Here's the deal. The Mrs wants to weigh our options. I'm thinking solar, but it would be "ugly" and I'm not sure we get enough sun to make it worthwhile. Our solar cover helps, but we need more heat to get almost daily use form May-September.
We have natural gas and I have been wanting a natural gas grill anyway, so perhaps we kill two birds.
From the meter to the heater: straight run of @ 27', then left for another 10'. My fahter-in-law can run the line, since he worked in HVAC for years. I've read about larger meters, but I can't see running more than the pool heater and perhaps the gas grill at one time, so the demand shouldn't be huge.
Questions:
1 - with 235 sqf of surface, how many BTUs are minimum? 400BTU? I don't need a spa, just like to add 8-10 degrees of heat. Water temp of 75-78 should be fine.
2 - what's the most accurate way to figure the monthly cost of operation?
3 - If there's a site that I can calculate these figures, just point me in that direction!
Any other comments you have would be welcome. Just based on conversations with friends, etc., it's almost certain that gas will cost less to run than heat. I'm headed to the township to check on possible permit costs, etc.
Thanks for any suggestions, etc. you can provide.
We have natural gas and I have been wanting a natural gas grill anyway, so perhaps we kill two birds.
From the meter to the heater: straight run of @ 27', then left for another 10'. My fahter-in-law can run the line, since he worked in HVAC for years. I've read about larger meters, but I can't see running more than the pool heater and perhaps the gas grill at one time, so the demand shouldn't be huge.
Questions:
1 - with 235 sqf of surface, how many BTUs are minimum? 400BTU? I don't need a spa, just like to add 8-10 degrees of heat. Water temp of 75-78 should be fine.
2 - what's the most accurate way to figure the monthly cost of operation?
3 - If there's a site that I can calculate these figures, just point me in that direction!
Any other comments you have would be welcome. Just based on conversations with friends, etc., it's almost certain that gas will cost less to run than heat. I'm headed to the township to check on possible permit costs, etc.
Thanks for any suggestions, etc. you can provide.