Heart broken 💔 (heater inside is crumbling rust mess)

[JamesW]

what is "stray current"?

Electricity (AC and/or DC) flowing where it is not supposed to be flowing.

The causes can be any number of things.

We live in a world powered by electricity and some of that will travel through the ground and through anything in its path.

There are thousands of different ways that electricity can get into things where you do not want it to go.

Metals rust or corrode because they lose electrons.

The flow of electrons is called current.

Metals can lose electrons due to induced voltages that move electrons away from the metal.

Metals can also rust or corrode due to chemical exposure.

Chemicals, like chlorine or oxygen take electrons from metals directly and the oxidizer becomes “reduced”, which means that they gain electrons.

 

[LisaBgame]

Since the divorce agreement is forcing you out of that home, it makes absolutely no sense to replace the heater. Just cut it out and dispose of it, have the plumbing rerouted with a bypass, and cap the gas line.

Let the next owner decide if they want to pay for a new heater.

And try not to get too hung up on “how can I sell the house without a pool heater”. Pools rarely change the cost equation for a home and most people either want a pool (or are ambivalent) or vehemently do not want a pool regardless of what equipment is attached to it.

I know this is what I need to do. It makes me so sad though.

 

[Poolbreh]

Leaks inside Raypak atmospheric heaters cause immense damage. Inspecting the front and back headers and burners should be done on a yearly basis. This is not in writing anywhere. But this much damage happens more often than it should.

 

[JamesW]

Most likely, the damage was done by the tab feeder causing a leak and the resulting corrosion.

The old owners probably stored tablets and other chemicals near the heater further causing chemical damage.