Heater not heating...

[kennyjg44]

Noticed today that my heater is not heating the water. Fan is spinning, no error code, but seems like compressor won't turn on. In fact, I hear a click and then nothing. Fan continues to spin.

Worked all week, as far as I could tell.

Anything I can check?

 

[ajw22]

It help for us to know what model heater we are discussing.

Check the compressor starting capacitor.

Check the contactor that energizes the compressor. Caution you are dealing with high voltage. If you do not know how to do it safely get an HVAC professional.

 

[kennyjg44]

This is an AqualCal - I believe T-75 model.

I am willing to try a lot of DIY, but usually wouldn't mess with high voltage.

 

[ajw22]

How old is the Aquacal?

Capacitors are a common failure. That is a quick service call for an HVAC guy. They should have them on their truck and it’s maybe a $50 part and a service call charge. It will likely be the first thing they check.

 

[kennyjg44]

This is our 4th summer with the pool, so I'd say 4-5 years. To be honest, we dont' really use it until later in the season (around now), so the usage has been light. Checking to see if we have a warranty. If not, is this a pool HVAC, or any standard HVAC?

 

[ajw22]

There is no such thing as Pool HVAC. nothing special about pool heat pumps although some HVAC companies will not work on them. Start with whoever you call when your house AC goes out.

 

[swamprat69]

There is something somewhat "special" about pool heat pumps. They use a "water cooled" condenser to transfer the heat to the pool water. It is rare these days to see a residential unit that has a water cooled condenser. Larger commercial sysems may have a water cooled condenser ( the large boxy water towers on top of buildings that you see emitting steam at times that remove the heat from the recirculated water). Chicago at one time had some residential units ( apartment/condo buildings ) that used water cooled condensers and dumped the water as waste water. They were legislated out of existance. It is the unfamiliarity with water cooled condensers that causes most HVAC companies to balk at working on pool heat pumps along not being able to get pool heat pump replacement parts from the normal HVAC parts suppliers that they use. Any HVAC technician with a thorough knowledge of how systems work should be able to work on a pool heat pump, but as I have stated before " not all HVAC technicians are created equal".

 

[swamprat69]

What is your zip code kenny? I might be able to find a company either able or willing to work on your heater

 

[kennyjg44]

11772.

Also waiting from a call-back from AquaCal - not sure if they have local service.

 

[swamprat69]

These companies near you have NATE certified technicians that might be able to service your heater.