Pentair Comprehensive Guide to Air Compressor Operation and Maintenance

Circuit Breaker: An automatic switch that will shut the power off to an electrical device (heater, circulation pump) when an over- load or short occurs. Located in the electrical supply panel in your home or near the associated equipment.

Circulation Pump: An electric water pump that circulates water through the filter and other pool related equipment. Usually con- trolled by a timer.

Condensation: Water that accumulates inside the heater due to the humidity in the air coming in contact with the colder freon piping in the evaporator coil. This water will trickle out of the drain ports on the bottom of the heater. Like sweat on a glass of ice water.

Control Devices: Electronic devices used to manipulate the pool/ spa functions and equipment other than those manufactured into the heater itself. Sometimes by remote control, switches or sen- sors.

Convection: The transfer of heat from between two mediums, of different temperatures, in this case from hot to cold, from warm pool to cooler outside air

Compressor: A reciprocating piston in a cylinder, much like a car engine, that compresses freon gas in a chamber before it is re- leased to the heat exchanger.

Commercial Pool: A pool for public use or for the use of commu- nity residents that are governed by state and local codes. Usually larger than a residential pool with a larger capacity filtering sys- tem, running at a high rate of water flow.

Copper Piping: The piping inside the unit as it was manufactured, leading up to the heat exchanger.

Corrosion: The dissolving of the metals in the heater due to chemi- cal action.

Cover: Used to cover the pool surface and prevent heat loss, re- ferred to as a blanket.

Cupronickel Metal Alloy: A special metal blend copper and nickel that is corrosion resistant.

Cycle: Referred to here as, on and off repeatedly, either the fan and or compressor.

D.E. Filter: A filter type that uses diatomaceous earth powder as a filter media. The D.E. is discharged with the debris via a valve that reverses flow through the filter. This is referred to as back- washing. The D.E. must then be replaced in the filter.

Dealer: As authorized by agreement, with the factory to sell and install this particular brand of heat pump.

Defrost Control: An internal device that will prevent the evapora- tor coil from getting an ice build up when the outside air tempera- ture drops below 36 degrees. It will shut the compressor off, but allow the fan to run until the air temperature increases.

Down Line: A reference that pertains to chlorinator placement and chemical application meaning, to introduce such, into the water flow piping, after it passes through the heater, as far away from the unit as possible.

Drain Holes: Located in the heater cabinet bottom, that allows the condensation water produced normally to drain out.

Drain Plug: A type of valve installed on the plumbing near the heater to allow the heat exchanger to be completely drained of pool water to prevent freeze damage in such climates.

Dry Acid Powder: A dry powder (sodium bisulfate) used to lower Ph in pool or especially spa water.

Dual Thermostat: A kit added to the unit to allow for two separate thermostats to be used for a pool and spa sharing the same heater. It is also capable of other functions such as motorized valve opera- tion.

Initial Heat Up Time: The time required to heat the pool up to the desired temperature when you turn the unit on for the first time. When the pool water temperature is at its lowest temperature.

Electrocution: To be shocked by electrical current, to have electri- cal current pass through your body resulting in death or injury. Elevation: The height of the installed unit, in comparison to the pool water level.

Evaporation: When referring to heat loss of the pool water, when the pool water changes from a liquid to a gas then dissipates into the air, taking heat away with it.

Evaporator Coil: The aluminum and copper air/freon manifold that is used to change the properties of the Freon as it passes through it. The warmer air is forced through the fins to produce the reac- tion due to dissimilar temperatures.

Expansion Valve: A control valve that regulates the Freon pressure to the evaporator coil.

Fan: Used to move air through the evaporator coil.

Fan Blades: The aluminum mechanism that moves the air through

the unit. Located on top of the cabinet. Caution: fan blades can be sharp and cause injury.

Filter: Use to clean the pool water by pumping water through a media that collects debris and is cleaned later as part of regular pool maintenance.

Filter System: The equipment installed to circulate and clean the pool water usually consisting of an electric water pump on a timer, a filter containment, flow control valves, and other equipment needed for that particular pool and/or spa.

Floating Chlorinator: A device that floats on the pool waters sur- face that feeds chlorine to the water by eroding solid tablet type chlorine, inside its containment.

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