Phoenix pools are warm all summer. From November to March they get cold, and that’s when people use their heaters and find out they don’t work. NextGen Pool Care repairs gas heaters and heat pumps for pools and spas across the Valley. Our repair techs find what’s wrong, tell you the cost up front, and fix it, often on the first visit. Call (623) 526-4945.

If you smell gas near your heater, turn off the gas at the meter and call your gas company first. Don’t try to light it. Call us after it’s safe.

Gas Heater or Heat Pump?

Knowing which one you have helps make sense of the problem.

A gas heater burns natural gas or propane to heat water fast. It’s great for a spa or for warming a pool quickly for a weekend. Most gas heater problems come down to ignition, gas flow, water flow, or scale.

A heat pump works like an air conditioner in reverse. It pulls heat from the outside air and moves it into the water. It costs less to run than gas, but it heats slower, and it struggles when the air drops below about 50 degrees. On cold Phoenix nights in January, a heat pump may not keep up. That’s normal and not always a repair.

Some homes have solar heating on the roof. We can install solar if a customer asks for it, but our repair work is mostly gas heaters and heat pumps.

What Usually Goes Wrong

These are the heater problems we see most in the Valley:

It clicks but won’t light. A dirty or failed igniter, a bad flame sensor, or low gas pressure. Spiders and bugs love to build nests in heaters that sat all summer, and that can block the burners.

It lights, then shuts off. Often a sensor is tripping because the heater is running too hot, or water flow is too low. A dirty filter is a common cause.

It shows an error code. Each brand has its own codes. Write it down before you call. It tells us a lot.

It runs but the water isn’t getting warm. On a gas heater, this can be scale inside the heat exchanger. On a heat pump, it could be a refrigerant problem, a dirty coil, or just cold air.

Water is leaking from the heater. A cracked heat exchanger, loose unions, or a worn gasket. This one needs attention soon.

Low flow or pressure switch errors. The heater won’t fire unless enough water is moving through it. That points to the pump, the filter, or a valve set the wrong way.

Hard Water Is Hard on Heaters

Valley water carries a lot of calcium. When water heats up, that calcium comes out and sticks to the inside of the heater’s copper tubes. Over time that scale acts like a blanket. The heater burns more gas and still heats less. In bad cases, the tubes overheat and crack.

The best protection is balanced water. Keeping calcium and pH in range slows scale in the heater, the salt cell, and the tile. If you’re on our chemical balancing service, we’re keeping an eye on that every week.

Before You Call

A few quick checks can save you a trip:

• Is the pump running? The heater won’t fire without water flow.
• Is the filter clean? A packed filter cuts flow and trips the pressure switch.
• Is the gas valve open, and is the gas on at the meter?
• Is the heater set to “pool” or “spa,” and is the thermostat set above the water temperature?
• Did a breaker trip?

If you’ve checked those and it still won’t heat, it’s time to call a tech. Don’t open the burner area yourself.

How We Handle a Heater Repair

We start by watching the heater try to run. The error codes, the sound it makes, and how long it runs before shutting off all point to the cause. Then we check gas supply, igniter and sensors, water flow, and the heat exchanger. Once we know the problem, we tell you the fix and the cost. You decide.

If the heater is old and the repair is big, like a cracked heat exchanger, we’ll give you the option to replace it too. We repair and install heaters from Pentair, Hayward, and Jandy, which covers most heaters in the Valley.

Get It Ready Before Winter

The best time to find a heater problem is in October, not on a cold Saturday in January. A quick fall check catches bug nests, worn igniters, and scale before you need the heat. Ask about it when you call, or ask your weekly tech. Our seasonal pool care post covers what else to do each season.

Common Questions

How long does a pool heater last?

Many gas heaters last 7 to 12 years in the Valley. Heat pumps can last longer. Hard water and poor water balance shorten both.

Is it worth heating a pool in Phoenix?

For a lot of families, yes. A heater can add a couple of months of swim time in the spring and fall. A spa heater gets used all winter. Our post on cutting pool energy costs has tips to keep the gas or power bill down.

Why does my heater work fine on the spa but not the pool?

A spa holds a few hundred gallons. A pool holds thousands. A heater that warms a spa in 30 minutes may need a day or more to warm a whole pool, and on a cold night it may never catch up. A pool cover helps a lot, since most heat escapes from the surface.

Can you fix spa heaters too?

Yes. Most spas attached to a pool share the same heater, so it’s the same repair.

Schedule a Heater Repair

Call (623) 526-4945 or book online. Our hourly repair rate is posted on the pricing page. For other equipment, see pool equipment repair.

NextGen Pool Care is licensed, bonded, and fully insured in Arizona. ROC #356379.