Test results and heater not working

[jessab]

I think I know where everyone stands on pool store testing, but today I took a sample in to be tested so I could compare it to what I get with my Taylor K2006 kit. I’m a newbie, but have been doing it for a few days now and feel pretty comfortable and sure-ish of my results. This morning I got a cya reading of around 50 and the pool store said it’s 87. That is quite a discrepancy. Should I just ignore their results? I do feel like this test is a little tricky because, can I really still see the dot?? It’s a bit of a mind game.

Also, what a good way to aerate the pool without going in? My heater isn’t working and the pool is too cold for me to go in and splash around I had to add MA & now pH is low.

Oh in that vein; the heater has been installed for 5.5 weeks. It worked beautifully until about a week ago. My propane tank was getting low-ish (20%) so I thought maybe it was a pressure issue. Today they filled the tank and the heater is still not working. I’ve noticed that it makes the clicking sound like it’s trying to ignite but I no longer hear the “whoosh” of it actually igniting. Any ideas? The tech who hooked up the propane was out today and said it’s not a pressure issue. It’s a Rheem 206A propane heater.

 

[PoolStored]

Should I just ignore their results?

Yes. Stop going to the pool store.

Also, what a good way to aerate the pool without going in? My heater isn’t working and the pool is cold

Aeration COOLS the pool...it doesn't heat it.

Oh in that vein; the heater has been installed for 5.5 weeks. It worked beautifully until about a week ago. My propane tank was getting low-ish (20%) so I thought maybe it was a pressure issue. Today they filled the tank and the heater is still not working. I’ve noticed that it makes the clicking sound like it’s trying to ignite but I no longer hear the “whoosh” of it actually igniting. Any ideas? The tech who hooked up the propane was out today and said it’s not a pressure issue. It’s a Rheem 206A propane heater.

Make sure all gas valves are on. What does the screen say upon turning it on...it will give errors...

 

[jessab]

Yes. Stop going to the pool store.


Aeration COOLS the pool...it doesn't heat it.


Make sure all gas valves are on. What does the screen say upon turning it on...it will give errors...

Regarding aeration…that was a random thought that had to do with pH, not water temp. I had just gotten done testing my pH after adding muriatic acid earlier. My alk is high. So it was in the forefront of my mind.

There are no errors codes, it acts normal. It says “spark” and I can hear the spark, and then normally I’d hear the “whoosh” when it ignites and it would say “heating”. It does all that, but there’s no “whoosh”.

 

[jessab]

It continues to say it’s heating, but the water coming out of the return is not warm.

 

[PoolStored]

Do you know how to take off the front panel? If you feel comfortable, take it off, ensure the gas valve (on the heater) is on, and see if the burners are in fact lighting when you turn it on....

Post a picture of your pad...

 

[jessab]

Do you know how to take off the front panel? If you feel comfortable, take it off, ensure the gas valve (on the heater) is on, and see if the burners are in fact lighting when you turn it on....

Post a picture of your pad...

Do you know how to take off the front panel? If you feel comfortable, take it off, ensure the gas valve (on the heater) is on, and see if the burners are in fact lighting when you turn it on....

Post a picture of your pad...

I did take the panel off this morning & made sure the gas valve was turned on. It was. I didn’t do any further investigating as it seems I’ll have to take a side panel off to see any other elements. I can do that tomorrow and I’ll post here. Thank you!

 

[PoolStored]

You do not need and don't want to take side panels off. You can see the burners with the front panel off.

 

[jessab]

Oh ok. I’ll get in there in the daylight

 

[jessab]

Here’s what it looks like under the panel. I came out in the dark last night and could see the pilot is going, so there is gas getting to it, right? I also noticed dehydrated little frog stuck halfway out behind the control panel

 

[jessab]

If one little frog got in, maybe other things did as well and caused a problem?? How can I see in there better?

 

[jessab]

Moved from old thread HERE

My Raypak heater was not igniting so I replaced the pilot/ignitor unit. To get to the pilot ignitor I had to remove the gas regulator and burner tray. When I put it all back together everything worked but the screen is a bit pixilated and not as clear as it was before. I'm sure I caused this and I'm wondering how to fix it. Could it be a ground issue?

Hi there, I see this is an older post but I am currently having an issue with my newly installed (6 weeks ago) LP Rheem 206a (raypak) heater. It sparks but does not ignite. Though the screen says “heating”, it’s not. I believe it is the igniter. I am not mechanically inclined but am getting nowhere with my installer. We have just a handful of nice days left where I live, so I’d really like to get this thing going again and be able to swim! So I’m thinking of taking on the task myself. Or asking my friend’s mechanically-inclined husband. (Mine passed away last year, so I’m having to learn more than I ever cared to).
Also, is this a part that would need to be ordered? Or common enough that a HVAC company might have it on hand? Thanks for any info you can offer.

 

[wireform]

If this is a new heater the parts should be under warranty. If you have a pilot that means something is working. Check what position the knob on the gas valve is in. Not sure but I'd guess it only has a on/off position. I would try to turn it to the off position and then back to the on and then try the heater again.
If you want to open the console where the frog is there's two screws per side on the left and right of the display which when removed will let you swing the display down. I can't see how the frog caused anything but checking it out doesn't hurt.

 

[1poolman1]

Moved from old thread HERE


Hi there, I see this is an older post but I am currently having an issue with my newly installed (6 weeks ago) LP Rheem 206a (raypak) heater. It sparks but does not ignite. Though the screen says “heating”, it’s not. I believe it is the igniter. I am not mechanically inclined but am getting nowhere with my installer. We have just a handful of nice days left where I live, so I’d really like to get this thing going again and be able to swim! So I’m thinking of taking on the task myself. Or asking my friend’s mechanically-inclined husband. (Mine passed away last year, so I’m having to learn more than I ever cared to).
Also, is this a part that would need to be ordered? Or common enough that a HVAC company might have it on hand? Thanks for any info you can offer.

If it says "heating," the control has completed the ignition sequence and has sent voltage to the main portion of the gas valve. The ignitor is good as the heater has is not displaying "SPRK" meaning the pilot is lit. The pilot portion of the main valve is working but the main, "heating" portion may not be. Sounds like a warranty issue. Or, your LP tank may not be full enough.

 

[jessab]

If it says "heating," the control has completed the ignition sequence and has sent voltage to the main portion of the gas valve. The ignitor is good as the heater has is not displaying "SPRK" meaning the pilot is lit. The pilot portion of the main valve is working but the main, "heating" portion may not be. Sounds like a warranty issue. Or, your LP tank may not be full enough.

Thanks for your input. Someone just came out today and he believes it is the igniter. He thinks maybe the propane guy didn’t bleed the liner when he hooked up and that caused some issue with it. He had the part and could have fixed it today, but the propane guy didn’t put a joiner in and he wasn’t comfortable taking apart the whole propane pipe (I don’t understand any of this, btw). In any case, it should be fixed soon. I hope.

 

[jessab]

If this is a new heater the parts should be under warranty. If you have a pilot that means something is working. Check what position the knob on the gas valve is in. Not sure but I'd guess it only has a on/off position. I would try to turn it to the off position and then back to the on and then try the heater again.
If you want to open the console where the frog is there's two screws per side on the left and right of the display which when removed will let you swing the display down. I can't see how the frog caused anything but checking it out doesn't hurt.

Thanks for your input. A tech came today and believes it’s the igniter

 

[wireform]

Thanks for your input. A tech came today and believes it’s the igniter

If it's the igniter, that had nothing to do with the propane guy. But not likely the igniter as explained above.

 

[jessab]

If it's the igniter, that had nothing to do with the propane guy. But not likely the igniter as explained above.

It had to do with the propane guy because he didn’t put a joiner in on initial install which apparently makes it harder to access for servicing.
I’m really hoping you’re wrong and it is the igniter…otherwise I’m out of luck until next year. I realize this is very much a first world problem, but I’d sure like to get a few more days of swimming before the cold weather is here to stay for a while!