Heater keeps trying to turn on?

[SRQGP]

or something? Not sure just what it is trying to do. Have a Hayward Summit Heat Pump that has been a problem for a few years. Once the heat pump turns off, it will not turn on again unless a complicated code is entered. It then turns on, but once it goes off, Nope - won;t turn on again.
Every day when I start up the pool's pump, I hear a noise in the house coming from the wall adjacent to where the heater is mounted. Initially, it makes this noise, that shounds like a compressor trying to start up, lasting about 1 - 2 seconds), every 30 seconds. Several minutes later it is doing that every minute or so, the as time goes on it keeps extending the time between that sound up to 6 minutes, and eventually, several hours later, no longer hearing that sound. In the meantime, I have no heater. That's not an issue for the pool in summer here in FL, BUT, we also have a spa that I'd like to use for aches and the spa is not heating up. BUT - it doesn't make sense that the heater is trying to come on, since it is set for 84, and the water temp is 89 - 91 already this year - without heating it! (UHG!)

A little history - the pool was installed by the builder - he owned the pool company. THe Co went out of business shortly after the pool was built. It was sold to another ocmpany, but that company received no paperwork showing where the plumbing, electrical, etc is. That company had several lawsuits and shortly went bankrupt & another co took over their business. That co was then sold to a regional swimming pool company. Every one of those companies tried to resolve the issue with the heater not coming on. Also tried another independent company. ANd I tried contacting Hayward directly, and they merely referred me to their local companies, two of which I already used.

I am assuming the sound I hear is the heat pump trying to turn on, but it certainly could be something else. What's weird is that standing next to the heat pump, I hear nothing. It is only heard in the house! When the filter pump is off, the sounds are not heard.
Any idea what could be going on?
Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Show us pictures of how the heater is mounted.

You need to isolate where the noise is coming from. Use a stethoscope, if necessary , to pinpoint the source of the noise.

 

[swamprat69]

Sounds as if the compressor is trying to start, but isn't starting. It could be a failed capacitor. If the compressor tries to start but doesn't, it will draw 5-6 times the normal running amps and overheat until it trips the comnpressor internal overload. This heat is cumulative every time the compressor attempts to start accounting for the increasing time between the start attempts. Other than the capacitor, I would also confirm correct wire sizing, whether the compressor is actually physically "stuck/locked up and make sure all wires (power) and the contactor are not damaged. Noise in the wall??? may be due to excessive amp draw from the heater attempting to start ( If the rated/running amp draw of your heater is 35 Amps your heater will draw 175-210 amps while it is attempting to start putting a strain on your electrical system ).

 

[SRQGP]

Thanks for the replies. Heat Pump is definitely not located properly. You can see it behind the filter housing. That was done by the builder 5 years ago, and at this point I don't think there is anything that can be done about moving it.
I was up there on the platform this morning (the platform is 4 ft from the ground, not a place a 77 yr old guy should be climbing), and my wife was able to tell me when the noise was made in the house. ( The noise only happens when the pool pump is running.) As I mentioned earler, Total silence at the heater & pump, other than just the continuous fan noise. It's pretty clear that the noise is coming from the adjacent outside wall where the equipment is mounted.The Heater is Not heating at all, yet the fan on the heater runs continuously. I don't think there should be any pool related equipment inside that wall - the wall was there before the equipment was installed. Quite a mystery. And frustrating.

 

[ajw22]

If the fan is running you need to put a clamp on ammeter on the compressor power and see if it is turning on.

Have you had an HVAC Tech check the contactor, compressor and refrigerant pressures?

 

[SRQGP]

No idea really what they checked. BUT I never did see them with any test equipment nor take the heat pump apart. Each visit they merely worked on programming the various equipment. Supposedly a "Heater technician" is coming here tomorrow. I'm not feeling positive about this.

 

[SRQGP]

So the Pool electrician was here - heater still not working. Took it apart & said all was fine, but it just was not communicating with the control board. He supposedly reprogrammed so it is now. When he left he said it was working. He left, the spa was on and the heater showed 102. Spa water was 89. Hour later, still 89 and wondering why the spa not heating up, so I looked at heater & it says 86. And that noise - he thinks there is something arcing in the wall. BUT it only happens when the pool equipment is on. Fairly new house, and there are custom built in cabinets right where the wiring from the pool comes into house. IF that's even where the arcing is. (How the heck does one trace where arcing is coming from, esp if the arcing happens for 2 seconds, and only every 7-8 minutes or so.) But why would there be anything there to arc! So now I fear having the pool equipment even turned on. Can't get an electrician until June 27! This is a CLuster....

 

[SRQGP]

I posted a short while ago about my Hayward Heat Pump that is no longer heating. Everytime I turn it on, I hear a short,"arcing" sound inside the house that happens every minute or so, and lasts for a second. Today had an electrician check the line, and he found that every time the thermostat asked the heater to heat, the current in that circuit jumped up to 100 amps (from 47). That current jump coincided with the times the noise was heard. The electrician believes it can be a faulty capacitor. THat is not something that company does. THe pool company, on the other hand, believes I need to replace the entire heat pump. Not sure who to deal with to finally get my pool heater to work? HVAC Contractor next? IF I have to replace the heat pump in its entirety, I'd prefer gas this time. When the pool was built, they ran a gas line to the equipment, so the gas is there. Pool Co. says gas will take many months due to permitting. Cost to replace heat pump is being estimated at over 7G! Thanks for any ideas.

 

[ajw22]

You need to being in an HVAC tech who works on AC systems. Capacitors often fail and are easy to replace. They are probably the most common reason an AC system does not run.

It should be malpractice for Pool companies to sell heaters that they do not service.

You are going to have gas heater exhaust issues placing a gas heater in the pool equipment area you have. An exhaust extension will need to be installed.

 

[SRQGP]

I was wondering if HVAC companies would work on Pool heat pumps. I looked at the website of the company we use & it did not mention anything about servicing Pool heat pumps. I'll give them a call Monday morning. THe Pool company that sold me the heater/built the pool went out of business. The company that took them over lost their license, so they folded too. THANKS

 

[ajw22]

I was wondering if HVAC companies would work on Pool heat pumps.

Some will, some won't.

Call the smaller service companies.

Find an independent HVAC tech. HVAC techs need to have an EPA certificate to work with the refrigerant in AC units and HP's.

 

[SRQGP]

Well, this is quite a quandary. COntacted the 2 HVAC companies I've used - they don't work on Pool heat pumps. Pool company doesn't do repairs. Electrician doesn't work on pool equipment.