Replace heat exchanger on HaywardH400FDN

[davidl81]

Guys,
Has anyone replaced a Hayward heat exchanger before. Mine cracked in the freeze. It looks fairly simple and the part is $800ish. I’m guessing it a repair guy does it it will cost me double. If anyone has done one before are there any hints/tricks etc?

 

[swamprat69]

Haven't done it, but make sure you also include exhaust side gasket kit ( FDXLGSK1931 ) and any needed header O-rings.

 

[davidl81]

I just took off the panels and got a good look at the leak. It seems to be leaking from the header and not the heat exchanger itself. I may have lucked out as the header is a fairly simple replacement and only about $200. I’m going to order one and update everyone here on if it worked or not.

 

[jeff2656]

Hi David. I have a similar problem so wondering how yours worked out. In my case, was leaking at the header ... but was due to cracked pipe right where it connects to the header. Due to the location of the damage, a repairman told me it would be too difficult to repair (versus if the leak was in the middle of a tube. Replacement heat exchangers are expensive and in relatively short supply. (I see some in Australia for 1/4 the price ... but those might be scams ... and shipping would be outrageous, I imagine.) What I've done as a band-aid is to put two o-rings in place of the spacer + o-ring combination. I know that won't hold for long, even if I don't use the heater but at least it's not leaking and I can clean the pool until heat exchangers are more available ... and hopefully the price comes down a bit!!

 

[RobfromKaty]

Hi David. I have a similar problem so wondering how yours worked out. In my case, was leaking at the header ... but was due to cracked pipe right where it connects to the header. Due to the location of the damage, a repairman told me it would be too difficult to repair (versus if the leak was in the middle of a tube. Replacement heat exchangers are expensive and in relatively short supply. (I see some in Australia for 1/4 the price ... but those might be scams ... and shipping would be outrageous, I imagine.) What I've done as a band-aid is to put two o-rings in place of the spacer + o-ring combination. I know that won't hold for long, even if I don't use the heater but at least it's not leaking and I can clean the pool until heat exchangers are more available ... and hopefully the price comes down a bit!!

I had the same thing happen to my H500FDN during the freeze. My pool was completed the week before the freeze so my equipment was brand new. Hayward repair guy said it wasn't worth repairing, but its been impossible to get a heat exchanger.