When you first installed your swimming pool, you probably thought you’d get a ready-made peaceful oasis where you could unwind after a hectic day. And, at the start, that was what you got. Lately, though, your nightly swims haven’t been as enjoyable because your pool has been making strange, off-putting sounds.
These noises are likely coming from your pool heater. Banging, whistling, and humming noises are common pool heater problems, and they can be caused by several factors.
Clark County Pool & Lawn, a pool repairs expert in Las Vegas, lists common reasons for noisy pool heaters.
1. Faulty Pressure Switch
The pressure switch ensures the correct amount of incoming water is present before it turns the heater on. If the pressure switch is faulty, it could be restricting the flow of water into the heat pump, creating whistling or grating noises.
The solution is to replace the defective pressure switch. Doing so isn’t difficult, as long as you use the manufacturer’s manual as a guide. The manual tells you which switch to buy for your heater and how to install it.
If you’re not confident with your DIY pool repair knowledge and skills, you can always call a professional technician to do it for you.
2. Gas Pressure Issue
Insufficient gas supply is a common culprit of many heater failure problems, so check your gas pressure. You can do this using a manometer, which you can buy from any hardware or pool supply store. Connect the manometer to the pipe plug to take the gas pressure reading.
The recommended gas pressure level is 3.7 to 4.0 inches water column (WC) for natural gas and 10.5 to 11.0 inches WC for propane. If the reading is on the low side, it could mean the heater isn’t venting properly or that the air getting to the heater isn’t sufficient, which would then lead to whistling noises.
You need to adjust the gas valve if the gas pressure is too low. Fortunately, it’s easy to do so. The gas valve has an adjustment screw; turn it clockwise with the heater running and the manometer still attached until you’ve reached the correct pressure.
3. Calcium Buildup
Calcium builds up in your pool when the pH levels of the water are off, which forms hard water. This will be an issue if you don’t address it soon. Hard water leaves unsightly deposits on the tiles, similar to what happens in your bathtub, bathroom sink, and toilet, and turn your water cloudy.
If the calcium scaling has accumulated enough that it’s visible at the waterline, it’s likely that it’s already developed inside the pool’s pipes and heater pump as well. The calcium deposits clog the heat exchanger and block the water flow, resulting in grinding noises.
To remove the calcium buildup, you first have to scrub the pool tiles clean using either vinegar or tile cleaning products. Next, soften your pool water by draining it several inches then refilling using your garden hose.
Finally, call a pool service company, so they can remove the calcium deposits from your heat exchanger.
If you still hearing strange noises from your pool after going through this list, it’s time to seek the services of a pool heater repair expert. They’ll find the root cause of all the noise and come up with a solution to prevent it from intruding on your relaxation time again.
Residential Pool Repair Services in Las Vegas
Clark County Pool & Lawn provides a range of pool repair services to residences in Las Vegas. Our team keeps your pool water clean and your pool equipment functioning all year round, so you can enjoy a refreshing swim anytime you want.
Fill out our online form to request a free estimate on your pool heater repair.
Ths is very easy to solve… You just need to raise the PH of your pool or spa to between 7.2 and 7.6. I have the same problem and it only happens when the water is too alkaline. I have had two Hayward 400’s and two Jandy 400’s at different residences and every time I get the popping sound in the heater, I add acid to the pool to adjust the PH and the problem is solved
I was getting a loudish humming noise from my pool heater about 20 minutes after it was heating. Turn it on and off several times the same day, then the last time I turned it back on (the same day), the noise had disappeared. That was in early June. Today I had the heater “heating” and about a5 minutes later that loud humming noise started again, so I turned the temperature setting down low so the heating stopped, and the noise went away.
Not to complicate this, but just to mention that earlier this week I was have some problems vacuuming, reduction in the suction. I was able to vacuum the pool but had constant air bubbles blowing out the jets whilst vacuuming. When I disconnected the hose from the skimmer, the cloth sleeve on the basket was floating upwards (full of air) even though the pump was still on. I also notice the pump pressure whilst vacuuming had dropped, but went back up once I disconnected the hose (and removed the (hose) plate that sits atop of the skimmer basket whilst vacuuming.