Pool heaters are expensive pieces of equipment that need to be carefully maintained. They allow pool owners to extend the swimming season to varying degrees, and with the right combination of technologies, it is possible to use a pool all year. When a pool heater breaks, it can be expensive to replace or repair, so it is important to know how to take care of one. In this article, we will describe the maintenance requirements of your pool and what signs you should look out for when it’s time for a professional service or repair.
When it Runs Dry
You should never attempt to run your pool water pumps, filters or heaters when there is no water feeding into them or they are empty. Water is incompressible, but air is compressible. This means that running pumps without water can lead to all sorts of pressure fluctuations and chemical reactions that the systems are not designed to handle. Over very short periods of time, most hardware can handle irregularities, but running pool heating equipment without water can cause it to break down. This is just one reason to get a pool cover to reduce the rate of evaporation from your pool.
Book a Service Before the Swimming Season
Whether or not you suspect there is a problem with your heater and pool hardware, it is a good practice to book a swimming pool service before the warmer months so you can be confident that your system is working.
Poor Performance
Different kinds of pool heaters work differently, so it is not always easy to determine whether it is environmental conditions or mechanical failure that is causing your pool to heat irregularly. Gas heating is a consistent heat source that should give rise to a predictable rate of heating. Heat pumps, on the other hand, are somewhat dependent on the ambient air temperature, and solar pool heating depends on the combination of air temperature and sunlight intensity. While these variable factors can change the degree and rate of heating available from these systems, pay attention to their performance so you can spot when they are performing poorly. If you are in any doubt, book a pool heater repair.
Energy Costs Are an Indicator
Sometimes it's not obvious that your pool heater is struggling as it may still be doing its job. It might just be working twice or three times as hard as it needs to due to partially blocked pipes, corroded electrical connections or any number of mechanical faults. If your energy costs are higher than usual, there could be a problem with your pool heater.
Contact Local Pool Heating
Local Pool Heating are Sydney’s experts in pool heating with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. We know our way around all pool heating technologies and can help you out if you are having problems. Call us today on 0425 332 944 or enquire online.