POOL & HOT TUB HEATING
Woodmaster Pool Heating System is an easy inexpensive way to heat a swimming pool or a hot tub. A B-Line (stainless steel nickel-bonded shell and tube) heat exchanger coupled with a 3-way zone valve and controlled by a Ranco electronic controller with a temperature read out make up the Woodmaster Pool Heating System. A Valutech (copper-nickel tube side, bronze-cast iron shell side) heat exchanger is substituted for saltwater pools and spas. Pool Heater Kits are available in two sizes for different size of pool heaters. There are some important installation TIPs to follow to have a successful installation.
TIP: Mount the heat exchanger upstream from any chlorine injection or chlorine adding system. The pool heater will stand the chlorinated water after it is diluted but cannot withstand the higher concentration of chlorine directly after the chlorine input.
TIP: The pool heater must be mounted so a cross-flow is setup between the pool water and the boiler water. This means the pool water must enter the heater on the same end as the boiler water is exiting then the pool water is exiting on the same end that the boiler water is entering thus a cross-flow. A cross-flow will create better heat transfer plus it will help stop deterioration of the heater tube walls caused by higher surface temperature walls reacting to chlorinated water.
TIP: Use high temperature PVC or CPVC for the first foot or so away from the heater on the pool side. The pool heater will become hot enough to melt standard PVC or at least melt the threads on the fittings so they would leak. CPVC may be hard to find in some areas if so go to Charlotte Pipe on the Internet to find help locating a distributor.
TIP: Always wire the controller transformer or power source to the same circuit as the pool circulator pump. Some pool systems have timers or other control on the circulation pump that will shut down the pump and sometimes maintenance issues may require the pump to be shut off. By wiring the controller on this circuit the zone valve on the heater, which needs power to open, will always be closed when there is no pool circulation though the heater. Allowing the heater to heat without pool circulation would cause the heater to become hot enough to melt even CPVC connections.
TIP:Check the PH level of the pool water some pool chloride chemicals can significantly lower the PH of the pool water. Low PH enhanced by the high temperatures of the heater can cause deterioration of the heater. Proper PH level should be 7.2 to 7.6.
TIP: When installing Salt Water pool heaters because of their design the manufacturer recommends the body of the heater should be grounded to help prevent electrolysis deterioration.