HI All,
I left my 4 year old Raypak Versa II on for too long while heating my pool and it sprung a leak. I took it apart and the manifolds and much of the internals are rotten/rusted. I tried to remove the nuts at the manifolds since that's where the leak was but all the studs broke . I have since bypassed the heater so I could run my filters but am in the market for a new heater.

I REALLY need some advice on a quality heater. I live in Michigan and my pool is 18x36 inground vinyl that gets sun from morning until night (faces south). I also have a spa. My Raypak was a 200k unit and I was thinking about getting something larger (maybe up to 400k) since the initial cash outlay is not too great and it will heat faster. I can't really afford the heater so a heat pump is not in my budget and solar is out too. Natural gas is really my only option. I'd like to have digital display with electronic ignition since my pilot light always used to burn out. Lastly are the low Nox worth the extra money or are they really only necessary for states that require them?

Thanks and I truly appreciate and advice on brands that are reliable. FWIW, I was considering Hayward, Laars and Sta-Rite.

Joe