Heater running during freeze protection

[voidpointer]

I noticed this morning when I woke up that steam was coming from my spa. For some reason the heater was running when the system went into freeze protection. My best guess is that Jandy's freeze protection mode doesn't disable the heater even if it's left on in standby mode. I typically leave the heater on this way so that it comes on automatically when we use spa mode. Is there a way to configure aqualink to disable the heater during freeze protection?

 

[ajw22]

I noticed this morning when I woke up that steam was coming from my spa. For some reason the heater was running when the system went into freeze protection. My best guess is that Jandy's freeze protection mode doesn't disable the heater even if it's left on in standby mode. I typically leave the heater on this way so that it comes on automatically when we use spa mode. Is there a way to configure aqualink to disable the heater during freeze protection?

Nope.

 

[voidpointer]

Yet another -1 for Jandy...

+1 for "Things I wish I knew before I had my pool built"...

 

[bradgray]

Yet another -1 for Jandy...

+1 for "Things I wish I knew before I had my pool built"...

Same is true for other equipment manufacturers.

You'll need to either turn the "Spa Heater" status to off, or uncheck Freeze Protection for spa mode in the web dashboard of your app.

 

[1poolman1]

I noticed this morning when I woke up that steam was coming from my spa. For some reason the heater was running when the system went into freeze protection. My best guess is that Jandy's freeze protection mode doesn't disable the heater even if it's left on in standby mode. I typically leave the heater on this way so that it comes on automatically when we use spa mode. Is there a way to configure aqualink to disable the heater during freeze protection?

If your system has the spa overflowing during "pool" mode, there is little need to have the spa activate as part of the freeze protection. During freeze protection water moves through the entire system, including the spa, while in pool mode IF the the "spa" port on the return valve doesn't close completely, allowing for continuing water movement.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Same is true for other equipment manufacturers.

I leave my heater enabled for my spa with my Intellicenter and it never turns on during freeze protection.

--Jeff

 

[mknauss]

Same with my easytouch.

 

[bradgray]

If your system has the spa overflowing during "pool" mode, there is little need to have the spa activate as part of the freeze protection. During freeze protection water moves through the entire system, including the spa, while in pool mode IF the the "spa" port on the return valve doesn't close completely, allowing for continuing water movement.

As you reiterated, this doesn't work if the return is cam'd for a complete rotation and the spa relies on a make-up line instead. You'll have some stationary water on the return side and this will result in frozen lines.

But more consequential is the fact that the spa suction is static and will freeze regardless of the return state. Very rarely do we ever permit any level of suction from the spa in pool mode.

 

[bradgray]

I leave my heater enabled for my spa with my Intellicenter and it never turns on during freeze protection.

--Jeff

Same with my easytouch.

While this is the intended behavior of both Pentair and Hayward, we unequivocally do have systems that will cycle the heater every mode change during the Freeze Protect on both. We've asked both of our area reps about this and neither can tell us what is causing it. We've cleared EPROM without success on ET/IC, but a Factory Reset on the Omni will stop it.

Hayward: Given how obnoxious it is to rebuild a config on the Omni, we usually just remove all heater schedules and reserve the heat trigger for a manual Spa Theme instead. And program a perpetual Pool Theme instead of the standard schedules within the bifurcated Filter options.

Pentair: If pool is not being heated, it's easy to just ensure MAN HEAT is ON so that guests can still trigger it when they want to use the spa, but it won't engage on a schedule.
Pentair: If pool IS being heated: We do the above, but we set different schedule parameters so we can isolate Heat Command to OFF during the hours we expect Freeze Protect to engage.

We just do these as best practice so we don't get the calls from annoyed clients about the "WHOOSH" on and off all night. Of course the cycling isn't great for the heater either.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

This is interesting, Brad. Thanks for sharing this. You're definitely seeing more of these than I am.

Good to know that this happens so if someone does come by here with the issue, we now know that it exists.

--Jeff

 

[generessler]

If your system has the spa overflowing during "pool" mode, there is little need to have the spa activate as part of the freeze protection. During freeze protection water moves through the entire system, including the spa, while in pool mode IF the the "spa" port on the return valve doesn't close completely, allowing for continuing water movement.

The spa drain suction line also needs flow. So the suction diverter also can't close completely on the spa side ...at least the way my pool is plumbed. Ask me how I know this .