Why Does My Pool Heater Smell Like Gas?

Pool and spa heaters offer warm, comfortable swimming and relaxing throughout the year. Almost every pool heating system runs off of a gas line, other than those that take advantage of the sun’s heat. If you have a pool heater on your equipment pad, it’s time to find out why it smells like gas.

Your pool heater smells like gas because it’s leaking from one of the galvanized unions or couplings. A crack or leak will slowly spread gas throughout the area, which can be quite dangerous. Turn off the heater, close the nearest gas line, and call a repairman as soon as possible to seal the leak.

In this post, we’ll cover why you shouldn’t ever smell gas coming from a pool heater, what you can do, and how much gas pressure your heater needs to prevent a leak. We’ll also talk about what causes these common problems and how you can prevent them.

Is It Normal to Smell Gas From a Pool Heater?

It isn’t normal to smell gas from a pool heater because it means something’s leaking or burning inefficiently. You should know where the gas shutoff valve is located, so you can turn it off if you start smelling gas while using the heater. This simple tip can save plenty of repairs and provide peace of mind.

Here’s what you should know about smelling gas from a swimming pool heater:

• Smelling gas from a pool heater means there’s a leak somewhere in the gas line. PC pools explains you should call a repairman to find out what’s causing the gas smell because it could be dangerous. The article goes on to explain that many gasses hang lower to the ground, so you might smell them more on the equipment pad.
• It’s normal to smell gas if you just installed the heater, but that should go away in less than a minute. I’ve installed hundreds of swimming pool heaters and smelling gas is a part of the process. The strong fumes hang around in the galvanized or black pipe long enough for you to smell them when you switch unions, even if the valves are closed.
• Always know where the shutoff valves are located before using a pool heater. Smelling gas isn’t good, but severe problems can be avoided by shutting off the pool’s gas valve. Look for a ball valve with a knob on the gas line, then turn it sideways so it stops. This action will stop the gas from flowing to the swimming pool heater.

If you want to know why your heater smells more gassy than usual, read on.

Why Does Your Pool Heater Smell Like Gas?

If your swimming pool’s heater smells gassy, it’s time to get to the root of the problem. Repairs are an absolute must since something’s wrong.

So, what can you do if something smells a bit off around the heater? Try these four suggestions:

1. There’s a leak on one of the unions caused by vibrations or wear and tear. Pool equipment pads often have subtle vibrations caused by the pump pushing and pulling water. A clogged pool filter can exaggerate the vibrations, shaking the unions and potentially loosening them.
2. A union, coupling, or pipe wasn’t sealed tight enough. It’s important to tighten a pool heater’s gas line with channel locks to prevent leaks. Using your hands won’t be enough to create an airtight seal; You’ll end up smelling gas within a week or less. Always use hand tools to tighten couplings, unions, elbows, and so on.
3. Someone didn’t put enough pipe thread sealant to create a complete seal. The Permatex Black Pipe Joint Compound is what you’re looking for if you want to achieve a top-notch seal on your galvanized or black pipe for your pool heater. It locks away moisture and prevents leaks for many years down the line.
4. The heater is burning inefficiently, causing the cause to leak rather than heat. Old, worn heaters start burning poorly, causing the gas to leak since it’s not being burned properly. Call a pool repairman and have him inspect the heater to find out what parts you need to fix the gas leak.

Can a Pool Heater Overheat?

A pool heater can’t overheat if it has a functioning high-limit switch. A broken high-limit switch prevents the heater from knowing it’s getting too hot, which can scorch the internal components. This issue is incredibly rare, but In the Swim shows it’s worth inspecting the switch regularly if the heater seems too warm to the touch.

You can adjust your pool heater as high as you want but it’ll never overheat if it’s in good condition. The high-limit switch is far warmer than any temperature you could press on the keyboard or membrane screen. Most pool heaters have a high-limit switch that goes up to 135 degrees Fahrenheit (57.2 degrees Celsius).

How Much Gas Pressure Does a Pool Heater Need?

According to Pool Spa News, the average swimming pool heater needs between 4 to 10 inches of WCP. This limit provides enough pressure to keep the pool heated without sending too much gas to overwhelm the heater. The company provides an excellent breakdown of how pool heaters use gas pressure to regulate their temperature output.

Should You Leave a Pool Heater On All Night?

You shouldn’t leave a pool heater on all night because it’ll increase your power bill, cause excess energy consumption, and make your pump work harder throughout the day. All of your pool equipment will have to be replaced sooner since the pump has to run if the heater is on.

Let’s break down a detailed list of why you should leave the pool heater off when it’s nighttime.

• Leaving a pool heater on overnight will drive up its energy consumption. Pool heaters use the pump, gas, and electricity to run. If you leave it on all night, your power bill will go through the roof! I’ve met hundreds of customers whose gas and electricity bills were outlandishly high after running their heater 24/7.
• If you’re not using the pool, there’s no point in heating it. Heating the pool only takes a couple of hours once it reaches a stagnant temperature. You can maintain its ambient temperature with pool blankets to prevent the heat from escaping at night.
• Using a solar blanket can retain a lot of heat in the swimming pool throughout the night. Amazon has plenty of swimming pool blankets that I’ve found to be comparable to the pool stores I’ve worked at. The main advantage is you can have it shipped to your door, but as long as it’s faced with the bubbles down, you’re good to go.
• Running a pool heater too often can cause it to wear down quicker than it should. Pool heaters have far too many parts to keep track of. They’re undeniably the most frustrating and costly thing to repair on your pool equipment pad. There’s no point in running it into the ground by keeping it on throughout the night. Trust me; you’ll thank me later!

Note: Do you have a swimming pool robot? If it’s going in circles, try my quick pool article to fix this common problem.

Final Thoughts

Swimming pools can be complicated and gas lines are worrisome for many homeowners. The good news is they’re often quite easy to repair when it comes to your swimming pool heater. If you’ve never installed or fixed a gas line, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.