Sta-Rite was founded over 75 years ago in Delavan, Wisconsin (USA) by William C Heath, then President of the A.O. Smith Corporation. From the beginning, Heath was driven to produce pumps, built right to stay right, which, of course, led to the Sta-Rite name. Heath's success with Jets and Centrifugals in the early years led the company to quickly expand into 4" submersible pumps and motors. Today, Sta-Rite sells a wide range of pumps, motors, tanks, controls, and accessories in over 100 countries around the world.

Pool Heaters Repair

For the home, kitchen and beyond, StaRite manufactures appliances that homeowners have come to trust. Even a trustworthy appliance requires occasional maintenance or repair, however. If you’re in need of StaRite appliance repair from experienced professionals, your local Appliance Helper can help.

Gas Pool Heater Won't Turn On 
A gas pool heater not starting is the most common problem and unfortunately can be caused by a number of things. The good news is that it can be something as simple as making sure the power is turned on or the gas valve is open. If the gas pool heater service light is also on, you will most likely need to call a service technician to fix the problem.  
• Make sure the heater switch is in the ON position. This includes the switch on the heater and the main power supply breaker for the heater. 
• Ensure that all valves are in the OPEN position. This includes the gas valve, gas supply valve, plumbing, and filter valves.  
• Make sure the pilot light is lit. If it isn't, continue to the following gas pool heater troubleshooting step.  
• Make sure the thermostat is set to a higher temperature than the current water temperature. If you are using pool automation controls to set your water temperature, check that also. 

Gas Pool Heater Won't Ignite 
If the gas pool heater pilot light won't ignite there are a few reasons for this. It's something that can be checked easily but if the problem isn't visible you may need to call a service professional to inspect further.  
• Ensure that there is gas getting to the heater. Low gas pressure or NO gas can be caused by a closed gas line supply valve, obstructed gas line, or an empty propane supply tank.  
• Make sure there is adequate air supply and venting. The air vents can get clogged with debris or vegetation and need to be kept clear.   
• Pilot light tubing or orifices may be clogged. They can become clogged by dust, dirt, insects, or vegetation over time.  
• Ensure there is no internal moisture or water. Water from rain, snow, eavestroughs, or sprinklers can prevent ignition and cause rust to form.  

Gas Pool Heater Cycles On and Off Frequently 
Gas pool troubleshooting can be tedious when the problem isn't easily recognized and needs a thorough investigation and it might be required for this issue. If the cycling on and off is accompanied by loud banging noises then be sure to read heater is making loud noises below.  
• Inadequate water flow or malfunctioning pressure sensor. Low water pressure can be caused by an improperly sized pool pump, dirty filters, closed or partially closed valves, an external bypass that needs adjusting, or the water connection is reversed. If you have ample water pressure, you may have a faulty water pressure switch that needs to be replaced.  
• Faulty thermostat. If you have determined that the thermostat is set correctly, you may have a thermostat that is faulty or out of calibration. 
• Heat exchanger has lime or calcium buildup. Over time the exchanger can develop buildup inside that requires cleaning or replacing.  

Water Isn't Reaching Desired Temperature 
If your pool water isn't reaching the desired temperature there are a few things that might be causing this frustrating issue. It might be a complex issue that will take a bit of research and learning about your pool if you haven't done so already. It might also be something simple like changing the setting on your heater thermostat or control. 
• Thermostat is set incorrectly or malfunctioning. Take a look at the heater thermostat on the unit itself and if you are using a mobile or automated control, double-check that it's set properly as well.  
• Heater is too small. There are pool heater sizing calculations that will give you an idea if your heater has enough BTUs to keep your pool heated based on water volume and ambient air temperature.  
• Ensure the gas line valve is open and unobstructed. See above for more information about checking gas lines.  
• The high limit switch is being activated. The high limit switch might be getting activated due to overheating caused by poor ventilation or the heater being overworked due to improper sizing. The remedy is a larger heater or supplementing with a solar-powered pool heater, electric heater, or heat pump pool heater.   

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out 
If you manage to get the pilot light lit intermittently but it goes out before heating the pool completely, you may have a number of things happening. This step of gas pool heater troubleshooting can be difficult if there is no pattern to the pilot light extinguishing.  
• Ensure the pilot light isn't being forced out by wind or water. Direct sprinklers and rain spout away from the heater. You may need a pool heater wind stack to prevent wind from reaching the pilot light.  
• Make sure there is an adequate gas supply. See above for recommendations about gas supply. 
• The pilot light may need replacing. Use a multimeter to test for output to see if it is low or not powering at all.