Other than the heat exchanger, what will low TA affect in a heater?

[Sillius Soddus]

First post, hope I'm in the right spot.
2 year old 3k gal salt pool, Jandy JXi 400N heater.
Service let TA crash, heat cycling got funny.
Cause discovered: palm full of metal shavings against thermal regulator.
Main filter is tinted blue, blue staining starting to appear on pool finish, assume copper coming out of solution as I return chemistry to normal.

I'm fair dinkum mechanically, hobby is maintaining and riding vintage British motorcycles.
I can get an OEM heat exchanger for ~$1000.

Are there commonly other issues than the exchanger in this scenario?
Would hate to send good money on a fools errand.

Thanks for any thoughts.
Sillius

 

[Jimrahbe]

Sillius,

Low TA should not have any effect on your heater.. Low pH, is most likely the cause of any heater issues...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[wireform]

Can we see a full chemistry assessment on your pool like,
FC
CC
PH
TA
CH
SALINITY
CYA

If you don't get a grip on the chemistry the new heat exchanger will do the same if that's the culprit.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Sillius,

Low TA should not have any effect on your heater.. Low pH, is most likely the cause of any heater issues...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks Jim. I guess the alkalinity itself is not the direct culprit but it's what led to the pH change.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Thanks wireform. It wouldn't be much use at this point as I have re-balanced the chemistry to within appropriate parameters.

 

[JamesW]

How quickly can pH/negative LSI eat through a heat exchanger?

We sold a refurbished Mastertemp 400 to a customer a few weeks ago. It ran for 2-3 weeks without issue then the customer calls me last week to tell me it's leaking for the air intake and that the heat exchanger is damaged. I of course want to do right by the customer. I didn't visually inspect...

www.troublefreepool.com

Copper Questions

I recently acquired a pool maintenance and service business with one quite experienced service/repair tech and one new maintenance tech. So I’m still learning every day and trying to become the resident chem “expert” for the group. Have a customer whose pH is unexpectedly dropping between...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JamesW]

Service let TA crash

Crash means what?

Zero TA, or lower?

Are you using tabs?

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Folks, I really appreciate the information and resource links for addressing low TA, but I'm actually looking for input regarding the damage that may have been done to heater components other than the heat exchanger itself when the TA was left to drop to <10, and no doubt the pH went acid.

I am hoping that the heat exchanger itself is the only victim here (only copper/copper clad component?) so if I go ahead and buy and install a replacement exchanger I'm not going to get any surprises and find multiple other components have been affected.
e.g. finding at some point it would have been just as cost effective to replace the whole unit.
I'm retired, so labor cost is zero.

Cheers!

 

[ajw22]

JXI400N.

Check the condition of the TRV…

Jandy JXI Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Some of the water sensors may have been damaged.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Thanks ajw22.
Replaced when metal flakes found behind access port.
I have another spare TRV and igniter in hand.

 

[ajw22]

Igniter does not touch the water so low pH does not affect it.

Look at all the metal components in the water flow within the heater.

 

[JamesW]

Is the tub full of water?

If yes, the blower could be ruined.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Is the tub full of water?

If yes, the blower could be ruined.

Have not opened the unit up as of yet.
No external leaks visible at this point.

 

[JamesW]

Remove 1 bottom manifold bolt to see if water comes out.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Igniter does not touch the water so low pH does not affect it.

Look at all the metal components in the water flow within the heater.

Of course. My bad.
I will check the water contact components when it is opened up.
But I guess we are back to my original query.
Are there heater parts other than the exchanger that tend to be affected by low TA induced pH changes?

Strategy (sort of): The heater is currently working as expected, but the amount of removed shrapnel and pool surface staining indicate damage.
I'm waiting till June or so when ambient temps here will keep the pool usable without heater.
Then bypass heater, strip and repair.
I would like to have the parts in hand at that point, so if I can determine via this group's wisdom that the exchanger is likely the only part then it will be cost effective to go this route.
If other parts are likely involved, it changes the calculus.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

Remove 1 bottom manifold bolt to see if water comes out.

Will do. Thanks.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

JXI400N.

Check the condition of the TRV…

Jandy JXI Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Some of the water sensors may have been damaged.

p.s. thanks for that link. Good stuff.

 

[ajw22]

I would like to have the parts in hand at that point, so if I can determine via this group's wisdom that the exchanger is likely the only part then it will be cost effective to go this route.

I don’t have a crystal ball to say what you will find in the tear down.

 

[Sillius Soddus]

I don’t have a crystal ball to say what you will find in the tear down.

Agreed they are in short supply these days.
I know from working on old bikes that the failure of certain parts usually includes a few common corollaries.
Thought the same might be true of pool equipment.

 

[JamesW]

The Online Magic 8-Ball Says Yes.

There is a link at the bottom if you want to get a second opinion from a professional psychic.