02/16/2024
My First PSA:
If you have a pool or pool/spa, please take note. Service technicians, homeowners, property management, or any person who is responsible for a pool.
At your pool equipment pad you should see a pump, filter, heater, and an in-line chlorinator or chlorine generator.
The last two days I received service calls for heaters that were not working.
Both heaters had damage to them caused, in part, due to check valves after the heater and before the chlorine generator that were in need of replacement. One of those heaters was damaged beyond repair even though it was only 2.5 years old.
One of the best pieces of advice that I can give to all pool owners is, routine maintenance on pools is as important to pools as regular maintenance on cars. Lots of pools in SWFL have check-valves. Some are to prevent water back-flowing to the pool when the pump is off. Some are in place to aid in priming the pumps. But the most important check valve in the pool plumbing loop lies between the heater and the chlorinator. When pool pumps turn off at their scheduled time, daily, concentrated chlorine can back flow through the heater if the check-valve is not working correctly.
All pool owners should verify the operation of this check valve routinely, meaning every six months. Check-valves frequently fail in the 3-5 year range and should be replaced as the flap itself can deteriorate, the spring of the check valve can become corroded, causing it to lock in place, rendering it useless, and they can even break off and become wedged in place, reducing water-flow.
The check-valve between the chlorinator and the heater should be replaced every 1-3 years. It takes the most abuse from chlorine as it’s in closest proximity, but it also ensures the maximum heater life expectancy. A simple, inexpensive replacement can save thousands of dollars.
If you have not recently or ever checked the operation of your check-valves, now might be a good time to do so. A brand new check valve has a clear lens to it that you can look through to view the correct operation. If you cannot visibly see the check valve flap open, it’s likely bad or missing. If it’s discolored orange, that likely means the spring is corroded and is no longer working properly. Make sure it opens when you turn the pump on, and closes completely when the pump is turned off.
If you would like for us to inspect or replace the check valves in your pool plumbing loop, give us a call and we will provide an accurate assessment, before you have to deal with heater replacement, costing much more money…
We want your pool to be in great working order, the life of the components maximized, and routine check-valve replacement is a simple way to ensure this.
