Sta Rite Pool Heater Ignition Lockout [3 Easy Solutions]

Sta-Rite pool heater ignition lockout occurs to make sure that the water temperature does not exceed the safety limits. Besides, when your pool heater fails to ignite your system even after three attempts, the heater display begins to show the ignition lockout code.   

The common reasons for your heater ignition failure are the overheating of pool water and the insufficient gas flow to the unit. A dirty pool filter is also the biggest culprit behind your heater ignition lockout. 

sta rite pool heater ignition lockout

However, you can easily fix the ignition lockout if it happens due to overheating. Just you need to reset your Sta-Rite pool heater. To explore the details and know how to reset your heater, go on reading…

Sta Rite Pool Heater Ignition Lockout [3 Easy Solutions]

There are quite a few reasons why the Sta-Rite pool heater ignition won’t work. The most common causes are as follows:

Note: You can also read our Sta Rite pool heater troubleshooting guide.

1. Overheating:

The most common reason why the ignition lockout occurs is to prevent overheating of the pool water. While the pool heater causes the water in the swimming pool to reach a certain temperature, heat from the sunlight also increases the temperature by a few degrees.

overheating of sta rite pool heater

This causes the pool heater to detect a temperature reading which exceeds the set temperature and automatically turns off the heater.

Solution:

You will have to get out of the pool immediately and reset the pool heater to solve the ignition lockout otherwise the water will turn cold in a short period of time.

2. Gas Problems

Another common problem that results in an ignition lockout is the gas problem within the pool heater. This problem can be easily identified by looking for codes bD or HF on the display screen while resetting the heater. 

A leakage in the chambers or restricted flow can often be a reason for gas problems in the pool heater. Not only that but the pool heater will go into an ignition lockout if the gas valve is not turned on. 

Solution:

Check the gas chamber and the connections of the pool heater to look for any available leakage or search the pipes for obstructed flow.

Seal the leakage if you find any or repair the flow of the pipes in order to solve the pool heater gas problems. Make sure that you check the valve of the gas in the heater and turn it on. 

Unless you are an expert in pool heaters, gas connectivity, and so on, it is quite risky to try to repair the gas problem on your own. In cases like these, we typically recommend that you should seek help or advice from a professional. 

3. Dirty Pool Filter

A major reason that causes the pool heater to not ignite or work is unclean pool filters. Over time, the pool filters accumulate dirt, dust, algae, and so on which causes them to become dirty.

These filters obstruct the flow from the pool heaters to the water which results in an incorrect temperature analysis, causing the heater to go into an ignition lockout.

Solution:

Make sure that you keep the pool and the filters clean of impurities and dirt to ensure a clear flow and proper heater performance. To prevent ignition lockout from reoccurring frequently, make sure that they clean the pool filter on a regular basis. 

Fix The Sta Rite Pool Heater Ignition Lockout By Resetting

When you notice the ignition lockout of your pool heater, first try to fix it by resetting your heater.

In each and every case, the pool heater has to be reset after solving the issues in order to fix the ignition lockout. The resetting steps are so simple and are given below.

How To Reset Sta-Rite Pool Heater

Resetting the Sta-Rite Pool Heater is simple and only requires a few steps. Let us take a look at how to reset the Sta-Rite Pool Heater. 

Step 1: Restart The Pool Heater

The first step of resetting the ignition lockout is to turn the pool heater off for about 30 seconds to 1 minute and turn it back on. This will reset the entire circuit breaker of the heater.

Step 2: Turn on the Standby Mode Of The Heater

Once the pool heater is turned on again, open up the control panel. To turn on the standby mode of the heater, you will have to press the temperature setting up and down buttons at the same time. Continue doing this until you see the blinking of the Sta-Rite heater light.

Step 3: Look For Error Codes

After the heater light starts working, take a look at the small digital screen on the heater to look for error codes.

The error codes will appear on the screen in case there is an internal gas problem. For gas problems in the pool heater, the error codes will appear as bD or HF.

Tip: In case there is an error code displayed on the screen, you can either identify and solve the problem yourself or seek help from a professional. If there is a gas problem, then the ignition lockout cannot be solved unless the problem is fixed. 

Step 4: Set The Pool Temperature

If there are no error codes visible on the display screen, then the lockout will be fixed by standby mode.

The next step is to set the temperature of the pool heater once again to your required setting. You can adjust the temperature without any trouble by pressing the up and down buttons.

Step 5: Reset The Mode

The last step is to set the mode from standby to automatic again. In order to do so, all you have to do is to press on mode and wait for the heater to start operating.

Once the heater begins its operation, simply click on mode again to reset it back to automatic mode.

Voila! You have now successfully fixed the pool heater ignition lockout problem.

However, if the lockout becomes frequent and turns off automatically after a few minutes of heating, then there could be an underlying issue that is disrupting the flow.

In cases like these, make sure that you contact a professional to assess and repair the pool heater before you start using it.

FAQ:

How To Troubleshoot A Pool Heater?

The proper way of troubleshooting a pool heater is to turn it off and restart it. Check for leaks and error codes before putting in your desired temperature again.

How To Turn On The Indicator Light During Ignition Lockout?

Change the pool heater mode to standby and press both temperature up and down buttons at the same time. Continue the process until you see the indicator light blinking.

Can I Fix The Ignition Lockout On My Own?

You can solve the ignition lockout on your own if it is caused by overheating or obstructed flow. However, for gas leakage or problems, you will require professional help.

Can Sunlight Cause An Ignition Lockout?

While the sunlight cannot cause an ignition lockout, it can surely cause an increase in water temperature. This causes the heater to detect overheating which results in an ignition lockout.

Conclusion

Now you know what causes your Sta-Rite pool heater ignition lockout and how to fix it. So, whenever you face such a lockout issue, just follow our guide and solve it by yourself. 

However, if you have any more issues with your pool heater, you can let us know in the comment box. We will be happy to help you. 

About William

William is the founder of Fireplacehubs.com. He has real life practical skills in fixing smoker & heating appliance issues. He loves to share his knowledge & helps others in fixing their appliances & saving their money. William firmly believes that anyone can repair his or her unit with the correct guidance & knowledge. See more at about us.

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