Replacing Sta rite 400k BTU heater

[daum]

We recently bought a house with a pool and spa and the heater (Spa Rite 400NA 400k BTU) for the spa is dead. The heat exchange has a hole somewhere in it so it keeps getting flooded. The pool company said between labor and trying to then see what other parts failed from this (the fan had to be manually spun to get it to start) it would be cheaper to replace. They are recommending just another Spa rite, but I wanted to see what people recommend?

Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Daum

 

[ajw22]

Sta-Rite 400 or MasterTemp 400 are both from Pentair and basically the same heater in a different form factor.

Your other option is a Raypak 406A heater.

I would just drop in a new Sta-Rite or MasterTemp heater.

Have them install a Heater Bypass - Further Reading and watch your water chemistry using your TF100. The prior owner may have ruined the heater by using trichlor tablets and getting acidic water in the heater.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[daum]

Thanks will do. The company who had previously opened/closed and installed the heaters, did say they may be able to get someone out soon to do a drop in for the Sta rite since they are pretty busy, but of course was a bit apprehensive as the heater itself was only 5 years old, but as you pointed out their balance was (they left tabs in all the filters when we got there) not great. The raypak's I noticed are fairly simple in terms of how they work, so I was slightly drawn towards that.

 

[ajw22]

Tablets in the skimmers will send acidic water directly into the pool equipment and damage the heater.

Raypaks are simple natural draft heaters. Their burners are open to the environment, need periodic cleaning and maintenance, and rust out. Raypak heaters are also larger then your Sta-rite which can be an issue depending on available space on your pool pad.

Sta-rite and MasterTemp are forced draft heaters that have a sealed burner can and a fan blower to induce draft. They have more complex controls that can fail. The sealed burner can rarely requires any maintance.

Raypaks die from rusting out. Sta-rites and MasterTemps die from sensor, board, and wiring failures. They all die from bad water chemistry.

Pick your poison.

Pentair MasterTemp Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

RayPak Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[daum]

Thanks for pointing that out. The local pool place offered to install a replacement sta-rite 400 for 5100. I found online a unite that would ship and arrive in similar time but for 3470 including shipping and tax. Does i tmake sense to just install this ourselves as it's just replacing the existing one, or do you think having a pool store do it makes more sense?

 

[mknauss]

A DIY install will not have a warranty. That is a consideration.
Does your local municipality require a permit to work on gas fired appliances?

 

[daum]

Ah that is a good point on the warranty. From what I can tell it is not required, nor did I see any quotes from the pool companys to pull any permits.

 

[tstex]

Ah that is a good point on the warranty. From what I can tell it is not required, nor did I see any quotes from the pool companys to pull any permits.

Stated another way, a plumber may or may not have to pull a permit, but being certified to legally work w NGas may be in play.

To install the heater, you simply turn-off the gas line handle, then unscrew the gas line that goes into the unit [assuming the gas lines and threads/nuts are all the same size]. this does not require any modification to the gas lines. You just need to make sure you use the correct gas pipe dope or YELLOW teflon tape. Check w the seller on warranty terms and make sure you have it in writing w their logo/full info.

Also, no open flames, sparks or other..turn off all power that could generate any spark or similar.

 

[daum]

Yep have done some gas work before. Ended up just having them install it with the help of some manual labor from me for a little lower price, figure if something did go wrong would be able to have the warranty done properly easierly.