red8174 Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Hi. Looking for some suggestions. I recently moved my Hot Springs - Grandee tub and refilled it. I am now having a problem where my no-fault PDR heater will work for about 20 minutes and then trip the internal limit in the heater. It does not trip the high limit on the control board. If I turn off the 30 amp heater breaker for about 15 minutes and then turn the breaker back on, the heater will reset itself and then come on again for about 20 minutes before going off again on the heater's internal limit. I have remmoved the filter, verified that the circulating pump is running and I appear to have good flow through the heater. There is good suction at the filter intake, and I have disconnected the water lines at each connection one at a time to verify that I am getting good flow and don't have a restriction somewhere. I have removed the heater and verifed that there is nothing clogged and have made sure that I don't have any air lock problems. Both the heater and the circulating pump were replaced new in 2008. I am at wits end as to whether I have a heater problem or a flow problem. I would lean toward a heater problem but everybody says these heaters either work or don't work and my logic says that is could be a flow problem but it shouldn't take that long to trip the internal limit if it is a flow problem. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PreservedSwine Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 "There is good suction at the filter intake" Is this with the filter in place, and the filter cap removed, covering the top of the filter with your hand to check for suction? Or did you remove the entire filter and standpipe, and check for suction? There is only one possibility if the flow is good through the pump, read closely... The waterfall tee's off between the circ pump and the heater. So if you have good flow through the waterfall, if there's hardness buildup in the heater itself, or somewhere on the return side of the plumbing... you'll have poor flow through the heater, but great flow through the waterfall, and... the heater will overheat. Close the waterfall, roll up your sleeves, and feel the water coming out of the "drain" inside the tub (in the footwell). Does water start coming out piping hot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreg Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Remove the drain in the footwell. There are probably some solids blocking it from underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrGMatic Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Remove the drain in the footwell. There are probably some solids blocking it from underneath. I have a similar problem. Could I trouble you for the method of removing the drain in the footwell? Thanks, K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreg Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 The entire drain/return cover used to just unscrew. Not sure if they use a different method now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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