Gas or Electric Pool Heater ???

[DWIM]

I'm the other half of VeritasMatters, so veritas (really) matters to me (heh). BTW, DWIM => Do What I Mean, FWIW. We've recently had a fiberglass pool installed and both gas & 220v 80amp electrical are at the pad. Now we're ready for the heat.

TheShadow: Your location says Placerville, CA. That where you are? If so, I can easily understand you using solar versus PG&E costs for either gas or electric.

I had seen the web site referenced for solar and saved the link; thanks.

First of all, it seems to me the value of gas is it'll heat up very quickly compared to electric (meaning a heat pump) and certainly versus solar. The value of a heat pump is that it's quite useful for maintaining water temp once it's to the desired temp. To me, solar is an augmentation to whatever you use, and more like the maintenance side of things, which is where the heat pump would be.

Putting on a good cover is a good idea and we'll do that. So I assume we'll keep the covers on during non-use. We'll need 2, one for the main pool and one for what they call the tanning ledge - about 25% the size of the main pool's surface area.

So I think I am coming to some conclusions, which I'd like to hear feedback if you please. We intend to generally keep the pool at temp all during the season, given our planned usage frequency. So, for us, gas would be useful for coming up to the desired temp earlier in the calendar and keeping it open later in the calendar. A heat pump would be best for the season itself.

The initial cost of gas is less (by 2x) than a heat pump, but we planned for the initial cost for a heat pump anyway, so if we go for gas, we're just reducing initial cost (good, but ongoing costs will overrule initial costs). The pool guy told me our initial gas cost (to heat our pool, given it's size) would be about $400. He also said ongoing costs for a heat pump (given our pool size) would be about $50-75 per month. I don't know either (a) what the ongoing cost for gas would be, or (b) the initial heat pump cost would be, so any feedback from those having either would really help.

By my estimates, it'd take 12-15 hrs to initially heat the pool with gas (to 85 from 60). I don't know how long it'd take to initially heat the pool with the heat pump (but it'd be a while). I'd appreciate of anyone has any feedback about initially heating w/a heat pump. But, given we're keeping the pool heated during the season, the initial time to startup isn't that much of an issue.

Conclusions: Assume we cover appropriately. So, I'm leaning towards a good heat pump. While the initial outlay is higher, the ongoing costs are lower (is this correct?). Once the pool is at temp, a heat pump is more efficient. If I'm using a heat pump, then solar doesn't really buy me that much. The only real value of gas (for us) is to initially heat, but that just buys me time (i.e., start sooner and end later in the calendar).

Questions: I'd be interested in feedback for the ?? I listed in my text above. I also don't know, for this area and using a heat pump, when I can expect to reasonably start heating the pool. E.g. for those who have a heat pump, just when do you expect to start heating for this season (maybe already?). And, given last year as a specific exmple, when did you actually shut off you heat pump? For gas users, similar questions. Also, for gas users: For <some size / gallons pool>, what are your monthly costs? Similar for heat pump users.

I know this is a lot of info. I really appreciate your responses thus far.

[TedTAce]

You might also want to look into this here, I know there was a guy in Florida who charged a fairly nominal fee for initial heating of your pool. Had a big truck with generators and pumps on it. A pretty cool setup.

[knoxdesigner]

At my previous residence, we had a solar heater that did a very good job. We got about 3/4 extra weeks in the spring and fall. It was about $500 to install (while the pool was being installed), and was WELL worth the money as there was no additional expense. It IS a little weird to have the panels and pip going up the house, but if the installer is good, he can make is descrete. Unfortunately, my installer, Lakeshore Pools (Rutledge), was anything but reliable! Good luck. A heater is a great addition.

Eric