Hayward 400k Poor Quality Flame

[Ifixyawata]

The Hayward 400k BTU pool heater at the house my in-laws bought has been running with the small cover (white wires going in, flame sensor) removed. Thinking I was fixing it, I replaced this cover, noted that the heater sounded less rumbly and the flame through the sight glass was less yellow.

However the next day my MIL called me and the heater wouldn't start. I found that removing the cover was the only way to get it to ignite on its own.

Now it's back to a poor quality wild yellow flame and lots of soot evident in the exhaust vent etc.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Yellow flame and soot are signs of an incorrect air/gas mixture.

Correct flame should be blue.

You need to check the has pressure at the gas valve with a manometer.

Post a picture of the house gas meter and the CFM on the data plate. We often find that 400K gas heaters are installed in houses with 250K gas service.

 

[Ifixyawata]

Placard says 250 cu ft/hr

 

[ajw22]

You need to get the gas service upgraded to support the 400K heater plus other gas appliances in the house.

Then have the gas pressures at the heater checked.

 

[Ifixyawata]

You need to get the gas service upgraded to support the 400K heater plus other gas appliances in the house.

Then have the gas pressures at the heater checked.

Is it a simple matter of a meter change? I think this pool could work with a 250k BTU heater as well if I'm not mistaken

 

[ajw22]

Is it a simple matter of a meter change? I think this pool could work with a 250k BTU heater as well if I'm not mistaken

Depends on the size of and distance of the gas pipes.

250 CFM gas service is too small for a 250K heater if there are any other gas appliances int he house.

https://hayward.com/media/akeneo_connector/asset_files/U/n/Universal_H_Series_Install_Manual_Bilingual_1f1f.pdf

 

[Ifixyawata]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Since the condition of this heater and it's installation is suspect (I found that the incoming gas line was incorrectly sized and the difference was made up with the largest amount of thread tape I've ever seen) I'm going to talk to inlaws about replacing the heater. What size, BTU-wise should a 20x40 33k-ish gallon pool need?

 

[ajw22]

. What size, BTU-wise should a 20x40 33k-ish gallon pool need?

400K BTU heater.