Sta-Rite heater not starting

[alan_in_philly]

I just opened my pool for the summer and my heater isn't starting up. Hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction.

Here's what I know:

• Heater is a STA-RITE Max-E-Therm 333HD
• Control panel powers up and shows pool water temperature
• When I press 'Pool On', the 'Service Heater' light comes on immediately
• Disassembling heater revealed rodent nest - I cleaned out all the debris (the wires don't appear to have been chewed-through)
• 'AFS' error light shows red on back of control module
• I do not hear the air blower kicking in when I try to start the heater, but the motor for the air blower did feel warm to touch [Interested to hear how I can test the air blower to see if it has seized - my motor cover doesn't have vent holes so I can't see what it's doing]
• I removed the igniter, and it seems to be intact (although the gasket had disintegrated) - I am ordering a new one
• Other parts look intact - no damage to the air orifice or any of the air tubing
• Flow of water through the heater is good. Backwashed the filter and no luck

At the moment I'm stumped as to what I should replace first. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Alan

 

[Poolbreh]

Pentair MasterTemp Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

The afs wont engage unless blower starts. If afs was bad the blower would still come on initially.

 

[1poolman1]

I just opened my pool for the summer and my heater isn't starting up. Hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction.

Here's what I know:

• Heater is a STA-RITE Max-E-Therm 333HD
• Control panel powers up and shows pool water temperature
• When I press 'Pool On', the 'Service Heater' light comes on immediately
• Disassembling heater revealed rodent nest - I cleaned out all the debris (the wires don't appear to have been chewed-through)
• 'AFS' error light shows red on back of control module
• I do not hear the air blower kicking in when I try to start the heater, but the motor for the air blower did feel warm to touch [Interested to hear how I can test the air blower to see if it has seized - my motor cover doesn't have vent holes so I can't see what it's doing]
• I removed the igniter, and it seems to be intact (although the gasket had disintegrated) - I am ordering a new one
• Other parts look intact - no damage to the air orifice or any of the air tubing
• Flow of water through the heater is good. Backwashed the filter and no luck

At the moment I'm stumped as to what I should replace first. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Alan

Remove the venturi on the other side of the blower away from the motor. You should be able to reach in with a long screwdriver and try to move the fan.

 

[alan_in_philly]

Remove the venturi on the other side of the blower away from the motor. You should be able to reach in with a long screwdriver and try to move the fan.

Thank you! This worked. I think some debris from the mouse’s nest must have got in there. Heater is working again.

 

[alan_in_philly]

Pentair MasterTemp Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

The afs wont engage unless blower starts. If afs was bad the blower would still come on initially.

Thanks. It’s working now. I gave the blower fan a nudge and that seemed to be the issue.