Heating solution/ideas needed

[Crispyc21]

Objective:
To find a portable (roll away with dolly) pool water heater what I can hook up, turn on (electric or propane), will heat my water maybe 10 degrees in a short period of time (in a couple days or less), unhook, and then put away in shed.

I am not concerned with all year heating or anything like that. I would just like to start my pool season sooner. My pool also retains heat very well with just the solar cover so I won’t need a full time heater. I would love to be able to roll out the heater hook up the piping and plug it in for a day or so to warm up the pool. Is anything like that possible?
Of course I am looking to do this with as little of $$ as possible. I have been looking and I might be able to get a used heater for $500 or less.

Here are some more questions…
Electric or Propane? Is Propane as easy as hooking up a tank like the one you use for your grill? If not, I don’t want to bother with gas (propane or natural) and will stick to electric. I don’t mind having a big bill for one month.
Are pumps included in the unit or does one need to be purchased separately?
Could I use a submersible pump like you can buy at Lowes or does it need to be a pump like the one for the filter?

Would something like this work?
Hayward H-100 Induced Draft Heater
http://www.lesliespool.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=8677&iMainCat=27&iSubCat=145&iProductID=8677&tabID=0

I’ve looked into the solar panel thing and the problem I have with them is they take up too much room. I can’t mount them on the roof or anything like that. I want something that I can hide when I don’t need it.

Pool info: 16x32 IG, vinyl lined ~21k gal.

Thanks for all your help.

Ryan

[JohnT]

Pool heaters are plumbed into the pool plumbing, so they wouldn't be well suited to portable use. Electric heaters require pretty substantial power hookups, and propane heaters would eat a portable bottle in just a few hours. Not to mention that your pool would cool rapidly when you stopped heating it.

[MarkC]

Where is your filter located? no room over there? Most heaters only need a 4ftX4ft area.

[PhantomAndy]

I have never seen any kind of portable unit.

The H-100 will go through gas like a monster - so propane bottles won't be very useful unless you have a dozen or so lying around and don't mind hauling them back and forth to the store.

I'd suggest an permanent installation of a H-100 or H-250 (depending on the size of your pool) with Natural Gas (if you have service) or Propane and a large tank on site. You only have to use it when you need heat.

I have an H-250 (the less efficient model - not induced draft) on my 22000 gallon IG. I only use it 'when I want heat' like early in the season, or late in the season. The rest of the time it is powered off.

I think you will find that working a method to hook and unhook a portable unit (that you will likely have modify to be portable) will be more hassel than having a permanent install.

[Crispyc21]

Thanks for all the responses. It looks like I might have to think of something more permanent.

[poolbuoy]

Here it is if you can do some plumbing...

http://www.redneckpoolheater.com/

[EricF]

Now THAT is hilarious!

EricF

[Crispyc21]

Here it is if you can do some plumbing...

http://www.redneckpoolheater.com/

Now that's what I'm talking about!!! :-)
I liked the photochopped pic of the guy.