[tiger08]

Originally Posted by olecapt

Pass the grain of salt. First off they cost twice what a gas heater does. Then you get into the missing numbers. They claim a COP of 6...but never tell you under what set of conditions. I also find them quoting at 8.5 cents per KWHour. Way below LV and anywhere I am aware of. In LA it would be closer to 30 cents.

I would also note that the comparatives limit the season. 3/1 to 10/1 in Phoenix. Significantly less in Los Angeles. That says the costs go out of site if you run them in the winter.

Note they are inherently slow. You can't use them to pump up just the Jacuzzi in a half an hour.

I have never seen one in LV...I suspect the above is why.

I am certainly not against heat pumps in principle...I am about to replace my water heater with the AO Smith hybrid 80 gallon. But I don't think they work well on pools.

I'm sure they have have their drawbacks but when it comes to cost of operating them, slow to heat or not, they will still come up cheaper than gas to operate.
I have seen a couple of them here in Vegas but thats about it. I know they are more popular in Phoenix but thats because a high percentage of homes in Phoenix dont have natural gas.

I have done alot of reading on the new water heaters, you are all electric, correct? I think the idea is great. Not too many people know that Sears actually offered a heat pump that you could add to your water heater, this was back in the 1980 catalog. I dont think it took off too well back then but times and technology have changed, making it a welcome relief for todays rising costs.
I also took the gas pack off of my roof 3 years ago and replaced it with a 4 ton 13 seer heat pump and found that I was saving for a while there but if power keeps going up, I may have to throw a gas unit back up there.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by tiger08

The other reason I mention a heat pump also, is because they are much more efficient than a gas pool heater. Much cheaper to run.

Boy, I couldnt imagine trying to heat a pool with propane nowadays, seems like it would break the bank!

I think you're right if the price filing of a BBQ tank is any indication. It was expensive when we had the pool heater and that was exactly 20 years ago.