Pool Heater Chemical Damage

Heat pump pool heaters are a great way to improve comfort and extend your swimming season.

But improper installation and plumbing failure can shorten the life of the heater. Good performance and long, efficient heater life begins with proper installation of the equipment. Do-it-yourselfers can err on the details of an installation, and mistakes with a heat pump pool heater can cost you more money than you lose. Heat pump pool heaters should be respected and installed by someone who knows what they are doing. Installation and maintenance of heat pump water heaters is a profession that requires training and experience.

However, even a perfectly installed heater can be damaged by poor water chemistry. Water imbalances are the cause of pool heater leaks and malfunctions; chief among them is low pH! Anytime the pH gets low - which means your water has gone from fairly neutral to acidic - it starts to eat away at the copper tube bundles in the heat exchanger. Eventually it will cause pinholes in the copper and then leak inside the heater, eventually destroying it.

Low pH makes chlorine more aggressive. Your water may look clear, but low pH levels can only be detected with proper water testing. Other issues include high chlorine levels, high TDS and salt, and high calcium. These conditions can also wreak havoc on the heater.

Swimming pools that fail to follow basic water care will have problems with clogged heaters and leaks. Good water chemistry is critical to the longevity of the heater.

If you have other problems with your pool heat pump, please contact us.