Gas Heaters Versus Electric Heat Pumps: Which Do You Need
Electric heat pumps and gas pool heaters are two of the best pool heaters, so its good to understand how they work and which one may be best for your pool. They are both great choices for the right circumstances. There is no best way to heat a pool, so you have to pay more attention to what your area is like and what you want to get out of your heater.
Out of the two choices, heat pumps are best suited as maintenance heaters. They use the warm air outside and heat from direct sunlight to create warmer water in your pool. This is effective for warming up your pool during the normal swimming season when its already warm outside, but the water is colder than you want. Getting the best pool heat pump is fantastic for maintaining a good temperature range during warm conditions, but it cant heat up a pool effectively during colder weather.
If youre looking to extend your swimming season or swim during colder weather, a gas pool heater is a better choice. These heaters are more effective because they use gas to directly create heat for the water. Gas heaters work regardless of the ambient temperature outside or the presence of the sun. Because of this, gas heaters are better if you want the heat your pool a lot warmer than the outside temperature. For a hot tub, youll want a gas heater, not a heat pump.
The 8 Best Pool Heater Reviews And Guides
You can enjoy your swimming pool, spa, fountain, hot tub, or any other water body all-year-round with the best pool heater.
Swimming pool heaters are powered by three different methods, which are solar, electric, and gas power.
Hence, you can choose your preferred heater from gas pool heaters, electric pool heaters, or solar pool heaters.
Each of these systems has its benefits and shortcomings, as you will find later from this review of different types of pool heaters.
We begin by looking at the top eight pool heaterson Amazon and the industry today. You can pick and buy the model that meets your needs.
Hayward H150fdn Universal H
Hayward H150FDN is a natural gas model for heating swimming pools and offers reliable and superior value.
The model comes with a Cupro-Nickel heat exchanger that is more efficient than a Titanium heat exchanger, making it among the best natural gas or propane heaters out there.
This one also comes with a bypass valve design and patented polymer header for ultimate reliability and hydraulic efficiency.
You can efficiently heat your pool with this natural gas pool heater and expect to get the desired results within hours.
Another thing about these natural gas heaters is the universal design that makes them versatile and easy to install.
They are the most spartan heat exchangers for installing in existing pools and using the current heat pumps.
The natural gas pool heater is also environmentally friendly as it comes with a Low NOx rating.
You also get a durable model that does not affect the pool heat pump when heating your swimming pool.
Key Features and Specifications
- Ideal for a natural gas pool
- Make use of the existing pool heat pumps
- Highly rated for Low NOx emission
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Sizing A Gas Pool Heater
You should have a trained pool professional perform a proper sizing analysis for your specific pool to determine pool heater size.
Sizing a gas pool heater involves many factors. Basically, a heater is sized according to the surface area of the pool and the difference between the pool and the average air temperatures. Other factors also affect the heating load for outdoor pools, such as wind exposure, humidity levels, and cool night temperatures. Therefore, pools located in areas with higher average wind speeds at the pool surface, lower humidity, and cool nights will require a larger heater.
Gas pool heaters are rated by Btu output. Outputs range from 75,000 Btu to 450,000 Btu.
To calculate an approximate heater size for an outdoor pool, follow these steps:
Pool Area x Temperature Rise x 12
This formula is based on 1º to 1-1/4ºF temperature rise per hour and a 3-1/2 mile per hour average wind at the pool surface. For a 1-1/2ºF rise multiply by 1.5. For a 2ºF rise multiply by 2.0.
Buy A Known Brand Pool Heater
Pentair UltraTemp 108,000 BTU Heat Pump
Features :
- 100% titanium heat exchanger assures corrosion-free performance for extra long life
- LCD control board displays an intuitive menu-driven read out with easy to follow full word messagesno more codes
- AutoSet feature monitors water temperature and turns the water circulation pump on and off as needed to maintain desired pool temperatures
- Automatic defrost feature senses refrigerant temperature and prevents freezing, allowing the heat pump to operate at even lower temperatures
- Compatible with ALL automated control packages
- Long-life corrosion resistant plastic composite cabinet stands up to severe climates and pool chemicals
- Emerson Copeland Scroll® Compressor
- ETL listed for safe operation
- Thermostatic Expansion Valve controls refrigerant flow for optimum efficiency and BTU output over a wider operating range
- Highest efficiency available, meets or exceeds existing codes and standards
- BTU and efficiency performance independently certified by the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, AHRI
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What Is The Best Brand Of Pool Equipment
There are a few different ways to answer this question – instead of picking a singular brand what I prefer to advise is that I only endorse the larger, more established companies. The big three companies in the world of swimming pool equipment are Hayward, Pentair and Jandy. While there are many more pool equipment manufacturers out there, and surely many of them produce good quality products, it has been my professional experience to stick with products exclusively for after purchase support. All three of these companies are very large and have been in the pool industry basically forever. Asking which of these three is the best is like asking who makes the best cars…any answer that you give will be completely subjective. As it can be confusing for those not familiar with the industry – there are a number of different names and brands for pool equipment which all fall under one of the big 3 parent companies. For example, Jandy and Zodiac are the same company. Sta-Rite and Pentair are the same company and Hayward has made a business model of buying industry leading brands and adding it to their in-house banner such as with Goldline automation controls and Summit heat pumps. Anything from any of these brands would be considered top quality in the larger picture.
How Long Does It Take To Heat An Average
Many residential swimming pools hold between 10,000 and 20,000 gallons of water. How long it takes to heat this water will depend on a variety of factors, including how many degrees you want to raise the water temperature, the average ambient air temperature outside of the pool, whether youre heating an inground or above ground pool, and what type of pool heater you choose to do the job.
However, when you choose the right pool heater for the type and size of your swimming pool, you can often expect to hit target temperatures within 24 hours or less. Its not uncommon for a gas pool heater to be able to raise temperatures by 5 degrees or more in less than 12 hours.
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Goplus Solar Dome Swimming Pool Heater Best Low Price Solar Panel
It is already common knowledge that if you want a low-budget swimming pool heater, the solar heaters are your best bet, now imagine finding a low-priced product that is at the top of low prices but still as capable and functional as the high priced heaters.
Goplus solar dome panel is a highly effective 11.2 pounds dome-shaped solar panel made from PP, PC, and PE hose designed to convert the suns rays into heat to warm up your pool water.
With a total of 22.5 x 8.5 inches, Goplus is space-saving, eco-friendly, and aesthetically appealing, offering users the capacity to extend their swimming season.
There is a protective cover available to protect the dome-shaped solar panel, and it features a 1.5-inch hose to connect.
Goplus is great for smaller pools with its small heat range but assures you of the capacity to heat your pool at any time as far as there is the constant sun.
Electric Element Pool Heaters
These types of heaters are usually built to draw their energy from electricity. They are easy to install. Furthermore, they work like electric kettles the same way there is direct heat transfer between the immersed element and the pool water. They are usually small in size, which makes them ideal for use where the pool is smaller in size. They are also the best to use where there is no gas supply. When it comes to cost, you will invest more in these than in the solar pool heaters. These are the best types of pool heaters to use in spas, because they are more compact and help the pool reach a high temperature in good time.
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Gas Pool Heater Sizing Calculator
There are a couple quick calculations to figure out the amount of BTUs required to heat your pool. We will walk you through it and at the end you will know exactly what size of heater to purchase for your specific pool. The first thing you need to figure out is the surface area of your pool and this can be done by the simple equation below.
- Rectangular Pools: Length x Width
- Round Pools: Radius x Radius x 3.14
- Oval Pools: ½ Length x ½ Width x 3.14
Example:
- Rectangle Pool 15 ft x 30 ft = 15 x 30 = 450 square feet
- Round Pool 20 ft wide = 10 x 10 x 3.14 = 314 square feet
- Oval Pool 15 ft x 30 ft = 7.5 x 15 x 3.14 = 353 square feet
After you have used these calculations to figure out the surface area of your pool you can determine the approximate amount of BTUs required to heat your pool while also being as efficient as possible. This guide is a rough estimate and variances could be caused by actual temperature, wind speed, humidity or sunlight.
Surface Area
BTU’s to Increase Water 20
- 55,000 BTU
- 210,000 BTU
- 265,000 BTU
A pool with a surface area of 450 square feet requires aheater with at least 130,000 BTUs of output. A 160,000 BTU heater with 85% efficiency would be sufficient as a minimum to increase the temperature of a poolwith 450 square feet of surface area by 20. This means that you will be able to keep the pool heated to a temperature 20 above the ambient air temperature at anytime.
Heater Performance In The Saltwater Pool
Owners of a saltwater pool may have some concerns about the heater performance. This is because saltwater along with poorly balanced water can cause corrosion of metal parts in the heater.
Of course, manufacturers take these factors into account and use stainless steel in their construction, titanium, or cupro-nickel for heat exchangers which are durable and can resist rust. Remember, no one is safe from damages, so its better to prevent problems than deal with consequences. Better to be safe than sorry.
To extend the service of your pool heater and eliminate the impact of saltwater, we recommend using the zink node. It can be installed anywhere in the plumbing system of the pool as long as it has contact with the water and the bonding grid wire is connected to it.
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Choosing The Best Pool Heater
The process of choosing the right pool heater may seem challenging. But it is not that difficult to pick the perfect pool heater for your needs. You should take into account several factors.
- You have to understand what goals you want to achieve while using a pool heater. For example, if you want to heat the pool water in the shortest time, the best option for you will be a gas heater.
- Decide how much you can spend on the operating costs per month. The most expensive will be gas and electric heaters. While heat pumps will be cheaper, and solar heaters are the cheapest.
- The type of pool you need: inground or above ground. The same size inground and above pools in the same climate conditions will need different heaters. Above ground pools require a more powerful heater since while heating the water, a lot of the heat escapes through the sides and the top of the pool. It will be indicated on the pool heater whether it is for ingroundor above ground pool.
- Climate features. This is extremely important if you would like to heat water with a heat pump or solar heater since both are highly dependent on air temperature and the amount of sunlight.
- Law regulations in your area. In California and Texas, there is a law that establishes some emission limits. If you live in these states and want to heat your pool with natural gas or propane, you should take the regulations into account.
Low Nox Vs Normal Emissions Pool Heaters
A Low NOx gas heater is designed to release low emissions, which also makes them more efficient than regular pool heaters. This also means your pool will heat more quickly.
If that wasnt enough of a sell for Low NOx, they also meet the NOx Emission standards set by the California South Coast Quality Air Management Commission for 2001 and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Code. So if you live in those two states, youll need a Low NOx heater anyway.
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Gas Pool Heater Sizing
Gas pool heaters are rated by BTU or British Thermal Unit output which is the amount of energy transferred to heat energy. The US Department of Energy has regulated pool heaters to have an efficiency rating of at least 78%. An example is a heater that puts out 200,000 BTUs and has an 85% efficiency rating would produce 170,000 BTUs per hour.
All pool heaters have a BTU rating and will be listed prominently by the manufacturer. The BTU output is important in determining the size of heater required to heat your pool. The ideal rating is dependant on the surface area of your pool where the larger the surface area of your pool is the higher BTU output required.
A tip when shopping for a heater is to consider a 10% higher BTU rating than required just to be sure you have adequate heating during times of higher demand and at the beginning and end of the season. If you purchase a larger heater you will heat your pool faster, use it less often and potentially increase the life of your heater.
What Are Btus: Pool Heater Thermal Units
BTU, which stands for British thermal unit, is how pool heaters are sized. One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Pool heater outputs range from 75,000 BTU to 450,000 BTU. The amount of heat generated often depends on the type of pool heater you have.
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How To Find The Right Size Gas Pool Heater
Just like any pool heater, you need to first know the surface area of your pool in square feet. Youll also need to figure out the average air temperature in your area.
For example, the average temperature in New Jersey during the month of October is 65°F. If you own a 16×32 inground pool in New Jersey, and you want the temperature of your pool to be 80°F all the time, the temperature rise calculation is:
80 65 = 15 degrees in temperature rise.
Using the BTU formula, the calculation would be:
512 × 15 × 12 = 92,160 BTUs of heat needed to be generated by your new pool heater.
Calculating The Size Of The Pool Heater
Calculating the right size of the pool heater is crucial when buying the unit. Choosing the right size is essential as it will determine the effectiveness of the heater.
Sizing a pool heater includes a lot of factors such as:
- The pool area
- The difference between pool and average air temperatures
- Climate features
The higher indicators listed above the bigger pool heater you need.
So now lets figure out what heater size you need according to the heater type.
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Which Is The Quietest Swimming Pool Heat Pump In The Market
When doing research for a new swimming pool heat pump, there are many features that come to mind. We have seen that the noise level of a heat pump is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a new system. Whether it is for your own peace and quiet or because of close location to your neighbors, this is valid concern. In this article we hope to answer this for you.
Not all heat pumps are created equal, and the noise from a heat pump can vary dramatically from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are many factors that affect the noise level in the units the pitch of the fan blades, the fan motor, the compressor. All of these play a part on the final noise of the heat pump. On the chart below you will see the dB for the top five heat pump manufacturers.
Breakdown of Swimming Pool Heat Pump Sound Levels
| Manufacturer |
|
64 dB |
So, what does that mean?
Basically, the lower the sound decibels are, the quieter the swimming pool heat pump will be while operating. Keeping in mind that just a 5 dB difference makes an enormous change in the noise level, all heat pump manufacturers take sound as a very important aspect of their units.
