How To Light My Pool Heater Pilot?

Are Hot Tubs Safe For Pregnant Women?

Pregnancy is a delicate process to ensure the safe and healthy development of your baby. While you are pregnant, expected mothers should be careful about using spas or hot tubs. Why?!

Anytime during pregnancy there are certain risks that you do not want to consider in order to avoid harming your fetus. A side from the obvious risks such as smoking and drinking alcohol, the spa or hot tub can be very damaging to the healthy growth and development of your fetus. This is especially true within the first trimester of pregnancy. This is the crucial stage of neurological and brain development during the first few weeks. Anytime water temperatures exceed 100 degrees, research has shown to cause neural tube defects and possibly increase your risk of miscarriage.  If you overextend your time in a spa or even in a hot bath your unborn baby could sustain irreversible damage as a result. The worst part of this is, most women may not even know they are pregnant yet so be careful.

Once you are through your first trimester and your medical doctor has cleared you, you should be safely able to use the hot tub without much concern. While the risk of hurting your baby via hot tub is minimal at this stage, you should still always take some precautions.

When using a hot tub during pregnancy, you should make sure that the water is not too hot. Again, never enter the hot tub if the water temperature exceed 100 degrees F. Always carefully monitor and minimize your duration time in the spa. Short periods of time is always best. This can still be very enjoyable even when you are having to monitor your exposure for the safety and well being of you unborn child.

You will also want to make sure that the water is extremely clean before you enter it. Any bacteria or virus’s in the water could cause infections and that is something you do not want to have to be dealing with during pregnancy. This is always easily monitored if you are fortunate enough to have your own swimming pool or spa. Properly chlorinated pools and swimming pool equipment operation is very important to avoid potential problems for you down the road. Public swimming pools tend to have a greater risk of hotter temperatures and higher bacteria content in the water.

Some people might say that it is fine to use a hot tub during at time of pregnancy and at any temperature. That is not information you want to be following. You should always make sure the water temperature is cool; anywhere under 100*F. You should also not use a hot tub in your first trimester, and always make sure the water is very clean.

How much electricity does my pool heater use?

In-ground swimming pools typically use one of two types of pool heaters; a gas heater or electric heat pump. Most all gas style swimming pool heaters utilized either a 120 / 240Voltage connections. The only exception is a millivolt heater which has a constantly burning pilot and utilizes no electrical connections. In most every other case pool heater manufacturers allow you the option for the gas heater to be wired 120/ 240Volts. The purpose for the gas heater to be wired is strictly for the electronic spark to ignite the burners. Very minimal electricicy is used for this purpose.

As for the swimming pool heat pumps, these are typically wired direct to 240Volts AC current. The pool heat pump operates similar to a air conditioning unit by circulating a refrigerant for the heating purpose.

The only other exception to these types of pool heaters are for above ground pools or above ground spas. Most of these above ground units utilize a heater coil which is in most cases either a 120Volt or 240Volt heating device. These heating coil devises along consume the most amount of electricity out of every style pool heater out there.

What is a Pool Heater Fireman Switch?

No it isn’t when you call 911 and have the fire department respond to your house just to make sure your pool heater is turned on properly – haha!

Most swimming pool equipment sets have a fireman switch build into the time clock or swimming pool automation control system. This fireman switch device which is commonly referred to as a “fireman switch” because it protects the pool heat exchanger and plumbing lines against damage as a direct result of a lack of water circulation within the system. The fireman switch ensures the that the pool heater is turned off 30 minutes prior to the pool filtration pump being turned off. The shut down system is typically automated and will generate a delay when the pool pump is shut down prior to the pool heater being properly shut down. This will ensure adequate water circulation to allow the water to cool down and not damage the plumbing lines. Most all the pool heaters manufactured today have Fire Tile, which dissipates the heat immediately, so a fireman’s switch is no longer required for most application today.

Always consult a licensed pool heater repair company for proper installation or repair!

Hayward Pool Heater Problems

Stage 1

Turn the thermostat up until the unit comes on. If your pool heater just isn’t working and you have a mechanical thermostat control. It may not be turned up high sufficient. Ensure the 5-minute delay has passed in case the delay timer is now in working operation. Now check to make sure you have a normal water within your swimming pool. Make certain the filter pump is on and unhook all cleaning devices. This will allow proper water flow is entering into the heater to ensure all the heater safety checks are met and the heater is receiving a signal that the internal safety checks are complete and the heater now knows it is okay to fire.

Stage 2

Now that you are running your filter pump and you have turned up your thermostat, make sure the heater switch is turned on. The heater should begin to spark or make a clicking noise. If you still do not hear a clicking noise from you heater, it means your pool heater has not passed all of its safety check. This could be a direct result from a number issues. One of the most common is due to a dirty pool filter. Try backwashing your pool filter or cleaning your cartridge filter. This might solve your issue. If this is not the case, you may have to call in a service technician to perform additional checks on your unit.

Stage 3

Once you receive a spark or clicking noise from your heater and the pool heater still does not fire, check the gas supply to the pool heater. Make sure the gas valve at the main gas meter is in the “on” position. The “on” positions is indicated when the pet cock is in-line with the gas pipe. If the pet cock is horizontal, this means your pet cock is in the off position and it needs to be turned to the in-line position. This only takes a quarter turn with an adjustable wrench. Do not force it, you might be turning it in the wrong direction. Try turning it in the opposite direction to open the pet cock. There is also a pet cock at the pool gas heater that needs to be placed in the on position. If this does not solve your problems you will need to consult with a pool service professional for further diagnosis. This could be a result of many things from a bad gas valve, a leaking gas main to the heater not producing enough gas flow to the heater. Alway have an pool service expert check this out for proper diagnosis.

Foe more information on Pool heaters and supplies please visit: Reliable Pool Solutions