Re-Lax

Eventually got the pump/system to prime and it's up and running.I guess you need patience.....lots of patience. Never got to vacuum prior to this. Thanks for the response

My heater is dead. It is the original one and actually stopped working several years ago. For more than a few years we decided to use the pool and spa as is during the summer and that's it. These old bones could use a good dunk in the spa everyday and my wife and I are looking to lengthen our pool season in Connecticut. With that being said it's time to replace our heater. The heater we have in the system right now is a Hayward natural gas 375,000 btu with copper input and outlet lines. The burners and their rack have corroded over time. It was an OK heater but I'm sure there have been several improvements since this dinosaur was installed in 1988. Looking at the heater the plumbing enters on the left side with the controls and door in the front. I would like the same configuration so that I can minimize plumbing pipe changes. I would like a recommendation for a good quality heater to replace this with. We used to have a pilot light (it was blown out often), I assume that electronic ignition is the way to go? The gas feed line is 1.25 or 1.5" black pipe approx 60+ feet from the gas meter. I think the supply might work for most size heaters. I'm thinking that we need at least a 375,00o btu or larger natural heater. All thoughts and advice are welcome. It should be an easy switch out since everything is in place. I would like to go straight in plastic to plastic rather than plastic to copper as we have now. Thanks from

Good day....... I'm new to the forum.....it looks great and very informative I've had an in-ground plaster pool (free-form approx 16x36 with attached spa) for years(CT) I am the original owner, it was built in 1988 by Aqua Pools. When the filtration pump and heater was originally installed they were located approx 3-5 feet above the pool level. Every year when we open it is always a challenge to get the system primed. Yesterday, I changed out the hard to turn valves on the suction lines (pool and spa)and reassembled the system. For the life of me I cannot get this thing to prime. I pour buckets of water into the pump basket to get the filter tank filled and then try to get a prime. I also added a gate valve which was cut out the last time the filter and pump were replaced several years ago. I also added a cross coupling with cap/plug between the suction lines so that I can fill one line (pool or spa) with the other valve closed as I try to get the lines filled with water to reduce the amount of air as best as i can. I keep one suction valve (spa) closed and open the pool suction and let er rip. But I still cannot get the proper lift to get this rolling My question is: What is the best way to get this started? Yes,the system works and it has every year but why in God's name does it take a crazy amount of time to get this thing primed. From the spa bottom suction line it is approx 35'to the pump. The pool skimmer/suction is approx 17'away. I must be something wrong..I'm certainly not a professional....just a pool owner that does most of his own work and could probably be better informed. Any help or thoughts are appreciated ...thanks in advance.