Heater rebuild or replace?

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BGoldey

Member
Jul 3, 2024
10
SoCal
16 year old Pentair Mastertemp 400. Heater starts but sounds like rock tumbling in a plastic bucket. Tried to remove the thermoregulator but it is stuck. Lots of corrosion on the tub. I live very close to the ocean. Is it time to replace the entire heater or should I repair? TIA
 

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No/low flow to the heater due to a failed thermoregulator was my thought. Tried to remove to replace but it is stuck. Is the excessively corroded tub a concern or normal for a 16 y/o heater exposed to salt air?
 

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BGoldey said:
16 year old Pentair Mastertemp 400. Heater starts but sounds like rock tumbling in a plastic bucket. Tried to remove the thermoregulator but it is stuck. Lots of corrosion on the tub. I live very close to the ocean. Is it time to replace the entire heater or should I repair? TIA
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I had same model and corrosion on the tub. I elected to replace as the new ones also have better rodent protection. (If that is a concern).
I did not want to take any risks with a gas system.
 
Yes, solar is on.
 

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So you're thinking the valve that directs flow to solar or through the heater is not directing water to the heater when the heater is activated?

Just checked. Valve opened properly.
 
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16 years is more than a lifetime for a gas fired pool heater. If you have the bank to replace then don’t waste your time trying to resurrect it … it’s not worth it. With this type of equipment, the minute you fix one thing, another component fails. It’s a cascade failure mode and every components costs some significant multiple of a hundred dollars to replace. After you’ve chased down every gremlin and failed component, you’ll be 3/4 the way to a new heater.

star trek GIF
 
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