Hayward H300FD Pool Heater Leaking -- Pics Inside

[Dborgill]

All,

Not cool for the labor day weekend. I noticed bubbles coming up from my pool return and a leak on the right front side of my Hayward H300FD heater (Only 3 years old)

I opened the front and the top. Pics are below but I don't dare go any further. I am in Utah so pool service is almost non existent and if so, several days out. If I turn my pump on, the heater leaks like crazy. I don't see anyway to bypass this. Thoughts or suggestions? The heater exchange looks rusty/corroded but I am a pool noob so I am not sure.

I only use a solar cover so I don't even want to use/maintain/keep this heater! (Came with the house)

http://i.imgur.com/44gBCGM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/n4b46mb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YGMJJKS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SHerpZa.jpg

 

[ps0303]

Very sorry for your loss. What you are experiencing might be the typical problem that Hayward has had with these units for a long time. Who manages the chemicals in your pool? I'm asking just to be sure it's not chemical damage. However, from the looks of it, I've seen it many times, it appears to be the usual issue that Hayward has been having with their heat exchangers and yet they refuse to do anything about it.

The problem comes from how the expand the sheet tubes. Somewhere along the process they screw it up and its usually on the end of the heat exchanger. At this point you have several options. Get rid of the heater and buy a good unit or talk Hayward into replacing the heat exchanger. Just remember if you get Hayward to replace it, you will see this issue again.

To bypass it, go to a local home improvement store and get some pvc pipe, elbows, pvc cleaner, and pvc glue. Cut the pipes going to and from the heater and then loop them together with the PVC and elbows. Then you can at least run your pump.

 

[Dborgill]

Thanks for the reply and advice. Definitely going to go the bypass route as I don't need a heater..

How good of luck have people had in getting these parts replaced? I once stayed on hold with Hayward for over two hours.. still never got through.

 

[X-PertPool]

when the heat exchanger gets a leak in it its kinda like the equivalent of losing your engine and transmission in your vehicle. It can be repaired but it is very costly and replacing the entire heater is usually a better route.

 

[ps0303]

Thanks for the reply and advice. Definitely going to go the bypass route as I don't need a heater..

How good of luck have people had in getting these parts replaced? I once stayed on hold with Hayward for over two hours.. still never got through.

I have heard of a few being replaced via Hayward but they were close to the warranty dates. Besides, like I said, it would get replaced with a product just as bad as the original. So with in as little as 18 months you could be experiencing the same issue. The cost to replaced this part would be over $1000.00 plus labor. It's really not worth it because you can get a better heater for a bit more than the cost to repair this unit.

 

[Dborgill]

Thanks for the help.

I am strapped for cash right now so I might just go with the bypass method and especially since I'll be closing the pool in a few weeks anyway.

On that note though, any suggestions on a heater comparable to the H300FD but "better"? I know this thing is super inefficient..