I was rudely awakened about 6am by a kaboom and an impact on the side of my house. So now I go outside standing next to my pool equipment trying to figure out what the heck as that. Next thing I knew there was another kaboom, I saw the fireball come out of the top of the gas heater. The hair on my arm was singed. I figured right away there was something wrong, (my inept attempt at gallows humor). The unit is about 20 years old so I am seriously considering a replacement unit. I haven't investigated the cause yet but is there anything new in gas heaters today? Some feature or innovation I should look for? Any brand recommendations? Thanks.
My pool heater kinda blew up so I am seriously considering a replacement
- Thread starter adl6009
- Start date
20 years for a heater is great. The heater in your signature only shows new in 2015. Please send photos and we would love to know the reason for the explosion.
Here is some general information on heaters
www.troublefreepool.com
Here is some general information on heaters
Heater Maintenance - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
9 years, maybe I was a little shaken by the kaboom. Ten years doesn't seem too good. Thanks for the link. I will be able to spend some time on it tomorrow.
Whoa, you're lucky you don't have a hole in the wall or had an actual fire. I wonder if there were any foreboding signs of what was about to happen.
swamprat69
Well-known member
Possible cause might be the " don't fix it till it's broke" syndrome. Heaters do need regular cleaning and maintenance. It might be something as simple as dirty burners or blocked orifices causing a delayed ignition.
You sound a lot like my wife, and she is usually right. Anyway, I pulled the burner tray and the burner tubes and jets all seem clear. No apparent obstructions. But the frame of the tray is all rusted out, it will sit level but for how long I wonder. Question- What else could cause the explosive symptom? I was thinking the regulator, it is original to the heater. Thanks for the help.
swamprat69
Well-known member
What model number Rheem pool heater do you have? Natural gas? There a a few reasons for delayed ignition. Most often it comes down to the source of ignition ( pilot flame, hot surface ignitor, spark etc. ) not lighting off the burners right away, which is why I asked for the model number to see the configuration of the heater. Also could be a problem with abnormal gas/air flow through the main ignition burner. Flammable gasses are only combustible within certain ranges of the gas/air mixture. If the heater does not light off initially the gas/air mixture being introduced will build up in the combustion chamber ( it is not producing heat to aid in the flow through heater) until the correct range of gas/air mixture contacts a source of ignition and then explode. If the burner tray frame is badly rusted, you may also have a problem with a blockage of flow through the heat exchanger. Photos of the heater, burners and burner tray would be helpful.
Rheem natural gas P-M336A, there are 3 or 4 more digits but they are illegible. The unit was up and running when this was happening, not in an ignition cycle. My first thought was that some of the burner tubes were partially block and when gas would build up then kaboom. But they all seemed clean, with free flow. So my next thought would be the regulator. I don't know if they fail or what symptoms may occur as they fail. The rusted part of the tray was primarily on the right side, mostly the side and one panel that runs parallel to the side panel. It does sit level though.
swamprat69
Well-known member
There are several variants of the P=M336A as shown in this manual https://www.poolsinc.com/pdf/raypak/raypak-digital-heater-product-manual.pdf Still don't know which one you have without photos. Also don't know the extent of the damage/deterioration without photos.
Thank you for your help. At this point I believe replacement is my best option. I was try not to spend the money but at ten years old and after several explosions I just can't trust the longevity of the unit. My first idea was a swap with a same unit but then I saw the avia and a few positive opinions in the forum. So maybe. Any recommendations would be welcome. Thanks again.
I am trying to decide which heater to get. I was originally going with the raypak R336a, which is what I am replacing. One pool guy recommends the hayward H series. Touts the 3 year parts and labor warranty, he is a hayward certified installer. When I look online I see a few unsatisfied reviews on the hayward warranty response. I realize most people complain online more than they compliment so I wanted to come here and ask for recommendations. Who has a good heater? Thanks
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,107
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Will your pool guy provide warranty service for the Hayward heater or is he just reading from a book?
Pentair MasterTemp, Hayward H-Series, Jandy JXI, Raypak Avia are all forced draft heaters with similar designs and components. There is little difference between them. They all have the same reliability. Heaters are a commodity.
The Raypak 336 is a natural draft design heater which is a simpler design and less costly to repair. However natrural draft heaters are more prone to rusting as their burners are open to the elements. All the companies have moved from natural draft designs to forced draft pool heaters.
Buy whichever heater has local service and warranty support for you. I prefer the Pentair MasterTemp, especially if you can DIY repairs, as parts are readily availabe in retail channels.
Pentair MasterTemp, Hayward H-Series, Jandy JXI, Raypak Avia are all forced draft heaters with similar designs and components. There is little difference between them. They all have the same reliability. Heaters are a commodity.
The Raypak 336 is a natural draft design heater which is a simpler design and less costly to repair. However natrural draft heaters are more prone to rusting as their burners are open to the elements. All the companies have moved from natural draft designs to forced draft pool heaters.
Buy whichever heater has local service and warranty support for you. I prefer the Pentair MasterTemp, especially if you can DIY repairs, as parts are readily availabe in retail channels.