Swimming Pool Heaters

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• How a Pool Heater Works
• Sizing a Pool Heater To Your Pool - Why Bigger IS Usually Better
• Different Types Of Swimming Pool Heaters
  • Natural Gas or Liquid Propane? What Will Your Pool Heater Run On?
  • The Difference Between Millivolt and Electronic Start Pool Heaters.
  • Low NOx Vs. Normal Emissions Pool Heaters
  • Pool Heaters Designed for Altitudes 2,000 Feet Above Sea Level
• Swimming Pool Heater Installation Basics
• Avoiding Problems With Pool Heaters - A Few Reminders

How a Pool Heater Works

Swimming pool heaters are a great way to warm your pool water up to the perfect temperature at times when the cool nights of spring and fall would usually keep your pool water too cold to enjoy. A swimming pool heater works by burning fuel to create heat which is passed through a heat exchanger and on to water drawn from your swimming pool. The water, now considerably warmer, is then reintroduced to the swimming pool, raising the overall temperature. This process makes a pool heater a great way to extend your swimming pool season and provide heat on demand at the times you need it most. No other piece of pool heating equipment, be it a heat pump or solar heating application, has the ability to heat your pool up as fast as a swimming pool heater. The following article will provide information designed to help you select the right size heater for your swimming pool, discuss some of the different models available, give an overview of the basic principles involved in heater installation, as well as provide some tips you'll want to remember to avoid common problems common to swimming pool heaters. So just how DO you size a swimming pool heater?

Sizing a Pool Heater To Your Pool - Why Bigger IS Usually Better

Swimming pool heaters are rated as to their output in a measurement known as BTUs or British Thermal Units. 1 BTU is capable of raising the temperature of 1 lb of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. Therefore the more BTUs a pool heater produces the faster it will heat the water in your swimming pool. Because swimming pools come in all shapes and sizes and are located in many different climates it is necessary to calculate the number of BTUs necessary to heat your swimming pool according to your specifications in order to select the appropriate pool heater. This can be accomplished once the following variables have been determined:

• surface area - The main job of any heater is to heat the pool water at a faster rate than heat is being lost from the surface of the swimming pool. Once the ideal temperature has been reached a heater only needs to run enough to compensate for the heat that escapes from the surface of the water. Due to this fact it is a good idea to use a solar blanket in conjunction with a pool heater, or any piece of heating equipment for that matter, in order to maximize heater efficiency. With that said, the more surface area your pool contains through which heat can escape, the more BTUs a pool heater will need to produce to heat your pool water. Calculating the surface area of your swimming pool is relatively easy and some common calculations have been provided here:

• round pools: radius (1/2 diameter) x radius x 3.14
• rectangular pools: length x width
• oval pools: 1/2 length x 1/2 width x 3.14
• rectangular pools w/ rounded ends: length x width x 0.8
• kidney-shaped pools: length x width x 0.75

 

• temperature rise - The temperature rise of your pool is really a calculation of your desired temperature minus the average ambient air temperature. The desired temperature is simply the final temperature you'd like your pool water to reach. The average ambient air temperature is the average daily temperature and should be figured on the basis of the coldest month you plan on using your pool. For instance if I lived in an area where the average temperature in May, the month I wished to start using my pool, was 60 degrees and my desired temperature was 80 degree water, my temperature rise would be 20 degrees (80 - 60).

With surface area and temperature rise calculated you can refer to the following chart to find just how many BTUs will be necessary for the desired heating effect on your swimming pool:

* This chart is based upon an assumed wind velocity of 3.5 mph. Totals should be multiplied by a factor of 1.25 or 2.0 for wind speeds of 5 and 10 mph respectively.

After finding the required amount of BTUs / hr from the above chart you can compare pool heater models based upon the amount of BTUs they produce. This number can be found by multiplying a pool heater's input ( measured in BTUs ) by the pool heater's efficiency rating. An explanation of pool heater efficiency follows here:

• heater efficiency - Pool heater efficiency is expressed as a percentage, provided by the manufacturer, that represents the amount of energy a pool heater transfers to the water for each unit of energy (BTU) used to generate that heat. The US Department of Energy has mandated that all pool heaters have an efficiency rating of at least 78%.

An example of this would be a 300,000 BTU pool heater with an efficiency of 85%, this pool heater would therefore produce 255,000 BTU/hr.

Something To Remember When Selecting Your Swimming Pool Heater

When selecting a pool heater for your pool you will always want to select a heater rated somewhat higher than your pool surface area and desired temperature rise require. There is no such thing as oversizing a pool heater. The larger the BTU output of the pool heater you buy the quicker it will heat your pool. This means less run time on the heater and a longer overall heater life span You will always be glad you opted for the larger pool heater.

Different Types Of Swimming Pool Heaters

Swimming pool heaters come in various makes and models. The four main differences in pool heater models have to do with the type of fuel the heater uses (natural gas or liquid propane), the style of ignition your pool heater will employ, the level of emissions the pool heater produces, and the elevation for which the pool heater is rated.

Natural Gas or Liquid Propane? What Will Your Pool Heater Run On?

When selecting your pool heater you'll need to decide between a natural gas and liquid propane model. The type of fuel you decide to use will be based on the difference in availability and price of fuels in your area. The price of the model you choose should not be affected by the fuel type you decide to use.

The Difference Between Millivolt and Electronic Start Pool Heaters.

A millivolt swimming pool heater utilizes a standing pilot light that must constantly stay lit to initiate the pool heating process. An electronic start pool heater removes the need for this pilot light by electronically initiating the heating process. The drawback to the millivolt model is that you may find yourself having to re-light the pilot light if it goes out. This sounds easy enough but anybody who has ever needed to re-light the pilot on a gas stove knows that this process needs to be performed VERY CAREFULLY so as to avoid injury. You can expect electronic start pool heaters to retail for about $150 more than millivolt models.

Low NOx Vs. Normal Emissions Pool Heaters

A "Low NOx" pool heater is a heater designed to release less emissions than a normal pool heater. Recently, some states ( California and Texas ) have mandated the use of these pool heaters. Due to their design low NOx pool heaters are by and large more efficient than traditional pool heaters. This higher efficiency means a higher heat transfer and faster heating of your swimming pool water. Low NOx pool heaters retail for approximately $250 - $300 above traditional style pool heaters.

Pool Heaters Designed for Altitudes 2,000 Feet Above Sea Level

If you live at an altitude 2,000 feet or more above sea level you will need a special model pool heater designed for that altitude. The difference in the oxygen level in the air necessitates this special model. Just one more thing to think about before purchasing a swimming pool heater!

Swimming Pool Heater Installation Basics

Swimming pool heaters should always be installed after the filter system and before any chlorinators or chemical injection systems in a swimming pool's plumbing. This will ensure the heater receives a strong flow rate of clean water without any highly concentrated and potentially corrosive chemicals. It will probably be necessary to enlist the help of a professional electrician and/or natural gas professional in installing your pool heater. This will not only ensure proper installation but is vitally important so as to avoid injury. Different heater models will contain varying specifications with regard to clearance and appropriate ventilation. ALL MANUFACTURER SPECS SHOULD BE RIGIDLY ADHERED TO as this will ensure maximum safety, as well as heater efficiency (which will save you money).

Avoiding Problems With Pool Heaters - A Few Reminders

Swimming pool heaters are a wonderful addition to the swimming pool area due to their ability to warm pool water to an inviting temperature, allowing you to utilize the swimming pool comfortably more than ever before. Accomplishing the following tasks will help you to avoid problems with pool heaters and get the maximum life out of any pool heater you buy:

• Size your pool heater appropriately. Remember a pool heater can never be too big, but buy a pool heater that isn't big enough and you'll never be satisfied.
• Monitor pH closely. pH is probably the single biggest problem pool owners face with regard to pool cleaners and pool equipment in general. A pH level that is too low (acidic) will cause corrosion, and a pH level that is to high (base) will cause mineral deposits that could potentially clog your pool heater's plumbing.
• Maintain correct flow rate Backwashing your swimming pool filter or washing out the cartridge occasionally will ensure that enough water gets to your pool heater for it to function efficiently.
• Protect your investment with a pool heater cover!
• Allow appropriate clearance around the pool heater. This will be specified in your owners manual.
• Make sure your heaters gas pressure is adjusted appropriately. This step should be performed upon installation BY A PROFESSIONAL.

We hope you've found this pool heaters article helpful. Please feel free to send it along to a friend to whom it may be of interest. Always remember you can e-mail us any additional questions you may have or call to speak with one of our swimming pool heaters experts.

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