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Vista heater...
https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7061		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  aguyindallas [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Vista heater...
Last week we had about 4 days of very cold temps...as low as probably about 10 degrees at my marina. I had my cabin heater set for 60 degrees. I have my unit set to only run the blower fan when the compressor is actually on.

Today I went to check on things and found that the unit was running, but not blowing warm air and also not spitting out any water from the thru hole. Upon inspection, I found this.

Image

With some guidance by txvista, I verified the sea strainer is clean. I headed out to grab a hair dryer to defrost it...which did the trick and it began to work normal again.

Just too cold outside?
Author:  Pipedreamz [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
You could have a few different things going on here, one is you may have lost water flow, if the strainer is clean you could have had something blocking your thru-hull under your boat. What type of water pump do you have? If it is a March pump, you may have to check and see if the internal water cooling lines are blocked causing your water pump to overheat and shut down. Next is what was the water temp? These are heat pumps and don't work well below 40-45 deg. What's the name of the system (Marine Air/Cruise air) and type of thermostat. Software in these stats vary and some of the newer ones could be programmed to shutdown and defrost the coil for you.
Author:  aguyindallas [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
Its a CruiseAir...here is the thermostat.

Image

I am unsure of water temps but I am guessing high 30s?
Author:  acguy [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
With cool water temps like the the unit would run for a very long time which in turn drags you saturated suction temperature below freezing. So when the coil starts building frost and keeps running it will do that and have no refrigerating effect. To put it a little simpler. In your hot Texas weather in the middle of July turn your home AC down to 50 F and see what happens. You will get the same effect.
Author:  txvista [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
One of our theories was that ice formed inside the thru hull which would stop the water flow. Not sure if that is the case (or would even cause this), but at my marina, we had ice accumulate around the thru hulls (all were facing NW into the wind). Below is a pic of one of my neighbors. I went down every day (since I live close), and cleared all the ice off my slip neighbors thru hulls. If Nauti Luv wasn't able to get to his boat to do this, I wonder if ice eventually formed over the exit? Would that cause the coils to freeze?

Image
Author:  298VISTA2000 [ Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
Never seen that happen in the winter but it has in the summer when either low on refrigerant or the filter gets too dirty.
Author:  jnizi [ Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
Hey Pipedreamz. Welcome to the website. Figured you would find this place eventually.
Author:  aguyindallas [ Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
As an update...I went to the boat again today. The cabin was 55 degrees, which is what my thermostat is set to. I turned it up to 70 degrees and got settled in, kicking off my shoes and reading a book while the cabin warmed up. Everything worked fine, all is well...thankfully!

My best guess is that the water was freezing as it exited the thru hull and finally froze far enough inside. Luckily...no plumbing broke!
Author:  SW Florida Dave [ Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
acguy, is exactly right as to why your heat pump froze with the low ambient temps and cold water entering the what in essence is the condenser and lower the refrigerant pressures below the freeze point. The one thing I do not know is if the unit has a defrost control as most heat pumps have.
Now that it has warmed up and the ice is gone it should work fine.
Author:  wkearney99 [ Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
What's the water temperature? I can't recall the temp but there's a point where the reverse cycle heat won't function properly anymore.

Given the obvious freezing risks I'd stop using it entirely and winterize it properly.
Author:  aguyindallas [ Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
Well....it appears we are on the home stretch of this cold front. Its 18 degrees here at the marina this morning. I came to check on the heater again and am happy to say all is well. There is a tiny bit of ice below the thru hull, but nothing formed like txvista posted above.
Author:  Cap'n Morgan [ Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
Spending a bit more time at the Marina this time of year than you planned ? :wink:

I have been watching the news about the weather ya'll are having in Texas, Arkansas and Oklasnowma.
Quite a change from how I always envisioned that part of the country. It all looks like this during February
most of the time, doesn't it ? :lol:

Image
Author:  aguyindallas [ Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vista heater...
I am spending a lot of time here, but I really love it. Its my escape from a busy life. I bring a book often and just relax.

This winter has been pretty tough on our region. Its not normally like your picture, but its been very cold this year. The real issue is that we are going 3-4 days at a time in the 20's or lower...that's not normal for us.
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