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.
Let A Pool Heating Professional Do The Work
A trained pool heating professional can perform a proper sizing analysis for your swimming pool to determine the correct pool heater size that you need. Well provide you with product features and details on our complete line of heat pumps and heaters. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-741-9956. Our team of friendly pool experts will answer any questions you may have and offer technical advice in selecting the model that is right for your pool.
Why Is Pool Heater Sizing Important
Weve all heard the saying bigger is better. When it comes to gas pool heaters, this is mostly true. However, it really depends on your pool size, and budget.
Generally speaking, the amount of BTUs required to heat pool water will be the same, no matter the size of the heater. But a larger one will work quicker than a smaller heater, especially if you have a large body of water youre warming.
Note: BTU is a unit of measurement that measures thermal energy. Gas pool heaters are rated for BTU input/output and range from 100,000 400,000 BTUs.
Current pool heaters are 85% to 90% efficient. This means if you have a heater with an input of 400,000 BTUs, youll be getting 340,000 BTUs of output based on 85% efficiency, though this drops over time due to normal wear and tear. Understanding BTUs helps you determine the necessary heater size for the volume of water in your pool.
A smaller heater means youll have to run it longer, which means youll be paying more in operational costs. But once it reaches the desired temperature, it can easily maintain it.
When it comes to minimum size, the general rule is 1 BTU will raise 1lb. of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. You can then determine the minimum BTU size of the heater you require when heating your pool by X amount of degrees.
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What Size Pool Heater Do I Need Guide On How To Size A Pool Heater
Calculate your pool sq. footage first.
What Size Pool Heater Do I Need?If you own a pool then its important that you purchase the right size because lets be honest, pool heaters are not cheap and choosing the wrong size will definitely ruin your day. As with most things, education is the key and knowing all the facts will ensure you make the right decision when it comes to choose your pool heater.
Now, lets have a look at what factors you need to consider when it comes to swimming pool sizes.
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How To Properly Size A Gas Heater For A Hot Tub:
Multiply length x width x average depth x 7.5 to determine spa gallonage.
Besides the amount of time you can wait for your spa to heat up, other factors come into play that could affect the size of spa heater.
- Will the spa be covered to prevent heat loss?
- Is the spa located indoors or outside?
- If outdoors, will it be operating year round?
- Are there other competing appliances using the gas supply?
Type Of Pool: Above Ground And Inground
The main difference between an above ground and an inground pool is that an above ground pool loses more heat than an inground pool. The sides of an above-ground pool are not isolated so heat escapes from the top and through the sides.
What does it mean for a heater? The above ground pools require a more powerful heater to increase the water temperature. The manufacturers usually indicate what type of pool their heater will be suitable for. Some heaters are good for both types. For example, gas heaters like the Hayward H-Series Natural gas and Hayward H-Series Propane heat pump Hayward HP50HA electric heater Hayward CSPAXI.
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Why Did Pool Heaters Become So Popular
Having fun in a heated poolSource:
In recent years, pool heaters became extremely popular due to several reasons.
The first benefit of using a pool heater is an extended swimming season. Thanks to a pool heater, you can prolong the season by 3-5 months or even swim in the pool year-round .
Secondly, the constantly heated water will prevent the pool from damage in winter. Some water may remain in the plumbing system of your pool even after draining it. Once this water freezes, it can damage the pipes and cause them to burst. Besides, due to fluctuating temperatures, the tiling of your pool may buckle. The constant flow of a warm temperature will prevent the pool from such damage.
Thirdly, swimming in the water with a constant and comfortable temperature will benefit your health. Regular swimming sessions will improve blood circulation and relax your muscles. If you have respiratory problems, regular swimming procedures will help. Besides, the warm water in your pool will help to release stress, after a long and tiring day.
What Size Pool Heater Do I Need For A 24 Foot Round Pool
| Pool Size | ||
|---|---|---|
| Up To 10,000 Gallons Up To 21 Round or 15 x 26 Oval | 50,000 BTU | |
| Up To 13,000 Gallons Up To 24 Round or 15 x 30 Oval | 50,000 BTU | |
| Up To 17,000 Gallons Up To 27 Round or 18 x 33 Oval | 65,000 BTU | 110,000 BTU |
How do I know what size pool heater I need?
The pools surface area divided by three gives you the minimal BTU size recommended for that particular surface area. Continuing the example above with the 15 x 30 pool, after dividing by 3, you get 150. Therefore, the minimum size heater that is recommended for a 15 x 30 pool is 150,000 BTUs.
How many gallons of water is in a 24 foot round pool?
| Above Ground Swimming Pool Water Volumes by Size |
|---|
| 15 ft Round |
| 13,594 gals |
What size pool heater do I need for a 15000 gallon above ground pool?
For pools under 10,000 gallons, small gas heaters like the Hayward 100K$) BTU output are suitable. Pools up to 15,000 gallons should look at the Pentair 125K BTU or higher, and 20,000 gallon above ground pools should look at the Raypak 150K BTU.
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What Costs Are Involved In Heating A Swimming Pool
Youll first need to budget for the initial cost of the heater along with any costs needed to install it. After this, you should look at the cost of fuel on a monthly basis. This will obviously vary depending on the type of heater you choose. Youll also need to give due consideration to the cost of servicing and maintenance. You should know before you even think about buying a swimming pool for your home that it costs a reasonable amount to keep this things running at their best. To reduce these costs as much as practical, make sure you choose the right type of heater thats capable of efficiently heating your pool. Always use a pool filter, and be sure to cover your pool when its not in use. The good news, though? Buying a pool is worth every cent.
What Else Do You Need To Know About A Heat Pump
The choice of location is also very important because the heat pump needs very large amounts of air to function properly! For this, a suitable place for the fresh air must be found in most cases indoor operation does not work.
The heat pump itself is then integrated directly into the filter circuit, after the filter system and before the chlorinator if fitted.
High-quality heat pumps are equipped with corrosion-protected heat exchangers and can thus heat any swimming pool water, whether it is cared for with chlorine, bromine, ozone or chlorine-free products. The use for pools with sea water is also possible.
With all pools other factors including solar gains, wind factors and evaporation losses need to be taken into consideration. This article is to give a bit of insight on one way of sizing.
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How To Calculate Pool Heater Size
A dip in swimming pool of one of life’s little pleasures. It’s even more enjoyable when the water temperature is just where you like it. Water that’s too cold or too warm is no fun. So to get that Goldilock’s “just right” feeling, a heater properly sized for your pool and climate is a must for maximum enjoyment.
How To Size A Pool Heat Pump
The size of your pool, the outside temperature, humidity level, and the amount of wind will all factor into how fast your heat pump warms the water.
Correctly sizing your heat pump keeps those outside influences from becoming as much of a determining factor in the temperature of your water.
There are 2 ways you can determine the proper pump size:
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Above Ground Pool Heating Guide
This above ground pool heating guide outlines the different methods to heat above ground pools. These suggestions apply to all types of above ground pools eg wooden, plastic and metal framed pools
At HeatPumps4Pools, we offer a wide range of pool heaters, heat pumps, filters and covers for above ground pools.
Adding heat to your above ground pool makes it much more enjoyable and usable.
We supply pool heaters for all makes of above ground pools including Intex and Bestway etc
There are several options for heating above ground pools
The Best Swimming Pool Heaters
January 2, 2021 By Austin Henderson
Swimming in a pool year-round isnt feasible unless you live in a region that sees warm weather all of the time, thus one of the reasons swimming pool heaters are so popular.
So, when Mother Nature decides to bring in the cold weather, it benefits to have one of the best pool heaters so you can still take a dip anytime you want. To give several options, we gave our reviews of the seven top-selling swimming pool heaters.
We considered ease-of-use, good longevity, and high-quality performance as well as other features when creating and reviewing our top 7 best pool heaters.
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Are Pool Heaters Worth It
Short answer, it depends on where you live and how long you want your pool to be in use during a calendar year.
Quality swimming pool heaters have the potential to be an incredibly worthwhile investment if a family wants to utilize its new pool year-round, or even just well into the school year starting in the fall. However, if your family only plans to use your pool in the hot days of summer, or if you live somewhere where the temperature is warm the vast majority of the year, a pool heating system is not as necessary.
Law Regulations In Your Area
The law restrictions refer to the number of emissions produced by gas heaters. In California and Texas, in 1998, a law was set up to limit NOx emissions. NOx is produced when nitrogen and oxygen gases are mixed during combustion. It is the same gas that vehicles produce.
If you would like to buy a gas heater and you live in these states, you should consider the amount of NOx emissions produced. For example, the Hayward H-Series Natural gas and the Hayward H-Series Propaneheaters produce fewer NOx emissions, are less harmful to the environment, and dont break any laws.
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Determining Heater Operating Costs
The cost to operate a gas pool heater depends on several factors. Lets take a look at what they are and how they make a difference.
Minimum size
Size can matter. While most pool builders may recommend a large-size unit on a new pool, if you are replacing an existing unit, its vital to get one with the correct minimum BTUs for your pool.
A unit a high BTU does use more energy, but will also heat your pool quickerthereby decreasing power demand. An under-sized heater will have to run more often along with consuming more fuel, the longer operating times will decrease the equipments lifespan.
Type of fuel
Gas heaters can burn natural gas or liquid propane. Due to its wider availability in some regions and its lower price, most pool owners opt for natural gas. However, in some regions of the U.S. and in some residential properties , natural gas is not available and propane issometimes at more than double the cost.
Regular heater usage
How and when you use the heater has the biggest impact on operating costs. The longer you run the heater and the higher you want the water temperature, the more it will cost to operate.
One way to slash heating costs is to cover your pool and spa. Using an inexpensive solar blanket when the pool & spa is not in use helps retain heat. As a result, heat up timeand costscan be slashed.
Tip: To minimize operating costs, avoid buying a heater with higher BTU rating than your pool really needs.
The specific heater model and features
Calculate Your Surface Area
When you are determining which size pool heater to buy, the first step is calculating your pools surface area. A lot of pool owners assume that you use your pools gallon size to determine your heater size. In fact, there are some websites that DO use the number of gallons. If you have a pool with a large surface area, the heat has more space to escape and subsequently, more water to heat. As a result, the heater needs to be large enough to compensate for surface area and the pool size.
To calculate the surface area of your pool, multiply the length times the width.
For example: If your pool is 15 x 30, then your surface area is 450 square feet.
Related:Pool volume calculator.
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Selecting A Heat Pump Pool Heater
Heat pump pool heaters cost more than gas pool heaters, but they typically have much lower annual operating costs because of their higher efficiencies. With proper maintenance, heat pump pool heaters typically last longer than gas pool heaters. Therefore, you’ll save more money in the long run.
When selecting a heat pump pool heater, you should consider its:
- Size
- Costs.
How To Choose A Pool Heater
In our article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on choosing a pool heater that works for your needs , pros/cons of each type and typical mistakes as well as FAQs to make sure that you can pick the right model for your requirements and that your expectations from it will match the reality.
I purchased a pool heater to stretch our swimming season for another 3 to 4 months. Although it works, it takes a lot of time and I can barely heat the water to 80°F within 2 days. Im not happy says the owner of a pool heater from the USA.
People often may feel like their pool heater didnt fulfill their expectations, in most of the cases the reason is in the choice of the heater. The author of the comment probably has chosen the wrong size or wrong type of heater.
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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 |