Pool heater leaking from within

[Cgarman]

Our pool heater has been broken since we bought the house 2 years ago. Lots of corrosion and rust inside. I noticed water on the ground so I unscrewed the cover and found a leak. It’s more like a small steady stream leaking! It’s coming from a part (see picture) I don’t know how to describe or even it’s function. I know that the last two years opening the pool, the technician had to screw the piece on to get the leak to stop. I’m not sure if it’s unscrewed when the pool is closed in the fall.

Nonetheless, it’s leaking now mid-season. I tried screwing it back on, but it just seemed to be spinning its wheels and not affecting the leak. Also, a piece of it, kind of shaped like a thick plastic O-ring, on the bottom cracked off into pieces when I tried to screw it back on.

Does anyone know the name of this part?

Does anyone know how to get it to stop leaking?

The pool heater is an old Mini Max 250 model.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ajw22]

@ps0303 @Pool Clown thoughts?

 

[JamesW]

It's the pressure switch. It's connected by a simple copper tubing compression fitting. I think that the copper tubing is 1/8". You can get fittings at a hardware store or plumbing supply store.

Take the existing part for size. You just need the fitting and a threaded cap.

Remove the pressure switch and install the capped fitting.

A plumbing supply store will be able to figure out what parts you need.

Get a fitting that will connect to the existing copper tube or just follow the tube to the other end and disconnect the fitting at the heater and install a plug or just remove the entire heater.

 

[danpik]

As James indicated...Pressure switch...or whats left of it. It needs to be replaced.

Dan

 

[JamesW]

I don't think that the heater works at all. So, no need to buy an expensive part.

A simple compression fitting and cap will stop the leak.

If the heater is not going to be used, it should be removed because it is just going to put copper and iron in the pool as it corrodes.

 

[Pool Clown]

+1.