When your water staysCold and freezing

What you may notice

When a pool or spa heater fails, you might notice the water stays cold despite the heater running. The control panel might display an error code indicating low flow or a sensor issue. You might hear the unit click repeatedly as it attempts to light, followed by the unit shutting down. You might notice visible drips at the equipment pad under the heater cabinet. The filter gauge might read higher than it usually does. These signs can point to a gas delivery issue, a failed internal part, or a restriction in the water flow through the heater.

Common causes in the valley

InterNACHI and the US DOE state that pool heaters commonly last around 8 to 11 years, depending on run time and water balance. The Las Vegas Valley Water District lists the valley tap water at 280 ppm total hardness with 75 ppm calcium. Hard water leaves calcium scale in heaters, which can point to restricted flow and part failure. NWS Las Vegas data shows about 10 nights a year fall to freezing, mostly in December and January. Kingfisher checks freeze sensors and automation settings each November. If circulation stops during a freezing night, the trapped water can freeze and cause a plumbing leak.

What you can safely check

You can make a few safe visual checks before calling for a repair. Check whether the skimmer and pump baskets are full. Check whether the water level looks low. Check whether the filter gauge reads higher than it usually does. Look for visible drips at the equipment pad. Look for any error code on a display. Do not open or adjust the heater panels. Electrical sparks, burning smells or water near electrical equipment: turn the equipment off at the breaker only if it is safe to do so, keep everyone away, and call NV Energy or 911 if there is any danger. Gas smell at a heater: leave the area and call Southwest Gas and 911 from a safe place.

When to call a technician

If the baskets are clear and the pump runs but the heater fails to ignite, call a technician. Continuous clicking or persistent error codes can point to a failed internal sensor or ignition component. We schedule urgent repairs, such as equipment that has stopped circulating the water, a leak at the equipment pad or a failed spa or pool heater, ahead of routine work during business hours. A technician can evaluate the gas valves, safety switches and electrical boards to find the specific issue preventing the heater from operating.

How Kingfisher diagnoses it

Our repair diagnostic visit is $85, which is credited in full toward the repair when approved within 30 days. We provide a written estimate first. The technician inspects the valves, control boards, switches and the heat exchanger. The technician explains what failed, what a repair costs and what replacement would cost. We recommend replacement only when age, parts availability or repeated failures make a repair poor value. We repair most major brands, including Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, Raypak and Sta-Rite. Our repair labor carries a 90-day warranty, and new equipment we install carries a one-year installation labor warranty plus the manufacturer parts warranty.