Pentair MasterTemp and Max-E-Therm heaters show short codes like ERR PS or ERR IGN. Many point to low water flow, gas supply, or a sensor. Lucent Pools repairs Pentair heaters across DFW. Call 817-339-6770.
Based in Dallas–Fort Worth, serving Fort Worth and most of the Metroplex.
We repair pool heaters in Fort Worth, Frisco, and Lewisville, and we service most of the DFW Metroplex.
We repair in-ground pools and in-ground spas. We do not repair portable hot tubs.
We service and repair all pool equipment brands, including Jandy, Pentair, and Hayward. We are an Authorized Jandy ProEdge Warranty Station and can also help with Pentair and Hayward warranty claims.
If you smell gas, don't light any appliance and don't touch electrical switches or use a phone in the building. Call your gas supplier from a neighbor's phone, or the fire department if you can't reach them. Pentair says that if ERR HLS, ERR AFS, ERR IGN, ERR AGS, ERR SFS, E01, E05, E06 or 126 shows, the heater should be shut down and checked by a qualified service technician. Never open the gas valve, burner or any gas part yourself. Don't use the heater if any part has been under water.
What does ERR PS mean on a Pentair heater?
The heater's water pressure switch isn't sensing enough water flow, so it won't fire. With the pump running, Pentair says this usually means the filter or skimmers need cleaning. The code clears on its own once flow is back.
Homeowner checks: pump running and primed, clean pump and skimmer baskets, clean or backwash the filter, valves open, variable-speed pump not set too low. If ERR PS stays after the filter is serviced, Pentair says a qualified technician should check it. The pressure switch setting depends on how far the heater sits above or below the water.
If the display looks like "P5", it's PS. Pentair also ties the "Service System" light to the same restricted-flow condition. See pool pump repair and pool filter repair.
What do ERR HLS and ERR AGS mean?
Both mean water inside the heater got too hot, so a safety switch shut the heater down. HLS trips first (above 135°F after the first pass) and clears once it cools; AGS is the backup (above 140°F after the second pass) and locks the buttons until power is cycled.
Common causes are low water flow, a stuck internal bypass valve or thermal governor, or a blocked heat exchanger. Check flow first. Repeat trips, or any ERR AGS: call. Don't keep resetting.
What does ERR SFS mean, and why are the buttons frozen?
The stack flue sensor saw exhaust hotter than 480°F, so the heater shut down and disabled its front-panel buttons. A technician should find out why before it runs again; a blocked heat exchanger, low flow, or a burner problem are common causes.
Keep the vent and air intake clear (leaves, nests). The rest is pro work. Scale and soot build when chemistry is off. See residential pool maintenance.
There isn't a homeowner reset fix; a technician resets it after finding the cause.
Why won't my Pentair heater ignite? (ERR IGN and ignition lockout)
The ignition control module tried to light the burner and couldn't. Common causes are a gas supply problem, a worn hot-surface igniter, or an ignition module or gas valve fault. The code clears when you press HEATER OFF.
Automation messages: IGNITION LOCKOUT, WEAK FLAME, CONTROL FAULT.
Make sure other gas appliances work and the propane tank isn't empty. Don't turn gas valves or open the heater; call us or your gas company.
We repair and replace gas and propane pool heaters. Gas line work, including new runs and changes to existing lines, is done by our licensed gas contractor, with permits where required.
Keep the intake and vent clear. Everything inside the heater: call.
What does ERR AFS mean?
The air flow switch isn't sensing the combustion blower, so the heater won't light. If air flow comes back within 60 seconds the heater carries on; if not, it has to be turned off with HEATER OFF.
Check the air intake and vent for leaves, nests or anything blocking them. Blower, tubing and switch checks are pro work. Never jumper a safety switch. Automation shows this as AIR FLOW FAULT.
What do E01, 126, E05 and E06 mean?
These are sensor faults, not overheating. E01 and 126 mean the water temperature sensor reads open or shorted; E05 and E06 mean the same for the stack flue sensor. They need a technician with a meter.
E01: press HEATER OFF to clear. E06: buttons disabled until power is cycled. Usually a failed sensor or a loose or damaged wire.
EO1 and EO5 are the letter O for E01 and E05. A heater reading 126 is this code.
How do I reset a Pentair heater, and is it safe to keep resetting it?
It depends on the code. ERR PS and ERR HLS clear on their own once flow is back or the water cools; ERR IGN and E01 clear when you press HEATER OFF. If the same code returns, stop and call.
ERR AGS, ERR SFS and E06 lock the buttons until power is cycled. Call a technician. Never keep resetting after ERR AGS or ERR SFS.
Which Pentair heaters does this cover?
The current MasterTemp (125, 200, 250, 300, 400) and Sta-Rite Max-E-Therm manuals list the same codes. If your heater shows a code not listed here, note the exact code and the model on the rating plate, and call.
Pentair MasterTemp Pool and Spa Heater Installation and User's Guide, P/N 472592 Rev Q, Pentair MasterTemp 125 Installation and User's Guide, P/N 475000 Rev E, and Sta-Rite Max-E-Therm Installation and User's Guide (Pentair), P/N S794 Rev K. All three code lists match.
This guide doesn't cover UltraTemp heat pump codes or older Pentair models.
When to call a pro
Check flow, power, gas supply and the vent yourself. Anything inside the cabinet, any gas part, and any code that returns after those checks is a job for a technician.
| You can check | Call a technician |
|---|---|
| Pump running, filter and baskets clean, valves open (ERR PS) | ERR PS that stays after those checks |
| Heater on, POOL or SPA selected, set point above the water temperature | ERR HLS that comes back, or any ERR AGS or ERR SFS |
| Other gas appliances work, propane tank not empty, vent and air intake clear of leaves or nests | ERR IGN or ERR AFS that comes back, or anything that needs a panel removed |
| Press HEATER OFF once, then select POOL or SPA (ERR IGN) | The same code after one reset |
| Any sensor code (E01, 126, E05, E06) that returns |
Don't open the heater or touch gas parts.
Repair or replace a Pentair heater?
Most codes point to a part that can be repaired or replaced: an igniter, sensor, switch, blower or board. Replacement makes sense when the heat exchanger has failed or repairs keep stacking up.
Repair first, whatever the brand. When replacing, we usually recommend Jandy. The customer chooses, and if they'd rather stay with Pentair, we supply and install it. The reason is the 3-year warranty on new Jandy equipment we install.
See pool heater repair in Fort Worth and DFW. See pool repair in Fort Worth and DFW.
Is my Pentair heater still under warranty?
Check your install paperwork and the model and serial number on the heater's rating plate. We are an Authorized Jandy ProEdge Warranty Station and can also help with Pentair and Hayward warranty claims.
- 25+ Years in the Pool Business
- Lucent Pools is insured.
- Lucent Pools is CPO certified by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).
More help: pool repair in Fort Worth and Dallas–Fort Worth, pool repair in Argyle, pool repair in Hurst.
Need a Repair?
What a repair costs depends on the part; we price it after diagnosis. Call 817-339-6770. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday closed. Sunday closed.
