Pool heaters have an average life expectancy of 6 to 12 years. But if you use them properly, keep them well-maintained, and make sure that the pool has balanced water chemistry, you can help them last longer than expected.
Gas heaters also tend to last longer than their solar or heat pump counterparts. With proper installation and maintenance, today's top-line gas units typically last seven to 10 years.
The efficiency of the heater? Physicist: The correct answer is always to leave the heater off for as long as possible, as often as possible. The one and only gain from leaving a pool heater on is that it will be warm when you get in. The same is true of all heaters (pool, car, space, whatever).
If you want to get as much time as possible out of your pool, however, a heater is a good investment. With a pool heater, you can easily be swimming May through mid-October, giving you a good five months of use out of your pool. That's literally double the amount of time you'd get without one.
7-10 years is the average life expectancy of a pool heater.
Calculate the pool surface area in square feet by multiplying the length and the width of your pool. Then, use this formula to figure out the BTUs you'll need your heater to put out: pool area (sq. ft.) x temperature rise x 12.
Remove the heater screws that secure the heat exchanger in place; move it to a clean surface. Apply a degreaser to the heat exchanger using a soft-tipped brush. Allow the degreaser time to loosen any soot. Wash the heat exchanger with a garden hose.
On average, natural gas burns about 1 therm per 100,000 BTUs per hour (British Thermal Units). Meaning, an average pool heater between 300,000 and 400,000 BTUs will cost anywhere from $3.30 to $4.40 per hour to heat your pool.
For inground pools less than 20,000 gallons, small gas heaters like the Raypak 206K BTU output are suitable. Pools up to 30,000 gallons should look at the Pentair 300K BTU or higher, and pools over 50,000 gallons should look at the Hayward 500K BTU.
You can reduce the cost of heating your swimming pool by installing a high-efficiency or solar heater, using a pool cover, managing the water temperature, and using a smaller pump less often.
According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool.
It depends on a few things to determine how long it takes a heat pump to heat a pool. However, overall a heat pump generally heats a pool after 24 to 72 hours by 20-degrees Fahrenheit. For smaller pools like a spa pool, the heat pump can heat a pool between 45 and 60 minutes.
Keeping Your Pool Heated
However, since weather can be unpredictable, if you plan to keep your pool open during the colder months, you must keep your water heated well above freezing temperatures. Don't run the risk of ruptured pipes or allowing the cold to cause more expensive damage.
Replacing your old gas pool heater is not such a complicated task. Indeed, most pool owners hire a professional to replace their pool heater. Many states require gas appliances to be installed by a licensed contractor; but buying it, placing it and plumbing it – you can do yourself.
Difficulty finding heaters is largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and stay-at home-orders, which Aleman said has also led to shortages of salt cells, replacement motors, smaller filters for above ground pools, and more. Meanwhile, he said, above ground pools are non-existent right now.
Some heaters wear out in three or four years, but Teledyne Laars / Jandy heaters normally last a lot longer. A product life of 10 to 12 years is not uncommon. Heater failure is usually the result of some outside cause—not normal usage—provided it has been properly maintained.
Efficiency and Installation
By nature, gas heaters have a greater environmental impact than electric. However, electric takes longer to heat up your pool water and is less efficient in colder temperatures. This is because they rely on outside heat to warm up the pool water.
While adding a pool heater requires an upfront investment, it helps you maximize your investment by being able to use your pool for much more of the year. Between setup and operating costs, a pool heater costs between $300 and $5,000, with the average cost around $2,000.
So, how much electricity does a pool heat pump use? About 5 kilowatts per hour per 100,000 BTU heat pump. For a general 100,000 BTU pool heat pump, the power you`ll utilize is approximately 5,000 Watts per hour. Typically, the National average for power stands at 13 cents for every kilowatt-hour.
Solar Heaters
The next cheapest way to heat a pool is through a solar heater. The cost of running a solar pool heater is essentially free, aside from occasional maintenance. The difference is that a solar heater is a lot more expensive to install – often even more expensive than a conventional heater.
An electric heater transfers heat to the water using electric resistance coils, similar to how an electric stove works. Either of these pool heaters can produce smoke when turned on for the first time. The reason for this is the burner and fan need to burn off dust and other residue before they can be safe to use.
Soot on a heat exchanger may be ignited by a random spark or open flame. The soot can be removed with a special brush and a high velocity water spray after the heat exchanger has been removed.
Process To Clean Your Heat Pump
Using your garden hose and a nozzle, spray the coil with a soft but firm spray. Work your way around the perimeter from top to bottom. Too much water pressure can bend the fins of the coil – we want to avoid that.