Hayward Hp21404t Heatpro Titanium 140 000 Btu Ahri Residential Pool Heat Pump
If you are looking for a highly reliable, efficient and a quiet pool heating system, this is a perfect choice. This model includes titanium counter-flow heat exchangers, which guarantees unmatched performance, even in the harshest weather conditions. Its evaporator fin is made of ultra-gold corrosion resistant material.
You can trust its durability even if you are living in the coastal regions. Its body panels are also very durable. They are UV resistant as well as resistant to rusting and deterioration. It is designed to last for a long time It is able to resist rusting as well as deterioration. It is quite strong too and is classified as a heavy duty model that uses very quiet scroll compressors.
Our Rating:
- Its performance is uncompromised, possibly due to the titanium counter-flow heat exchanges
- This heater is durable
- It fees strong and sturdy
- Its hardware is made of a stainless steel material to keep it safe from harsh weather conditions.
- It compressors are heavy duty and super quiet
Cons
- It is big. Ensure you have enough space before you order for it.
Why Should You Heat Your Pool
Great question! The swim season in many temperate areas may only last three or four months. Unless you’re in Miami, you’ll have a fair bit of time each year in which it’s just too cold to properly enjoy your inground swimming pool.
However, using a pool heater can often extend your swim season by roughly two months, or even more, depending on location and climate. This means another month of swimming in the spring before everything’s in full bloom, and another month in the fall after the leaves start to turn yellow and fall from your local trees .
We all know how much the whole family enjoys a good dip in their backyard swimming pool. Closing time can be a bummer. A pool heater you and your family can maximize the fun.
How Pool Heaters Work
Gas heaters: Gas heaters burn propane or natural gas in a combustion chamber. The generated heat is transferred to water returning to the pool.
Heat pumps: A heat pump uses a compressor and a refrigerant to transfer heat from ambient air to the water. As air passes over the evaporator, the refrigerant warms up. Its further heated by a compressor and turns to gas. The gas goes to the heat exchanger, which transfers heat to the pool water. The gas cools into a liquid again, and the cycle restarts.
Solar heater: A solar pool heater consists of a long coiled black tube. As water travels through the tube, the sun heats it. Some solar heaters have a clear cover to maximize heat capture.
Electric heater: An electric heater uses a material with high resistance to generate heat. As current passes through it, it gets hot. This heat is transferred to water passing through the heater.
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Pentair 460735 Mastertemp 300k Btu Propane Gas High
Here is another heater from Pentair that has made it on my list and is one of the best in the industry today. It gives out up to 300K BTU, making it a high-performance unit that is not matched by most heaters on the market today.
Another feature I love is the ability of the unit to heat up quite fast to ensure that you enjoy your spa or pool instantly. The model has also been shown to save energy to make sure that you get low energy bills.
Besides, its construction makes it a low NOx emission unit that meets all the industry standards of a great heater. You also dont need to be a professional when installing it, as it is straightforward to assemble and is quite compact.
The Best Natural Gas Pool Heater
Its compact size makes it ideal for both inground and above ground pools. The Raypak features a digital thermostat dial.
A soft opening gas valve makes lighting the pilot easy and safe, and the system delivers reliable and fast heat. The thick-walled copper heat exchanger is corrosion resistant and features a built-in bypass valve that balances the flow and adjusts for a wide range of pump sizes and flow rates. It comes with a one-year warranty.
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How To Choose The Most Popular Propane Pool Heater
The three most crucial criteria to consider are price, quality, and popularity.Price is an obvious factor to consider, as you want to ensure it is acceptable for your needs.Quality should also be examined because buying a low-quality goods will not help you achieve your main aim of obtaining the best product.Finally, while not as obvious as price or quality, popularity can be just as significant as both when it comes to attracting new customers.
Looking For A Pool Heater
Youve come to the right place. Dont let the cold weather stop the fun. A pool heater extends your swimming season, letting you keep swimming even during the colder months.
With some types of pool heaters, you can enjoy swimming all year round.
The three most common types of pool heaters are propane/natural gas heaters, electric pool heaters , and solar-powered pool heaters.
The best choice for your pool depends on where you live, how often you want to heat the pool , and your budget.
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Heat Pumps Gas Heaters Or Solar
Why Buy a Pool Heater?
A pool heater can help keep your water temperature perfect any time of day or year, enabling you to enjoy your pool for longer. 78-86 degrees F is generally comfortable for people to swim. In any climate, pool temperatures can vary based on a variety of factors, including rainfall, pool size and the amount of sunlight a pool receives. If you live in a colder climate, such as Texas, certain heaters can extend your pool season despite how the outside air temperature feels.
There are three main types of pool heaters: electric heat pumps, solar and gas/propane. Depending on the type of pool you have and the seasonal weather of where you live, one may be a better fit for you than the other. Below we explore the differences among each type as well as the pros and cons of each.
What Types are Available?
There are 3 main types of pool heaters available, electric heat pumps, solar and gas/propane heaters. A fourth type, electric resistance heaters, are primarily used for hot tubs and use a lot of electricity, so we focused on the 3 most popular. Depending on the factors above and the type of pool you have , one may be a better fit for you than the other. Click for more information on how heating power is measured.
Sizing A Propane Pool Heater
Propane heaters come in a wide range of BTUs and sizes. Propane heaters for above ground pools are usually around 100-200K BTUs, while in-ground ones can be as large as 400K BTU depending on the size of your pool. A larger-sized heater will naturally offer better heating capabilities but may not always work for everyone or every situation due to its high price tag and power consumption rates it is best to research what type you need before making any purchase decision.
The size of your pool determines how many BTUs your pool heater needs. As a general rule of thumb, get at least a 100K BTU heater for every 10,000 gallons of pool water.
A solar cover can help reduce heat loss by 95%, which means the size of the propane pool heater and cost for heating is reduced as well.
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What Size Above Ground Pool Heater Do I Need
This is a good question because its super important. The right size pool heater will ensure that its heating at its best and not using resources you dont need.
And the best thing is, most manufacturers take the guesswork out of it for you. All you need to do is check the specs for the models youre looking at to make sure theyre compatible with your pool size.
But here are some good examples:
For a pool up to 10,000 gallons, youll need a 50,000-65,000 BTU heater.
For a 20,000 gallon pool, youll need 85,000-125,000 BTUs.
For both of these, stick to the lower end if you plan to only swim in the summer, and to the higher end to extend your swimming season.
Millivolt Vs Electronic Ignition
If you are considering purchasing a propane pool heater, be aware that there are some things you should consider. Millivolt propane heaters still use a constantly burning pilot light which is less efficient than more modern models, and can occasionally be difficult to relight. Modern propane heaters use an electric ignition switch similar to a gas stove. These electronic ignition versions are much more efficient , but they do require an electrical connection.
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Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System
This Fafco heating system works a little like solar heating panels in that it pumps water through the solar collector to heat it up. Then, it pumps it back into the pool.
But instead of solar panels, this one is just one solar collector that looks like a long rubber mat.
This gives it a nice blendable appearance. And it can be installed almost anywhere on the roof, on the ground, or on its own included rack.
Its a great alternative to big bulky solar panels that have to be installed at certain angles in specific areas. But its not quite as great at collecting rays on cloudy days.
Top Pick: Zodiac Jandy Lxi
The Zodiac Jandy LXi is a propane gas pool and spa heater made with polymer and cupro-nickel tubes. The system has a 400,000 BTU and comes with a digital remote control. The remote control is connected to the heater via Aqualink and comes with a digital panel with quick automation settings. These unique features won this heater the nomination of top pick on our list 10 best propane heater list. The unit has a built-in fan that maintains low nitrogen oxide combustion. This heater also has a control panel with built-in pool to spa automation. The unit is made with a cupro-nickel heat exchanger with a built-in fan to prevent combustion and increase heat proficiency. This new and improved system in our top pick also has innovative technology that prevents freezing to help maintain the perfect pool temperature. Powered by propane, this pool heater has an electronic spark ignition system that heats a pool in minutes.
The key pros of our top pick are: low operating cost, user-friendly remote and high efficiency. This unit has a built-in C-Fin heat exchanger that will heat up a pool in minutes without wasting any energy. The remote control is easy to use with built-in pool to spa automation and a simple menu for customizing the pool temperature.
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Swimming Pool Water Chemistry
One major factor that speeds corrosion of components of your pool heater is unbalanced pool water. To prevent this always ensure that you maintain the appropriate pH and alkalinity in your swimming pool. Another trick is installing your heater before installing any chlorine or bromine feeders. Check out our recommended pH Kit.
Natural Gas Or Propane
There are two types of fuel that will operate a gas pool heater, natural gas and propane. Natural gas is by far the most common because it’s cheaper than propane and is often used to heat homes. It’s relatively easy for a gas fitter to run a separate out-of-sight gas line to a bbq or pool heater from the house to provide constant fuel when needed.
On the other hand it’s very rare to find a home that is fuelled by propane. This means that you will need to store propane in a large container or holding tank near the pool. This can be tedious and expensive to install and even unsightly to have a large propane tank next to the pool. In addition to having the propane tank refilled periodically, you can expect to pay up to 85% less for natural gas vs propane.
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Which Pool Heaters Last Longer
The first place should go for a solar pool heater. They last for almost a lifetime if not happens any accidental leakage.
Secondly, the heat pumps. They last for decades and need very little maintenance or refrigerant refills.
The gas pool water heater generally lasts longer than 7-8 years but depends on how carefully you use them.
Then the last sequence goes towards a standard tankless water heater. These items require very frequent maintenance due to their working procedure.
Can You Put A Heater On An Above Ground Pool
Lots of new pool owners assume that having an above ground pool means theyll have to forego luxuries like heating. But thats just not true.
All the options we gave you here will work for above ground pools. In fact you have pretty much the same types of options for both above ground and inground pools.
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Types Of Pool Heaters
If you still struggle with the type of heater to choose, we will help you to make a final decision. There are four main types of heaters each of them has their pros and cons and will be perfect to achieve certain aims some of them will be more effective in one climate conditions and the others will be less effective. It depends on the conditions and your requirements. Lets figure out who each type of heater will be ideal for.
How Do I Know If My Pool Heater Is Working
There are a few things you can check to make sure your pool heater is operating well. Check for electrical supply by making sure that the lights and display are operable on the machine. Check for sufficient gas flow by adjusting the thermostat higher and visually confirm burner ignition. Check the pool filter and water intakes for obstructions that could reduce flow rates. Finally, be sure your heater has adequate air intake and ventilation.
If all of the above items are functioning as expected, its likely your pool heater is doing its job. If not, calling a qualified repair company may be necessary.
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Gas & Heat Pump & Electric
Gas heaters, heat pumps, and electric heaters are rated by BTU output . BTU is a unit of measurement of energy . BTU/ hr is the measure of the power of your heater, by how many degrees the water temperature will raise within an hour the higher BTU/ hr, the quicker your pool will heat.
BTU/hour output requirement = Pool area * Temperature raise * 12
Note: the 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 the number you have got by 1.5. For a 2ºF rise, multiply the number youve got by 2.0.
In our article, we conducted research and ranked the 7 best pool heaters, you will find a perfect one for your requirements.
Below we categorized our chosen heaters by their type and BTU output.
| BTU/Heater type |
Best Propane Pool Heater: Hayward Universal H
If you need a propane heater, the Hayward Universal H-Series is a great option. With units available from 150,000 BTU to 400,000 BTU, youll be able to find the option that works best for your pool size and climate. Best of all, its a low NOx model, so its environmentally friendly and meets standards for areas where low NOx units are required.
Unfortunately, this particular model is designed only for inground pools. Pool owners with smaller or above ground pools should consider the Pentair MasterTemp 125.
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The Most Powerful Pool Heaters
Gas pool heaters have powerful gas burners that offer the quickest and most efficient means of heating your water. are cleaner, but, depending on the size of your pool, they do not heat your water faster than gas heaters. Electric heaters with more than 200K BTU are more efficient than a gas water heater, however. are similar to electric and gas water heaters. Their horsepower relates to heater BTUs.
How Quickly You Want To Heat Your Pool
The speed of heating the water depends on the heater type and environment conditions .
If the main feature you are looking for in the pool heater is the quick heating of the water, a gas heater will be perfect for you. On average, it will increase the water temperature by 3-4ºF per hour which is 2 times faster than any heat pump .
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Combined Benefits Gas Pool Heater And Heat Pump
A gas heater and heat pump combination will deliver energy savings utilizing the heat pump a majority of the time, and switching to a gas pool heater when the temperature drops. Other benefits include:
- Most energy efficient way to heat or cool your pool and/or spa in any climate
- Heat pump efficiently maintains ideal pool temperature while gas heater rapidly raises spa temperature on demand
- The ability to choose between heat pump or gas heat on cooler days and in colder climate.
