Starite Heater Noise

[waste]

Andy, no problem. All to need for this is a screwdriver , though a 5/16" nutdriver makes it easier to remove the screws that hold the cover together. I remove the bottom 2 first then the top 2 - when you take out the last screw use your knee to hold the front 1/2 and your free hand to catch the back side (keep track of the screws! - they have a tendency to wander off). Turn on the unit and adjust the desired temp so that the unit will continue to heat and make the noise.

OK, now that the cover is off, step around to the backside of the unit and locate the "combination gas control valve", which is very easy as it's the box on the gas line with the on/off switch or knob. On the left side you'll see a ~ 1/2 " screw - unscrew it to reveal another screwhead. The revealed screw adjusts the flow of gas to the heater, this is what you'll use to fix the problem. TURN THE SCREW SLOWLY AND NO MORE THAN 1/8 OF A TURN AT A TIME!!!!! - this is a very sensitive adjustment. Always give it a few seconds between turns. If you turn it clockwise and the noise gets louder or worse, wait a few seconds and turn it counter clockwise. Make any adjustments using small turns (I can't stress this enough!), this is why the pool guy said it may take a few visits to nail it down - the 'sweet spot' is usually very small. You may have to adjust it a few times to get it to stay quiet - if it goes from 'whining' to 'fluttering' you've gone too far.

If anything unusual happens while you're doing this, shut off the unit and kill the gas to it and call the gas company!!!!!

I hope that I've empowered you to be able to take care of it yourself, be safe! while playing with it. - Ted

[myLABSpool]

Ted,
Thanks for the detailed instructions. I can definitely follow those if I need to at a later date. For now I'll leave the adjustment to the PB, but at least I'm empowered if it starts again.

My problem is so intermittent, I share this in case it generates any other thoughts. The noise only starts after the heater has been running for a while (30 mins plus) and seems to occur some days and not others. I'm guessing the intermittent sound could be because of atmospheric conditions, temp, pressure and RH. For example on Saturday it was howling after 1/2 hour of running and it would fade in and out, but Saturday it was mostly noisy. It's a shrill almost painful harmonic. As I removed the cowling on the side of the blower inlet the noise stopped and as soon as I'd put the cowling back on the noise would come back. It's hard to believe that the cover could change the airflow by that much? However from what you've told me about how sensitive the adjustment is, it would seem to me that I must be very close to the ideal setting.

It's a beautiful fact that I'm worried about my heater here in Rochester NY on October 1st and we're still swimming outside. It's been 75-80 almost every day and expected to be so for the next 7 days. It's been a great first year for our pool, swimming since May 9th and counting.

Thanks again.
Andy