gas vs. electric heater?

[rlp]

I didn't know you could buy just a heat pump. Our pool is only 10,000 gallons. I'll have to look into it as well. I just know I don't only want solar b/c I want to heat more than 10-15 degrees. The thing down here is sometimes you'll have an 80 degree day in the winter, but then it'll drop to 50 degrees the next day so it keeps the pool from staying at a decent temp. Plus we have a lot of shade trees which doesn't help. Thanks for your input!

[blk133]

I didn't know you could buy just a heat pump. Our pool is only 10,000 gallons. I'll have to look into it as well. I just know I don't only want solar b/c I want to heat more than 10-15 degrees. The thing down here is sometimes you'll have an 80 degree day in the winter, but then it'll drop to 50 degrees the next day so it keeps the pool from staying at a decent temp. Plus we have a lot of shade trees which doesn't help. Thanks for your input!

Sure you can buy just a heat pump. It works of 220 V though. You'll need someone (electrician) to run the dedicated line for it that will bring 220v with it. I don't know if electric heater also need 220v.

As for Gas heater you will need ofcourse to run a gas line from your house or you can buy a propane heater (which is also an expensive way) and for this one you'll have to fill the tank with propane.

After you'll do some research you'll find that Heat Pump will cost more than Gas heater, but as I said before in a long run it will be cheaper to use.

50 Degrees might not be a great temperature for a heat pump that doesn't have an ice braker option installed, but Aquacal sells one with that option, same name H155 only it has ice braker installed.

Again as I said, it will take longer to heat, but cheaper.
I don't work for any Pool company, just trying to help.

B.

[kaybinster]

Heatpump is the only way to go in my mind. I have had one for my 20x40 IG in Northern NJ for 8 years and it works great. Much more cost effective than nat gas. Check with any company that makes them and they will be glad to share the economics with you -- some even have this on the websites.

One thing you must understand is that while a heatpump is more efficient it will not raise the temperature as fast as a gas heater. A gas heater might be sized at 400,000 BTU/hr while a typical heatpump is around 100,000 BTU/hr -- thus is will take about 3-4 times longer to raise the temperature. But, once you are at temperature it will maintain it just fine.

A heat pump uses electricity to run a compressor to extract heat from the air. Typically for each unit of energy you put in you get 3 or 4 units of energy out. It is about the same as a home central air conditioning unit. With a central air unit you are extracting heat from the house and dumping it into the air outside. With a pool heatpump you are extracting the heat from the outside air and dumping it into the pool water.

[duraleigh]

A heat pump uses electricity to run a compressor to extract heat from the air. Typically for each unit of energy you put in you get 3 or 4 units of energy out.

HuH?

Folks, heat pumps' effectiveness depends on how far North you live. Not many heat pumps in Sasketchewan....nor probably Wisconsin, either.

Dave S.

[kaybinster]

Dave while that maybe true for home heating it does not make sense for pool heating. The reason is that if it is warm enough to swim in an outside pool then the air is warm enough to provide plenty of heat for the pool. The efficiency is impacted by the outside temperature, but I don't think too many people swim when the outside temp is under 60 degrees.

[kaybinster]

Found this info at the following site:

http://www.millsco.com/Heatsiphon.htm

THE LOWEST OPERATING COST OF ALL POOL & SPA HEATERS.
Using 220v electricity, based on US Dept. of Labor Average US City fuel prices, HEAT SIPHON® will cost you:
50% LESS to operate than NATURAL GAS POOL HEATERS!
80% LESS to operate than PROPANE (LP) GAS POOL HEATERS!
75% LESS to operate than ELECTRIC RESISTANCE POOL HEATERS!

Also some very good info on how a heatpump works at the bottom of that page.

[waterbear]

I live in St. Augustine and my Aquacal Icebreaker not only kept my pool (6600gal fiberglass) warm all winer it will heat my spa (300 gal acrylic) to 100 deg. in abut 15 mintues! Heatpumps cost more inially but if you look at the cost over a 10 year period vs electric or gas they will actually save you money.(at least in Fl)

[PoolDesignnet]

RLP an Aquacal H120 is much better suited for your pool. Also, before buying a heat pump, please have an electrician determine if your existing panel has enough power to run an additional load (40 to 50 amps).

I didn't know you could buy just a heat pump. Our pool is only 10,000 gallons. I'll have to look into it as well. I just know I don't only want solar b/c I want to heat more than 10-15 degrees. The thing down here is sometimes you'll have an 80 degree day in the winter, but then it'll drop to 50 degrees the next day so it keeps the pool from staying at a decent temp. Plus we have a lot of shade trees which doesn't help. Thanks for your input!

[Zaphod]

I've been following this thread, as I, too, am interested in a pool heater (a consideration I make as I have my liner replaced).

I've received informal quotes for installed gas heaters at $2,500 and about $7,000 for installed heat pumps (the quotes are informal in that I've described on the phone that I have a 16X40 in-ground vinyl pool that's 8 feet in the deep end. No one's come out yet to look at my pool).

Do these numbers sound reasonable for the South, specifically Georgia?

One follow-up question: For either heating option, what other modifications need to be made to the pool to get the water heated (aside from the gas line for a gas heater and a dedicated electrical line for the heat pump)?

Thanks.

[kaybinster]

Assuming you have no heater now, the numbers seem totally messed up. If the gas heater requires that a natural gas line be run from the house then it is way low. The heat pump number seems way high even if it includes running 220VAC electric. I think you should get some other bids.

As for other modifications they are minimal. Obviously you will have to cut into the return piping and run it to the heater and then connect the heater output to the return lines. You might want to install valving so that you can by-pass the heater at times. Other than that you should be fine as is, unless your pump is at its limits in which case the extra pressure drop from the heater might restrict your flow. You can always install it and then see if you need to upsize the pump based on actual flow rates once you are done.