Newport Beach area pool owners have some great options for heating their pools. Because of our mild climate, we have more options for pool heaters than in other parts of the country. If you are looking to heat your pool and save some money, you need to understand the differences between gas pool heaters and heat pumps.

Conventional Gas Pool Heaters

Gas pool heaters are a great choice for heating your pool or spa. They utilize gas to heat the water that circulates in the pool or spa. Gas heaters can either run with a pilot light or an electronic ignition. With a spark or electronic ignition, the heater is completely off until you turn it on. A pilot light is a small flame that is stays lit at all times and it used to ignite the heater when you want to turn it on. A heater with a pilot light doesn’t need any electrical wiring. A heater with an electronic ignition will require electricity.

Gas heaters cost less money up front, but will cost more to operate over the life of the heater. Gas heaters are rated by BTUs (British thermal units, a measure of heat) and can range from 75,000 to 450,000 BTUs. If you have a salt water pool, you may want to consider a cupronickel heat exchanger.

Gas Heat Pumps as Pool Heaters

Our Newport Coast climate is perfectly suited for the use of gas heat pumps to heat your pool. Unlike conventional heaters, a heat pump uses heat from the air to heat the water. Heat pumps cost more upfront, but you save money over the life of the equipment because fuel costs are considerably less than with a conventional gas heater. A heat pump is friendly to the environment. A properly sized heat pump can use one-half of the gas required by a conventional heater to generate the same BTUs. The US Department of Energy has a guide that will help you determine heat pump costs and savings.

Like regular gas pool heaters, heat pumps are rated by BTUs and horsepower. The most common sizes are:

• 3.5 hp/75,000 Btu
• 5 hp/100,000 Btu
• 6 hp/125,000 Btu

Sizing a Pool Heater

How do you know what size pool heater you need? You can call the experts at Beachside Pool Service to help you decide the right size heater for your pool. You don’t want a pool heater that is too small or too large for your needs. Beachside will take into account:

Temperature Rise. The water temperature you desire and the average temperature of our coldest month determines your required temperature rise. Since everyone is different, the temperature rise you need may be different from a neighbor that prefers a different water temperature.

Pool Surface Area. Most pools are not an exact rectangle. Beachside Pool Service will accurately measure the surface area of your pool, no matter what shape it is.

General Formula. The general formula to determine the BTU output per hour for your pool if you want an 1 degree rise per hour is:

 pool area x temperature rise x 12

 Be sure to talk to Beachside if you would like faster initial heating. The specialists at Beachside can adjust the formula for faster heating.

Free Estimates

Whether you decide to go with a conventional gas heater or a heat pump, Beachside Pool Service will keep you in the swim year around. Just give them a call at (949) 939-0023 for a free estimate.