Spas with horizontal heater attached to the control box have a pressure switch
screwed directly into the heater. Typically it’s a 2lb switch. The high limit sensor
either clips against the heater or is a round sensor mounted against the heater.
The canister heater is either 4.0kw or 5.5kw. Both operate on either 115v or 230v.
FYI: Gatsby engineers built spas that operated on 115v with 5.5kw heaters; and
spas operating on 230v with 4.0kw heaters. Jacuzzi engineers had the opposite
approach. So pre-2000 spas had Gatsby design and post Jacuzzi’s. Nothing
changed except engineer’s opinion. So if you are operating your spa on 230v,
you might consider the 5.5kw heater replacement which cost no more, is the
exact same heater, and will heat faster.
Replacement of Heater:
I. Horizontal Heater:
The horizontal heater typically requires you to drain the spa. You then disconnect
the heater couplings from the plumbing.
Your heater will either be held to the control box by nuts holding the heater’s bolts
to the control box or straps. Either way, removal will release the heater assembly.
Your spa has either the OH/High Limit sensor attached by a clip to the heater or
more common, the spa uses a disc high limit sensor against the heater. For
those with a sensor clipped to the heater, you slide the sensor out of the clip. For
those with a disc high limit, its held either in place on the heater or the housing of
the control box. On the former you disconnect. On the later you leave the sensor
in place.
II. Vertical Heater:
Typically you drain the spa to replace the heater. Although not
impossible, it’s a challenge to replace the heater with water in the spa.
Replacement is very simple. You remove the copper ground wire if
present. Unplug the element cord and pressure switch cord (if applicable). The
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