Reading, understanding, and diagnosing Pentair MiniMax NT heater error codes are understandably confusing for the typical pool owner. In fact, it can be very difficult for any pool owner regardless of his/her skill set. It is simply the nature of the beast.
Troubleshooting and diagnosing technical issues can be more difficult online. It seems like a catch-22 to me, though. The Internet allows us to have instant access to tons of information right at our fingertips. Still, with all the information available, sometimes it can convolute the information and cause even more confusion. It is very similar to when you are trying to diagnose why your back is hurting. Twenty minutes into reading WebMD and you are halfway to diagnosing yourself with cancer. It can be a very slippery slope.
Diagnosing technical issues on older products is in it’s own league. User manuals and technical documents weren’t as informative for the reader like they are now. Today, manufacturers are more tuned in to their customers’ needs. Although the Pentair MiniMax NT heater was manufactured over a decade ago, we still run into pool owners who still own and love their heater and would prefer to fix the issue than purchase a new one.
As I began my research on the Pentair MiniMax NT error codes, I immediately noticed the lack of resources for this heater. Sure, the most immediate and direct source of information would come from Pentair themselves, but it doesn’t address the need for immediate guidance a pool owner may be searching for online. If you have a Pentair MiniMax NT and are experiencing technical issues, this blog is for you.
One of the reasons it is so hard to diagnose technical issues online is because every pool and every heaters are different. Tiny variables in the installation of the heater can attribute to why one thing can fix an error code for one pool owner but not the other. In some instances, the cause of an error code can be unique for the pool owner and their set up. With that in mind, we gathered as much information and attempted to include all the different reasons why an error code may present itself. Not every recommended solution will work for every scenario. In the event that our error guide does not cover your particular issue, or simply does not rid your error codes, we recommend contacting Pentair directly at 800-831-7133.
LED Indicators
There are nine lights that can be seen from the front of the control panel. Five are system indicators and four are mode indicators. If something should go wrong, the lights will aid in troubleshooting the problem.
An additional four lights can be seen after opening the control panel. These four lights are diagnostic indicators for the service technician to troubleshoot the system. Before we dive into the error codes, let’s explore the five system indicators.
I. Power
This light indicates 24VAC power is being supplied to the control circuit. It should remain on at all times. If this fails to light up, so will the remaining indicators. This can mean 2 things:
- External power to the heater is disconnected. Check service panel circuit breaker, or fuse.
- Transformer has failed.
II. Pressure SW (Water Pressure Switch)
This light indicates the circulating pump is running properly. The light will stay lit when the Spa/Pool Selector switch is on. If it fails to light up, the pump may have lost its prime or your water flow is restricted. Make sure to:
- Verify if the pump is primed.
- Check water flow restriction. There may be a closed valve or a clogged filter or pump basket.
III. Thermostat
The ‘Thermostat’ light is an indication that your water’s temperature is falling before the set point. This causes your heater to fire in order to maintain the desired water temperature.
IV. Heating
The ‘Heating’ light is on any time the thermostat has signaled a call for heat. This initializes the ignition safety circuit. The heating light is an indication that your unit successfully fired the main burners and will stay on until the water reaches its desired temperature.
V. Service
The ‘Service’ light is off during normal operation of the heater. This light will only come on if a problem with a control has occurred, or when the heater is first firing.
MiniMax Error Code Guide
The Digital Display Temperature Controller (DDTC) display contains three LEDs with a decimal point between the first and second. This display is also used to display an error code if there is a failure within the heater control system or a DDTC internal fault. The DDTC will display the actual temperature or the set-point temperature. When the DDTC detects an error, the display will show Exx, where Exx is the error code of the DDTC fault. Codes 1 through 9 indicate a “soft lockout”error which means the heater will resume normal operation and restart immediately after the errors are fixed. Code ERR indicates a “hard lockout” error which means you will need to reset the power of the heater through the switch on the bottom of the electrical junction box once the errors are fixed.
E01- System Low Voltage
The ‘E01’ error code indicates system low voltage. What exactly triggers a low voltage? The E01 error can be caused by a few things:
- Incorrect incoming power
- Heater connected to the wrong voltage
- Transformer not outputting the correct voltage
Solutions
Check the voltage going into the heater. If the voltage is correct, the issue may be the transformer.
E02- High Temperature Limit
The ‘E02’ error code indicates that the high limit sensor has tripped. A “High Limit” is a safety device that opens the electrical circuit and shuts off the heater based on a water temperature set point within the “High Limit Device”. The MiniMax NT heater contains (2) high limit devices which are located on the main inlet / outlet header. One senses the inlet water temperature and the other senses the outlet water temperature. To verify, you will need to trace the voltage through the sensor loop to find where it is stopping and which sensor could possibly be at fault. Specifically, you will need to check the voltage on either side of the high limit switch.
An abrupt shut off, such as an electrical shortage or lightning, can also trigger the E02 error code.
Solutions
- Verify the voltage going through high limit sensors. Replace if necessary.
- Verify if the heater was wired correctly
E03- Thermal Fuse is Open
The E03 error code indicates that the thermal fuse is open. The thermal fuse/cutoff is a safety device that is held together by wax. Upon detection of excessive heat within the inner front panel, the fuse will open the safety circuit causing the shutdown of the heater. It’s main job is to keep the heat source from hurting the heater. In short, if the thermal fuse is open, you may have fire backing up into the heater outside the fire box.
Solutions
- Examine the thermal fuse. Replace if you see any sign of wear and tear or defect.
E04- Fan Failure
The ‘E04’ error code is an indication that the fan, or blower, has failed. Sometimes the signs are apparent like simply hearing unordinary noises coming from the fan. Or, sometimes it can be misconceiving. The blower may turn on and the heater may fire up for a few seconds, but will turn back off within a few seconds.
Solutions
A couple of things can trigger the E04 error code that you should check for:
- A possible bad air flow switch
- The tube in the air switch (check if it is chewed up or not connected)
- A bad blower motor
E05- Ignition/ Flame Failure
The ‘E05’ error code indicates that the ignition has failed. In many cases, the heater may fire up and heat for a few minutes, but shorten out. Typically, this is caused by a bad igniter, but not always. This also frequently happens to pool owners who have not fired their heater in months. The E05 error code is a pretty general failure code and could be generated for many reasons.
Solutions
A few different possibilities will cause the E05 code. Make sure you check:
- Igniter- It’s possible that the igniter is bad or just a little rusty. Try cleaning and restarting the unit. You may need to replace it altogether.
- Burner assembly- Check for rust debris from the base heat shield louvers. They tend to rust.
- Bad sensor- Check the sensor to ensure it’s not damaged in any way. Try cleaning and restarting unit. You may need to replace it altogether.
- Intake/outtake- Check the intake and the outtake venting for obstruction. This will prevent the igniter from starting.
- Control board- You may want to check the lights on the back of the control board. There are indicator lights in the back of the board that should help you further diagnose the problem. Pentair recommends calling a certified Pentair Service Technician for troubleshooting the board.
E06- Gas Main Valve or Module Failure
Although there is not much information for this error code online and we are currently waiting for an explanation from Pentair themselves, I did find some information in the manual. If you get an E06 error code, you should check:
- Fuel supply
- Thermal regulator
- Correct orifices
** If you see the ‘E06’ error code, we recommend you contact Pentair directly and allow them to troubleshoot the unit with your over the phone.
ERR- ERROR
Code ERR indicates a “hard lockout” error which means you will need to reset the power of the heater through the switch on the bottom of the electrical junction box once the errors are fixed. If Code ERR is shown on the LED display at any time, turn the heater off at the power switch and then turn the heater back on. If the error code is still displayed, call a certified Pentair Service Technician for repair.
We write blogs like this one to help pool owners save as much money as possible. Why pay someone to do something you could have easily done yourself? It makes little sense. What does make sense, though, is not biting off more than you can chew. If for whatever reason you do not feel comfortable doing anything with your unit, don’t. Heaters are expensive pieces of equipment and sometimes the pool owner can do more harm than good. A good rule is, when in doubt- give Pentair’s technical support a call. They will troubleshoot the heater with you over the phone and help come up with viable solutions.
First time using my brand new pentair minimax 125 heater and after running it today I turned it off but decided to run it a little longer and I get a code R14. The unit turns on but the heater won’t fire up. Any ideas? Having a pool party tomorrow and the water is not where I would like it to be.
Thanks Matt
I thought I’d share this with the group. Had a chat with the guy who services my pool. He thought it was the temp sensor. Once he said that, I remembered that the water temp had been flucuating quite a bit the last few weeks. We are in the midst of pool opening cleanup which requires frequent back washing. I just thought the flucuations were caused by changing water pressure / flow. He showed me a simple test to verify a bad temp sensor. He had me pull the sensor connection at the panel on the door. On mine, its a yellow lead with a wihite connector. By pulling off the connector, two small prongs are exposed. If you lightly wet your finger and touch both prongs simultaneously, the prongs will register the water temp thus bypassing the faulty temp sensor. When I tried it, the ERR light went out. BINGO. Going to install a used temp sensor today. Looking forward to swimming on Father’s Day tomorrow. Good luck guys.
Hi Matt:
When I turn on my my Minimax NT (heater off), the green power and pressure lights come on. The temp LEDs show dashes, the posts an ERR message and the Service light comes on. I have access to old parts and have been very succesful keeping this workhorse running each year. Don’t want to give up on her now but not sure what coudl be the problem without the nbr codes. Any idea where to begin trouble shooting this?
You probably want to call Pentair directly (800-831-7133), because I only know what to do in case these codes pop up. Hopefully, they can help you keep your heater running.
Hi Matt,
My heater will fire up, run for a minute or so and then turns off as the fan seems to speed up. i just replaced the flame sensor and that didn’t do the trick. Some of the digits on the digital display do not work so i can not read an error code if there is one. Any suggestions?
Hello,
The thermistor may be the issue here. The part number is 471566; it tells your heater when to come on and when to come off. Because you can not see your fault code, this is my best guess going by the symptoms.
Thanks Matt. i will give it a try
Hi Matt. I tried a new thermistor and that didn’t cure the problem. I also checked the valve assembly and replaced the igniter, neither did they trick. Any more suggestions on to why it will run for 10 seconds then turn off?
I would try asking the nice people over at TroubleFreePool.com’s Forum. There are a bunch of techs and knowledgeable homeowners that cruise the threads. if that doesn’t help, then you may need to have a technician come out to inspect the unit.
The control is reading HI WILL NOT TURN on
Mario, this means the heater is sensing the water temperature is above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The problem is mostly likely the Thermistor Probe (471566)
My Minimax NT is at least a decade old, based on the looks of it (owned the house for five years). We’ve used the heater on nearly a once week basis with no issues. Did not use for a couple months and now it will not work. When turning it on,the panel flashes “OFF” and blows out cold air. Replaced the control panel/motherboard ($254) plus the cost of installation. The pool filter was recently cleaned as well. After install of new control panel heater kicked on and worked perfectly. Shut it off went back several hours later and it is now doing the same exact thing… Flashing “OFF” and not kicking on. Any idea what the problem could be?
I had to contact Pentair for this answer; they stated it is either a bad pressure switch or the water flow is not strong enough to kick-on the heater.
Have you recently changed to a smaller pump? Or installed a dual or variable speed? If it is not the flow, then I suggest contacting Pentair to get the correct part number for the pressure switch. There a few options going by which version of MiniMax NT you own.
I have a minimax nt that is about 13 years old. Getting E04 error code. Is this thing worth fixing or is it time to buy a new heater?
A blower is an expensive repair for a heater that is older than a decade. It is your call, but I would replace the heater. My reasoning, the other parts of the heater will eventually fail, leaving you with a brand new blower, on a broke down the heater.
Hi Matthew,
I have a pentair minimax 400. This heater is the original heater when I built my home in 2005. Recently, my pump seized and tripped my pool filter breaker. I took my motor to be rebuilt and installed back into system. Pump runs fine. When I went to test my heater with my remote, everything engages and the fan starts. The heating LED light would come on for a short couple seconds and then go off. Service light never went on. After a while, the heater is not getting hot. I opened the heater door and I could see the red LED light blinking 3 times. On the panel, that means igniter/locked. How do I reset the igniter? Is the igniter bad? No service light every came on….????thanks
greg
Did you find a fix for this, I’m having the same issue but did not see a response
My minimax 400 DV was working well. Now when I go to turn on pool or spa mode the heater is not firing and the digital display simply reads OFF. I am able to select pool or spa heat mode at the unit or from the remote. There is no error code, it just says OFF when I select these options
The only lights that lit are the spa or pool button which is checked (green) on the right and the power button in the left (green). Any thoughts?
Hi, I have a mini max nt and the pool heats to 84 no problem, but when I switch it to the Jacuzzi it will heat to about 90, and stop heating with no errors. I tried bumping up the settings temp, but it still stops at 90. No error code. I replaced the cheap stuff like thermister, high limit thermostat, flow valve, and even the tried bypassing the water pressure switch. Any ideas Matthew? thanks for any advise.
E04 error code. Trys to ignite, with a slight whining noise. Does this twice then get the error code. Any suggestions?
The article suggests these possible actions:
“Solutions
A couple of things can trigger the E04 error code that you should check for:
A possible bad air flow switch
The tube in the air switch (check if it is chewed up or not connected)
A bad blower motor”
My heater runs for about 4min and shuts off. I checked all my switches do you think it could be the control module
Thank you
Ernie, your best bet is to call the manufacturer to help with troubleshooting or have a tech come out for an inspection.
This is a very well written post. We need more posts like this. So that people can feel more confident with dealing with issues when it come to their pool equipment. Great job!!!
Matthew,
Thanks for the replay, No noise…the HEAT light doesn’t come on. I will try you sugestion and try to get a hold of Pentair.
Thanks again.
Hi there Mathew,
I have a MiniMax Nt 400dv. The heater isn’t coming on, the pressure switch light comes on, the temperature light comes on and the power lights up as well.
When I set it to Spa or Pool nothing changes, the temperature keeps showing on the display (61F), I already checked gas , connections and took a look inside for anything out of the ordinary. Please let me know what to do next.
Thanks in advance.
Do you hear any noise coming from your pool heater like a “click” or a “thunk” or is it just dead? Does your display have a “HEAT” light? It could be a bad ignition module, if that is the case it is a hefty chunk of change to replace. Have you tried calling Pentair Technical Support to have them troubleshoot it over the phone?
hey Mathew – I’m having a pretty strange issue with my Pentair MiniMax NT heater – hoping you can help.
No error lights, systems normal.
10 year old system – never failed me.
When I turn on the spa – pump comes on – good pressure – vales adjust to spa mode
jets in spa start firing
heater clicks on and fires up (fan pushing hot air out of the vent )
But the water coming out of the jets in the Jacuzzi never gets hot??
It never even really get warm.
How would the pump pressure flow through the heater and out the jets without getting hot?
Is there a bypass or something that would keep it from heating?
There’s no water bypass inside the heater that would circumnavigate the heater element.
Do you have a valve before that heater that allows you to bypass the gas heater? If so, maybe it is not opening/closing correctly.
I have a 10-year-old Minimax NT 200 heating the spa (and 400 heating the pool). It has the 472100 Digital Display Temperature Controller Board. Last season it would intermittently not respond to calls for heat from the remote panel, but when it did I could start it manually from the front panel. Now it has stopped altogether. The only light on the DDTC is the Power light. None of the buttons does anything. On a hunch based on a service manual, I jumpered the two orange wires coming off the board. Still no response from the buttons, although one more light (Pressure, I think) lit up. But when I called for heat from the remote panel, it fired right up. I assume this means I need a new circuit board, right???
That sounds like a new board is what you need. But for a last ditch effort try TroubleFree Pool’s forum, they usually have a fix. I see a thread on there similar to this question, you may have already posted.
My pentair mini-max only 14 months old would not come on tonight, the blower comes right on but service light on the panel is illuminated and I got a one flash when I pulled the panel where all the wiring is. Any idea my problem
It could be a few things because it depends on when the light comes on during ignition. This is an excerpt from the Pentair Minimax Manual service light section.
I fixed it today, a mouse had chewed through the air tubing coming off the fan causing the problem! Thanks for the help!
I have the same problem
I have the same problem but can’t find where the tubing connects to the fan. Could your help
You get the ERR code if the gas safety switch or the air flow safety switch are bad
And in that case, you need to call a certified technician to inspect the heater for any other malfunctions.
My unit was running fine and the one day I got the err code and I’ve turned the unit off and on several times. It still has the same code. Please help.
We provide a solution in the article. Did you read the full explanation.
Yes . And the problem still persist. I don’t know what to do at this point.
From the article, in the same paragraph that explains the problem and the solution:
In the 2.5 years since your original post, have you had a technician inspect or have the manufacturer run a troubleshoot on the heater?
Clean you filter
Thank you so much for your help, I solve the problem. Your information was very helpful..
My heated don’t work I smell the gas is a. Pentair minimax. Nt
Well first off. Turn off your heater and if you have the ability shut the gas down to the heater immediately. You may have a bad gas line, valve or a bunch of other issues. Call a pool heater service company to get that checked asap.
Any advice here… I am getting an “ERR” rapidly flashing on my display when power is added. I can’t find this problem in any of the manuals or code guides.
Tom – this code is mentioned in the blog several times. Look for the subheader: ERR- ERROR
Matthew, you say you’re trying to help, but yet the solution to ‘ERR’ you post is ‘Call Pentair’…well, it is not very helpful if you are telling me I need Pentair to fix the problem for me…if so, whats the point of your page?
Good morning,
I’m sorry if you think we’re not being very helpful. The point of our page is to provide insight to pool owners to try and point them in the right direction to fix their problems. However, there are some instances that require you to reach out to the manufacturer for their help. This is one of those times. Pentair can be reached at 800-831-7133.
Don’t know if you noticed…but INYOPOOLS.COM is not called “Pentair error codes specific only to the one code that you are experiencing.com”. It is a VERY helpful site, even when it might come up a little short on some answers. Nobody’s perfect. Quit being such an entitled prick.
Anonymous: You are very rude. Matthew’s page may have not helped you but he sure helped others. Stop being so selfish and ungrateful. Plus YOU came to his page
Are you still answering questions on this website
Yes, I am. Did you have a question?
Hi- I keep getting the E05 error message. I’ve replaced the flu sensor and the control board. The unit will fire after reset, run to desired temp but fail to re fire when temp dips below set point and error code E05 reappears. Any thoughts please? Thank you.
It seems like you only did two of the five things mentioned as solutions in the E05 section of the article.
We turn on the heater and it shuts off after about 15 min and just comes up r14 and won’t let you turn off you have to shut power down.
There is no record of an error message that reads r14. Are you sure it is r14 and not something else?
Have you done any basic checks on the system like making sure it has enough water flow, cleaning any excess soot to ensure proper air flow?
Hi Matt,
I have a Pentair Minimax Nt that is no longer heating. When put into spa mode it lights the Pressure switch light… Then the thermostat light comes on and the fan begins to run. All just like normal, however the burners never fire up and the heating light never turns on. Any ideas? I will also offer this. The first night this happened the heater was visited by a large mouse or small rat. When it turned on, the animal found the fan and was partially ejected through the vent. I opened the housing and cleaned everytrhing out but now it will not make it to “heating” mode.
Did you check for any chewed up wires? Rats and squirrels are notorious for chewing electrical wires in cars and outdoor equipment. The little rascal could have compromised the ignitor. Does the display flash any codes when it is failing to ignite?
after replacing the control board 472100 and still getting the service light, no fan, no starting procedures. just service light. is there a power module to replace when putting in the 472100? i remember someone trying to sell the package of control board and power module? help.
What is the model number of your unit? There are three ignition modules available for the Pentair Minimax NT: 472150, 472447, 472449.
great article. I get the power light on top left it is on but no other lights like pressure etc. and I get Off message in center code read out area. I select Pool or spa or remote or off and lights do appear but nothing comes on even when adjusting the temperature up and down.
So I get no fan starts ; just the error code off.
filter motor/pump is new replacement variable speed. Tried full power as well as 2200 rpm. Any suggestions?
I just started getting the “OFF” message too. I’m not sure what is going on.
Try checking indoor controller. Press “HEAT” button and make sure spa mode has heat selected.
My Pentair Mini Max NT has the green lights on and seems to be working fine. When I pre the spa or pool button the unit starts up, the thermostat light goes on, and then the unit reads OFF. The unit continues to run and recycles trying to move forward but ends up reading OFF. I have plenty or propane, the heater has fired up completely and worked as of 2 weeks ago. Pressure in filter reads between 15 & 20.
Any suggestions?
Did you ever figure it out? I have the same issue. 🙁
I have the same problem! Mine has the power light and the pressure light in green, then about 5 seconds later the Thermostat light comes on for about a half second and goes off, i hear an audible click and then immediately and says OFF for a second and then goes back to — until it does the same thing again, over and over. Will not keep the thermostat light on so it will not even start the fan or the ignition process. Please help!
Try this manual page 33, Pentair MiniMax NT Troubleshooting Manual. It could be as simple as a jumper switch, but this all depends on which lights are illuminated at the time of the fault.
Hi Matthew Simmons, I have a minimax that will come on and work properly while the pump is turned off. Any reason why this happens? I assujme this should not be happening. It will run for a minute. No error codes. thanks
Oh man, with the Pentair website redesign, that link is dead. Much sadness.
I ordered a new thermistor (the yellow wires one) and replaced it and my heater works again. ?
Thanks for the article Charlie. This was very helpful.