do that now
 

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Yep - I got the panels open - back side one off and the other loosened to see nothing leaking. The other end of the copper tube is dry as a bone. It looks like it's all coming from underneath the tub. Also not as much slush or ice in the backside, though there was ice flowing out the bottom back. I'm guessing at this point, I'd need to either lift it out to inspect the base or have the installer do that.
Is the tub one piece like a pot (at bottom)? Could that have a small leak or are there other connections or places it can leak at the bottom? It looks like a crock pot that only opens at the top. Thanks for all your help BTW.
IMG_8760.jpeg
IMG_8759.jpeg
 
The schematics make it look like a pot with the side cut for the manifold to mate up to. I cant see any indication of leaks there, but may need to wait until things are warm and dry.
1705607770675.png
 
As a side note, the system has been running non-stop until yesterday afternoon since last Friday or Saturday due to the cold and no other issues. I do have a small leak on my filter at the band, mostly due to a replacement bolt and maybe an aging washer ring. No other leaks or issues. Just these two small slow leaking spots. So I don't think the freeze caused any of these leaks - I hope.
 
I would also be curious if the leak is gone today (50-60 degrees) but comes back when we reach colder temps again. If so that would indicate some sort of rubber/o-ring.
 
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It was leaking when new in the warm weather but the installer convinced me it was OK. You may be right about the cold making it leak more. I can't see any major flow or anything wet above the bottom of the tub, so assume it must be in the manifold connection somewhere.
 
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