Welcome to the Heat Siphon Digital Models Support Page

Is your Heat Siphon DIGITAL?

Look at the nameplate for the model number and if it STARTS WITH A "D" or a "Z" then it's DIGITAL. Current digital models have a WHITE Player Overlay instead of the Black one pictured here.

Look at the front - if your Heat Siphon has a KNOB instead of the digital display shown here - it's ANALOG. All Analog models used a black plastic knob and an electro-mechanical thermostat, until May 2010 when we switched to an electronic TimerStat. Four months later, a Stainless Steel Knob replaced the black plastic one. The Analog knob was on the lower right corner of the big control box door on the center left of the backpanel.

Some ANALOG models may have the same gray cabinet as the DIGITAL MODELS and the doors are the same, with a blank door in the upper left covering the digital control pocket, and just below that door a larger door with a knob in the lower right corner.

In February of 2014, all Analog Models switched to the TimerStat Plus have the knob on the upper "Digital Pocket" Door and they can be converted to Digital by just replacing them with the Digital Player Door and changing a few plugs in the control box.

On all DIGITAL models the DIGITAL PLAYER control circuit is the brain and EACH control switch, sensor or contactor has wires running directly to it from the PLAYER. If any control is "open" or faulty it will prevent your Heat siphon from starting and the PLAYER WILL DISPLAY AN ERROR CODE. Troubleshooting merely involves reading the error code and looking up the cause and corrective action.

When you apply power to your Heat Siphon® through the disconnect and circuit breaker, usually one of three things will happen:

Your Heat siphon does nothing

Troubleshooting Steps

• Is power on? - it sounds stupid but MANY MANY service calls can be avoided if this simple check is done - Check both your main Circuit Breaker and your Heat Siphon Circuit Breaker.
• Thermostat set too low? - turn fully clockwise - your unit should come on
• Pool pump on and valves properly set? - again AVOID UNECESSARY service expense and check your pool pump and valves
• Water flow confirmed from pool through heater and back to pool? sometimes you can hear the water flow though the unit and feel the pump vibration in the piping but in any case check the return for a strong water jet back into your pool.
• Air too cold? -Air temperature below approx.. 42°F will shut unit off automatically to prevent icing. (Wait for air temperature to reach 45° F to 48° F - unit should automatically reset and turn itself on)
• Time delay activated by brief power interruption? (Wait 5 minutes - unit should restart)
• Is breaker tripped? You may have a bad breaker or faulty wiring, loose wires or poor connection in the junction box . Have your installer check the wiring and breaker. NOTE: Some brands of GFI type breakers are extremely sensitive and are susceptible to false tripping. Have your installer check all wiring between the unit and the breaker and make sure the breaker is wired right.
• Call your dealer. - His first step should be to check & adjust the water flow switch

List of Potential Component failures

The following list is incomplete because you can never anticipate everything, but these are the most common sources of a "DOES NOTHING" symptom:

• mice chewed thru control wires
• contactor malfunction
• time delay malfunction
• compressor malfunction
• refrigerant leak

 

Tries to Start then Does Nothing

Troubleshooting Steps

• Time delay activated by brief power on/off? - Wait 5 minutes-unit should restart. NOTE. The combination of a cold pool (below about 50°F) and a low air temperature (below about 45°F) MAY cause temporary on off cycling of the Heat Siphon®. A pool cover and /or 50°F air temperature will eliminate this cycling and allow normal heating operation to resume.
• Is the air below 45°F to 48°F and the pool water cold? - Wait for air temperature and/or pool to reach 50°F - unit should restart automatically and resume normal heating
• Is the pool filter clean and pool water flow stable? - A clogged filter or air leak in the pool pump return line can cause erratic water flow and air in the lines which in turn can cause Heat Siphon® to cycle- restore the correct water flow.
• Is the fan running when the unit is running? - if not call dealer

List of Potential Component failures

The following list is incomplete because you can never anticipate everything, but these are the most common sources of a "TRIES TO START" symptom:

• flow switch malfunction
• time delay malfunction
• run capacitor malfunction
• refrigerant leak

 

Runs But Doesn’t Heat

Troubleshooting Steps

NOTE: If Heat Siphon®’s air outlet is noticeably (5 to 10°F) cooler than the inlet air, then YOUR UNIT IS WORKING PROPERLY AND PROVIDING HEAT TO YOUR POOL. The unit may not have been running long enough to heat the pool, or the unit may be undersized.

CHECK THESE BEFORE CALLING YOUR DEALER:

• Air leaving colder? - If not call dealer. The air coming out of the top of your Heat Siphon should be 3 to 10°F COLDER than ambient air. If it is then your Heat Siphon MUST BE taking heat from the air and putting it in your pool or spa. If your still not gaing temperature the air is likely TOO COLD or RECIRCULATING back into your Heat Siphon OR your unit is UNDERSIZED. Initial very slow refrigerant leaks mimic this condition BUT NOT FOR LONG. CALL YOUR DEALER
• Pool pump running long enough each day? Normally 12-14 hours/day is sufficient if Heat Siphon ® is sized properly (let pool pump run continuously for 24 hours to find time required-if not heating call dealer)
• Is there abnormally high heat loss? No cover on extremely windy day? (Cover pool and run pool pump 24 hours. If still not heating call dealer)

List of Potential Component failures

The following list is incomplete because you can never anticipate everything, but these are the most common sources of a "TRIES TO START" symptom:

• fan motor malfunction
• refrigerant leak

 

It Leaks Water

Troubleshooting Steps

Water leaking could be CONDENSATION from the cooling of very humid air OR A REAL POOL WATER LEAK:

• TEST THE LEAK WATER FOR CHLORINE - capture water coming from HEAT SIPHON and use your pool water test kit to check for chlorine, etc.
• Pool pump running long enough each day? Normally 12-14 hours/day is sufficient if Heat Siphon ® is sized properly (let pool pump run continuously for 24 hours to find time required-if not heating call dealer)
• Is there abnormally high heat loss? No cover on extremely windy day? (Cover pool and run pool pump 24 hours. If still not heating call dealer)

List of Potential Component failures

The following list is incomplete because you can never anticipate everything, but these are the most common sources of a "TRIES TO START" symptom:

• fan motor malfunction
• refrigerant leak

 

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