I have a 12±year-old Jandy LRZ heater. When it’s running, I hear occasional spatters like BBQ flare-ups. Sometimes, I see something burning and the flames turn yellow briefly. It also smells like burning. I just turned it on today after a week of it being off, with the cover open. Is this normal for a heater of this age?
Thanks!
Those heaters will produce condensation. What you’re hearing is the condensation forming on the outside of the exchanger and dripping into the burner tray. I had a customer with the same heater, and it did the same thing.
@DiveDeepDreamer Does it have anything to do with a bad unitherm governor?
The LRZ heater has design flaws that prevent it from burning gas and air properly, leading to excessive soot buildup. Jandy quickly discontinued it because of these issues. It’s better to invest in a different, safer heater.
@AquaAdventurer Thanks! I think it’s time to get a new heater. Do you have any recommendations for reliable models? I was considering a lower BTU Hayward model, since my pool is 20,000 gallons.
That’s not normal. It might be due to one or more issues, so you should have a certified pool heater expert check it out. Broken gas heaters can cause a lot of damage.
Are you certain your heater is free of leaves or insects?