Raypak ProTek Shield vs Traditional Methods

Raypak ProTek Shield vs Traditional Methods: Surprising Cost Difference

Written by: Bryan Ashbaugh

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Published on

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Time to read 4 min

Recent data shows a 14% rise in pool maintenance concerns. Pool owners' stress about equipment maintenance has increased by 33%. The Raypak ProTek Shield offers a new approach to pool heater protection.

The ProTek Shield technology protects heat exchangers and makes Raypak Digital Gas Pool and Spa Heaters last longer. Furthermore, this innovative solution works differently from standard protection methods. The shield gradually erodes due to natural corrosion. Therefore,its shows effectively protecting your equipment.

Presently, this compact solution is simple to replace and costs less than traditional pool heater protection methods. You can save both time and money with this system. Does the ProTek Shield matches your pool system's needs?

What Does Raypak ProTek Shield Do and How Is It Different?

The Raypak ProTek Shield marks a major step forward in pool heater protection. It works as a sacrificial anode system that shields your heat exchanger from galvanic corrosion. This state-of-the-art module protects through cathodic protection - it sacrifices itself to save more valuable parts.

The ProTek Shield consists of a 1.46 lb zinc anode placed strategically under the inlet connection on polymer headers. Your system's water flow pulls corrosive elements away from vital metal components. The shield's gradual wear shows the protection system works exactly as designed.

The ProTek Shield stands out from other corrosion prevention methods through its integrated design. Standard sacrificial anodes work alone, but the ProTek Shield comes as a complete module made specifically for Raypak Digital Gas Pool and Spa Heaters. On top of that, it uses patented technology that works well with chlorinated and salt water pools.

This protection system offers several benefits:

  • Substantially longer heat exchanger life
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • Easy visual confirmation of protection
  • Works with traditional and saltwater systems

Your ProTek Shield needs replacement once its weight drops to about 40% of the original mass. The system's user-focused design lets you replace it easily without special tools.

Salt water pool owners find the ProTek Shield especially valuable because salt systems create aggressive corrosive conditions. In spite of that, regular chlorine pools benefit from improved protection against natural corrosion that happens over time from chemicals and changing water conditions.

This smart approach to preventing corrosion shows why protecting your pool heater's heat exchanger helps maintain peak performance throughout its life.

Raypak ProTek Shield Maintenance and Replacement Guide

Raypak ProTek Shield Maintenance and Replacement Guide

Your pool heater's ProTek Shield needs proper care to protect against corrosion. You need to know the right time to replace it and the correct steps to follow.

The ProTek Shield should be replaced yearly to keep your pool system well-protected. The shield works by absorbing corrosion that would harm your heat exchanger. As it protects your system, the shield gradually wears down - a sign that it's doing its job.

You'll need a new ProTek Shield when:

  • A year has passed since you installed it
  • The shield weighs about 40% less than its original weight
  • You see lots of corrosion buildup in the clear section

Both chlorinated and saltwater pools need regular shield replacement to stay protected from natural corrosive processes. The replacement steps are simple and don't require much technical knowledge:

  1. Turn off the heater's power to stay safe from shocks
  2. Cut off gas and water supply to the heater
  3. Find the ProTek Shield on the inlet/outlet header
  4. Take off the bonding wire from the ProTek Shield stud
  5. Unscrew the old shield - you can use a strap wrench or large channel lock pliers
  6. Put the new ProTek Shield in place
  7. Attach it with the wing nut provided
  8. Put the bonding wire back on

The ProTek Shield system's simple replacement process saves time and money compared to other protection methods. Each kit includes all installation parts, which makes maintenance easy even if you're not very technical.

It's worth mentioning that good maintenance involves more than shield replacement. Your water chemistry needs to stay balanced because very high chlorine or salt levels can speed up corrosion and make the protection system less effective.

vs Traditional Corrosion Methods

Cost Comparison: ProTek Shield vs Traditional Corrosion Methods

The ProTek Shield shows clear financial benefits compared to standard corrosion protection methods for pool heating. You can buy a ProTek Shield module for $53.95 to $59.94. This small yearly investment helps avoid costly equipment failures down the line.

Most pool owners use basic sacrificial anodes that need frequent replacement or expensive galvanic systems. The ProTek Shield takes a different approach. It focuses on protecting your heat exchanger - the most expensive and sensitive part of your pool heater.

The numbers really add up over time. ProTek Shield's sacrificial anodes can make metal parts in your pool system last two to three times longer. Better equipment life means big savings. Your properly sized pool heater will run more efficiently and cut down energy costs, which leads to lower utility bills.

Saltwater pool owners see even bigger benefits. Pool industry experts say corrosion protection is a must-have for all saltwater pools. Salt systems speed up corrosion through electrolysis. Without good protection, you might need to replace expensive equipment years too early.

The ProTek Shield needs yearly replacement at $54-60, but it saves money compared to old-school methods:

  • You save thousands by extending your heat exchanger's life
  • Fewer maintenance problems mean less money spent on service calls
  • You can install it yourself and avoid professional fees
  • It stops internal corrosion from reducing efficiency

Pool owners who use proper corrosion protection and run their pumps smartly can save $800+ yearly on small systems. Larger systems can save up to $2,000 per year. These savings show that the ProTek Shield isn't just another maintenance cost - it's a smart investment that keeps your pool heating system running efficiently for years.

Conclusion

Our exploration of the Raypak ProTek Shield reveals it's a smart investment for pool owners. Traditional protection methods work well, but the ProTek Shield's design and easy maintenance make it an attractive choice to save costs over time.

The shield helps extend your heat exchanger's life and keeps maintenance straightforward. Pool owners can handle their own upkeep with this intuitive solution instead of spending thousands on early equipment replacement or complex protection systems. The yearly cost runs $54-60, which seems modest when you think over the potential $800-2,000 savings from better system efficiency and fewer service calls.

The results clearly demonstrate why the ProTek Shield has become vital equipment for saltwater pools and a great fit for standard chlorine systems. This technology strikes the perfect balance of protection, practicality, and value that today's pool owners need.

References

Raypak - Innovations

Raypak - Shield Info

bryan shasta pools

Bryan Ashbaugh

Bryan is part of the Shasta Pool family. With over two decades of product experience, his goal is to support customers in finding the best products for their specific needs.