Pool Heater Repair or Replacement: How to Tell
Not every heater problem means a new unit — here's how to tell the difference.
Signs a Repair Might Be Enough
- Pilot light won't stay lit, or ignition fails intermittently
- Digital display shows a service code without a rollout/safety trip
- Heats slower than it used to, but still reaches temperature
- Unit is under 8 years old and otherwise in good shape
Signs You Likely Need a New Pool Heater
- Repeatedly trips its safety switch — often a worn, rusted, or cracked heat exchanger
- Won't heat at all despite the pilot and ignition working fine
- Visible rust or corrosion on the cabinet or heat exchanger
- An older gas unit at 8-12+ years, needing repeat repairs
What a Pool Heater Installation Involves
A clean swap that accounts for your existing gas line, venting, and electrical — not just a box dropped on the pad.
- Old heater removed and disconnected from gas, plumbing, and electrical
- New heater set, connected to your existing gas line, and vented correctly
- Plumbed in-line with the pump and filter, and wired to the equipment pad
- Full startup, ignition test, and temperature check before we consider the job done
- Typically completed in a single day
Gas Heaters & Heat Pumps, Installed Right
ACE Pool Repair & Remodel is an authorized Jandy warranty service center, and Jandy JXi/JXiQ is what we install most often on new jobs. That said, most heater calls are repairs on whatever's already installed — so we regularly diagnose and repair Pentair MasterTemp heaters, Hayward H-Series heaters and Raypak heaters, which we see most often on commercial pools, and other major gas heater brands too. We also install heat pumps for pools where lower monthly running cost matters more than fast heat-up time.
Most heater estimates are put together remotely from a few clear photos, often confirmed the same day. If you're not sure what's actually wrong, an on-site diagnostic visit is $150, credited toward the job if you move forward with a new heater.
See everything else we handle on the Pool Equipment hub, including pumps, salt systems, and filters.
Get Your Free Estimate
Tell us what your heater is doing — we'll follow up with a fast remote estimate, or schedule a diagnostic visit if needed.
Get a Free QuoteA gas heater heats a pool fast — a few hours, regardless of the weather — which makes it the better fit if you want the pool ready on short notice. A heat pump costs less to run month to month and typically lasts longer, but it heats more slowly and works best when it isn't too cold outside. We install and repair both, and can help you weigh which one actually fits how you use your pool.
