It’s been a long day. You’re tired, you’ve been standing on your feet all day, and you’re sore. You know exactly what you need — a nice long soak in your pool.

So you get into your bathing suit, grab a towel, and make your way down to the pool. You jump in and … oh no! It’s FREEZING!

If you find yourself in this situation, then you know that something’s gone wrong with your pool heater. But troubleshooting your pool heater is hardly an easy task. In this article, we’re here to help you avoid pool heater service by giving you some diagnostic ideas that you can use to check what’s going on with your dysfunctional pool heater.

Heater Cycles Off Before Getting Warm

Is your heater cycling on and off but doesn’t get up to the desired temperature? This could be due to a few different problems, but it’s most likely due to one overarching issue: poor water flow.

Several elements in the heater design could cause poor water flow. Chief among these is a clogged water filter or a closed valve. So make sure that the filter is free of debris and all valves are set too wide open.

Heater Refuses to Ignite

Is your heater just straight-up refusing to ignite? Several reasons cause this. First and foremost, make sure that the dial on the heater is set to on. This may seem elementary, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who don’t check for this simple error.

Next, check your thermostat. If the temperature isn’t set to a temperature higher than the current water temperature, then your heater won’t ignite as it hasn’t been instructed to change the water temperature. If you have an external heater bypass installed, then you’ll need to check that it’s been properly adjusted to allow the heater to turn on.

If your heater’s ignition system is powered by propane, check out this helpful post to troubleshoot further.

There’s a Leak!

Is there a leak somewhere in your pool heater system? If so, rest assured that this issue is probably the culprit. A leak can spring for a few different reasons. If any sharp debris goes into the system, that could puncture a hole.

But what’s more likely a result of chemical overuse. An overabundance of chemicals can result in a part of the piping system being eaten through by the harsh chemicals, resulting in a handy place for your water to drain out of your system. Of course, the leak could also be due to something as simple as a loose drain plug. Just follow the system to find the location of the leak, and plug it up accordingly.

Avoid Pool Heater Service! Troubleshoot First

There you have it — with the knowledge of these common pool heater problems under your belt, you’re well on your way towards avoiding having to get pool heater service contractors to come out. Why pay for something you can fix yourself?

For more home improvement advice, be sure to check out the rest of the articles on the website!