Polaris problems

[Deleted User]

So what might make an ignitor on one of these nightmares fail in one month? I have a heater that likes to eat ignitors and I can't figure out why.

hr

A few things to check

Voltage! At 110 V the ignitor runs 2600° At 120V, 3600° beyond this voltage they will burn too hot and not last. Check the voltage when the unit fires. You may need to put a chart recorder on it for a week if utility voltage spikes are possible.

Usually the electric utility will do this for free.

Recirculated exhaust gas is another, usually presents as a yelowish fuzz on the damaged igniter.

Condensation from real low run temperatures can drip on the ignitor. What temperature are you running.

hot rod

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[Deleted User]

Thanks Hot Rod for giving me something to look at. I am going by today to install a new ignitor and will check the voltage. This unit is set at 140 degrees and does both domestic and radiant with a flat plate.

hr

Their tech support

has helped me a bunch, also. Doug at 800-456-9805 is the guy!

How's the light off? Do you have a magnehelic gauge to double check the negative pressure gas valve settings?

Get a copy of all the troubleshooting and adjustment tech sheets and a troubleshooting flow chart.

hot rod

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Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Polaris

Polaris heaters should be run as hot as possible; lower temperatures burn out the ignitors when condensation is not evaporated away, gets to the ignitor and splits them; higher temperatures evaporate the water up the flue.

The stop on the temperature dial is put there as a safeguard in case tempering valves are not installed.

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David_5

Has the gas pressure been tested

They have instruction to set the gas pressure. I have seen them run better after setting the pressure per their instructions.

David

S Davis

I had the same problem, three igniters in one month.
I finaly figured out the homeowner had turned the temp down on the unit, it was set just under 140 and condensation was driping onto igniter and burning it out, they need to run min 140.

S Davis

Josh M.

I had a general contractor tell me once that he put in a bunch of polarisis in a neighborhood. He said that the ignitors went bad so often that he learned how to change them out himself and always had two in stock!

Unknown

BAD DESIGN.

I've seen enough. Why try to stick up for this water heater?

I have a story to tell. Polaris=bad.

Photographs tofollow tomorrow evening. After onely 8 years of service, everything is comming apart at the seems.

Gary

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Unknown

Junk

History has a way of telling the truth.

Snowmobiles? yes. Water heaters? back to school.

The Polaris's DHW heater is crap. JUNK. No need to tell why. I've seen what happens to these things over time, not a long term investment.

They also sell to that company in Vermont known for their customer satisfaction.

Gary

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Wayco Wayne_2

I've had

bad luck with Polaris water heaters. I've got one in my own house that has treated me fairly though. At 5 years the tank leaked but the new one has been performing OK. Sort of want it to fail soon so I can justify putting in a Munchkin. Had one customer that replaced 5 polaris's in 7 years. Finally found out the ground wire for the house was run to a water pipe instead of a stake outside, and the pipe was not well grounded. Everything in the house was trying to ground out throught he tank. It was causing the tanks to corrode with great haste. Knock wood there's been no problems since we corrected it. What a nightmare that was.

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bill clinton_3

Polaris

Have installed maybe fifty of them over the past fifteen years. Only seen two leakers in that time. LOTS of ignitor failures, although usually they last five years or more. Weird problems on some fairly recent ones: strange sounds of fog-horn or fluttering flame. Even when operating correctly, they do make a noise. The latest versions with special blower and gas valve have made a difference: very quiet at the heater itself; still a whoosh noise outside.

Most of the time, I'll take a cast iron boiler, but there are occasions when the customer wants highest efficiency and is willing to live with the downsides. I still put them in.

Bill