Hayward Pool Heater Ignition Failure

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.

Hayward pool heater is one of those top-level pool heaters that offer efficient services to its users. It provides fast heating speed to your pool, notwithstanding the weather condition. But even as they perform well, they’re not without problems.

One regular problem facing the Hayward pool heater is ignition failure. This is a common problem faced by Hayward pool heater, as its leading cause is insufficient gas supply. But there are also other causes of the Hayward pool heater ignition failure, and we’re going to examine them in the troubleshooting guide.

When the pool heater fails, the system displays a Hayward pool heater error code IF, which alerts you to troubleshoot the system to determine the cause of the issue.  Let’s look at the other causes of ignition failure in your Hayward heater troubleshooting guide.  

Hayward Pool Heater Troubleshooting Guide

To troubleshoot your heater system to detect issues with the ignition system require testing different switches in the Hayward pool heater. There are various reasons why the Hayward pool heater ignition failed, but you need to examine different parts of the system to ensure they’re operational. They include:

• Plumbing valves

Shutting off the plumbing valves would cease the flow of water, which would cause the ignition to fail. To troubleshoot the heater for this problem, check the multiport located close to the pump and filter. Ensure that each of them is open. This would ensure that water flows to the heater.

• Gas valve

Ensure that the heater’s gas valve is open for a smooth flow of gas towards the heater.

• Gas supply valve

The gas supply valve lets gas flow into the Hayward pool heater, so you have to ensure your supply valve is open and allows gas flow smoothly to the heater.

• Heater switch

The heater switch is another part of the system that needs checking to ensure it’s functional. Check to see if the switch is on. If it’s on and not responding, you need to troubleshoot it further. 

Take a jump start cable and make contact between the metal terminals on the power switch. This will bypass the ignition switch and jump-start the heater if it’s functional. If the heater comes on, then the heater switch is the cause of the ignition failure and would need changing.

• Thermostat

The thermostat is a part of the system responsible for increasing the temperature of your pool. If your ignition fails, you should try to increase your thermostat to a higher temperature than your pool.  If the heater comes on due to the thermostat temperature increase, then your heater is working correctly. But if the heater still doesn’t function, you have to check if the current is getting to the thermostat.

You can also jump-start the heater by bypassing the thermostat to see if it’s operational. If it comes on, then the thermostat is the cause of the ignition failure.

• High Switch Limit

The high switch limit is a switch that turns off the heater when it begins to overheat. This switch is located near the outlet beside the heater. The high switch limit can be the cause of your ignition failure, so you have to do a bypass test to see if it’s faulty. If you jump-start the heater and it comes on, then you may need to change that switch.

Conclusion

You will find the probable cause of your ignition failure in any of these issues. If any of these issues are the cause, you can troubleshoot them following the instructions given here.