Short answer: most pool heater repairs in Jacksonville cost an estimated $250–$900, for parts like igniters, sensors, pressure switches, fan motors and contactors. Low water flow causes more heater shutdowns than failed parts, so we check flow before we sell you anything.
Why heaters matter more here
South Florida pools can get through most winters without heat. Jacksonville is different. Northeast Florida sees a run of chilly nights every winter, a few hard freezes most years, and pool water that falls into the low 60s by January. Owners who want to swim from October to April rely on the heater, and spa owners rely on it year round. That makes a heater failure in December a bigger deal here than it is further south, and it is why we keep the common parts for the major brands on the truck.
Gas heaters
A gas heater has a short chain of safety checks before it lights: water pressure, temperature limits, the igniter, the gas valve and the flame sensor. If any link fails, the heater shuts down and shows a code or simply will not fire. Most repairs are one of those parts. We also look at what made it fail, because a pressure switch that keeps tripping usually means a dirty filter or a stuck valve, and swapping the switch would not fix that.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps are the most common pool heaters in Jacksonville because they cost far less to run than gas. They are also outdoor air conditioners in reverse, so they share an air conditioner's problems: fan motors and contactors that wear out, sensors that drift, and coils that corrode, particularly at the Beaches where the air carries salt. A heat pump that runs but blows cold air may be low on refrigerant, which is a diagnosis job first and a repair second.
What heater repairs cost
| Job | Estimate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Igniter, flame sensor or pressure switch | $250–$600 | Gas heater faults that stop it firing |
| Heat pump fan motor, contactor or sensor | $350–$900 | Electrical parts on the outdoor unit |
| Heat exchanger descaled or flushed | $300–$700 | Restores heat transfer and flow |
| Refrigerant leak on a heat pump | Priced after diagnosis | Depends on where the leak is and the refrigerant |
| Heater or heat pump, supplied and installed | $2,000–$5,500 | When the unit is past repair |
Treat these as estimates. They come from published Florida and national repair pricing, not from your heater. The model, its age and whether the part is still made decide the real figure, and we write that figure down before we start. See the full Jacksonville pool repair cost guide for everything else on the pad.
Freeze nights and your equipment
On the handful of nights a winter when Jacksonville drops below freezing, the risk is not the pool, it is the plumbing and equipment above ground. Water left standing in a pump, filter or heater can freeze and crack them. Many automation systems have a freeze-protection setting that runs the pump when the air gets cold; if yours does, make sure it is switched on before winter. If a freeze has already cracked something, call (904) 890-0717 and we will tell you what can be saved.
Common questions
Why does my heat pump stop heating when it gets cold?
Heat pumps pull heat out of the outdoor air, so their output falls as the air cools, and on a Northeast Florida night in the 40s they may barely keep up. That is normal behavior. A heat pump that will not heat on a mild day, or that ices up and stays iced, has a fault worth looking at.
Is it worth repairing an old pool heater?
Up to a point. Igniters, sensors and switches are worth replacing on almost any heater. A cracked or badly corroded heat exchanger on an older gas unit usually is not, because the part costs a large share of a new heater.
Do you work on spa heaters too?
Yes. Most attached spas share the pool's heater, and we repair stand-alone spa heaters as well.
Last updated October 8, 2026