Balboa Water Group has manufactured a very large number of spa and hot tub heaters over the years. As control systems have changed, many older heater assemblies have been discontinued, replaced, or superseded by newer designs.
If you are trying to replace an older Balboa heater, the most important first step is to correctly identify the heater you have. A heater that looks similar is not necessarily a direct replacement.
The easiest place to begin is our Heater Finder. Enter the heater part number you have and the Finder can help determine whether the original heater is still available, has a known replacement, or has been discontinued.
Start With the Balboa Heater Part Number
The best way to identify a Balboa spa heater is by the manufacturer's part number.
Look for an identification label on the heater assembly, heater tube, control box, or original equipment documentation. Balboa heater part numbers frequently use five-digit numbers such as:
- 58083
- 58104
- 58089
Other Balboa replacement heaters may also be identified by numbers beginning with a G, depending on the product and how it was sold.
Once you locate a number, enter it into our Heater Finder before trying to match the heater by dimensions alone.
Where Can I Find the Heater Part Number?
The exact location of the identification label varies depending on the heater and spa control system.
Check the following areas:
- The metal heater tube
- A label attached to the heater assembly
- The spa control box or equipment-pack label
- The original circuit-board or control-system documentation
- The spa manufacturer's equipment label or owner's manual
On older equipment, labels may be faded, damaged, or missing entirely. If the original heater number cannot be found, additional specifications can often help identify the correct replacement.
What Information Is Needed to Identify a Spa Heater?
If the heater part number is missing or unreadable, gather as much information as possible before selecting a replacement.
Helpful information includes:
- Heater manufacturer
- Spa control-system manufacturer and model
- Heater length
- Plumbing connection size
- Heater wattage or kilowatt rating
- Voltage
- Pressure-switch configuration, if used
- Temperature and high-limit sensor configuration
- Electrical plug or terminal style
- Mounting studs or brackets
- Any part numbers visible on the heater or control system
Clear photographs of the complete heater assembly, its electrical connections, sensors, plumbing unions, and identification labels can also be very helpful.
Heater Length Matters
Many Balboa spa heaters use a stainless-steel flow-through tube, but the overall heater length can vary.
Common heater assemblies may be approximately 15 inches long, while other systems use different lengths or configurations.
Do not assume that two heaters are interchangeable simply because both have 2-inch plumbing connections.
Wattage Matters Too
Balboa has produced spa heaters in several wattage configurations, including common ratings such as 4.0 kW and 5.5 kW.
The replacement heater should be appropriate for the spa control system and electrical configuration. Installing a heater with an incorrect electrical rating can create operational or safety problems.
Identify Whether the Heater Uses Sensors or a Pressure Switch
This is one of the most important differences between heater assemblies.
Some older spa systems use a pressure switch or flow switch to confirm water movement before energizing the heater.
Many Balboa M7 systems instead use two temperature sensors mounted in the heater assembly. The control system compares the sensor readings to monitor water temperature and help verify proper water flow.
A pressure-switch heater and an M7-style heater should not be treated as interchangeable simply because the heater tubes look similar.
If you are unsure which style you have, use the Heater Finder or contact us with the heater and control-system information.
What If My Balboa Heater Has Been Discontinued?
A discontinued heater does not always mean that the entire spa control system needs to be replaced.
Depending on the heater, there may be:
- A direct replacement heater
- A newer Balboa replacement
- A compatible replacement from another manufacturer
- A heater that requires minor configuration differences
- No direct heater replacement, making a control-system retrofit worth considering
Our Heater Finder includes replacement and discontinued-product information for many older spa heaters and should be your first step before assuming the original heater is no longer replaceable.
Enter it into our Heater Finder. If we have a verified replacement relationship for that heater, the Finder can direct you to the current replacement rather than leaving you searching for a discontinued part.
When Does Replacing the Complete Spa Control System Make Sense?
Some older heaters were designed specifically for spa control systems that are themselves obsolete.
If the heater is unavailable and no suitable direct replacement exists, replacing the complete spa control system may be a more practical long-term solution.
A retrofit control system can replace aging components with a current control box, circuit board, heater system, and compatible controls. This can also improve future replacement-part availability.
Whether a retrofit makes sense depends on the spa's pump configuration, voltage, heater requirements, blower or auxiliary equipment, topside control, and available installation space.
Discontinued Balboa Spa Heater Part Numbers
The following Balboa bath and spa heater part numbers have appeared in older systems and have been identified in our historical product data as discontinued or obsolete.
If you searched one of these numbers and arrived at this page, do not assume that you have no replacement option. Enter the original number into our Heater Finder first. A current replacement or alternative may now be available.
| 50094 | 50140 | 50141 | 50144 | 50146 |
| 50148 | 50149 | 50927 | 51508 | 51888 |
| 52225 | 53278 | 53283 | 54610 | 55302 |
| 55303 | 55387 | 55438 | 55440 | 55442 |
| 55444 | 55464 | 55465 | 55469 | 55480 |
| 55547 | 55614 | 55625 | 55626 | 55627 |
| 55628 | 55629 | 55630 | 55631 | 55678 |
| 55691 | 55694 | 55950 | 55969 | 55970 |
| 55971 | 55978 | 55987 | 55999 | 56095 |
| 58013 | 58018 | 58030 | 58034 | 58036 |
| 58039 | 58049 | 58054 | 58066 | 58072 |
| 58076 | 58080 | 58084 | 58112 | 58113 |
| 58122 | 58123 | 58127 | 58136 | 58138 |
| 58140 | 58141 | 58142 | 58149 | 58153 |
| 58154 | 58155 | 58159 | 58167 | 58211 |
| 58213 | 58219 | 58247 | 50148PLG | 50151PLG |
| 58143CE | 58215TUV |
Before Ordering a Replacement Heater
Before placing an order, compare the replacement heater to the original and verify the important specifications.
Check:
- Part number and known replacement relationship
- Heater length
- Plumbing size
- Wattage
- Voltage requirements
- Sensor or pressure-switch configuration
- Electrical connections
- Mounting configuration
- Compatibility with the existing spa control system
This is much more reliable than attempting to identify a heater by appearance alone.
Need Help Identifying Your Balboa Heater?
Start with our Heater Finder. Search using the Balboa heater number, manufacturer part number, or other identifying information you have available.
If you still cannot determine the correct heater, give Bath & Spa Parts Online a call at 800-918-9143. We specialize in helping identify older, discontinued, and difficult-to-find spa replacement parts.
When contacting us, having the original heater part number, spa control-system information, heater dimensions, and clear photos available can make identification much faster.