Another New England Pool heating question

[MtnDru]

We have a 18x38 in ground - No heater... Its the typical warm one day at 3 pm and then cold at night morning and afternoon the next 2 days... Its so inconsistent we dont use it much as its too cole when we want to (mostly evenings)

We are reviewing different heaters and do not have natural gas and we use a solar blanket (qbout 50/50 sun/shade)

I can find info on how long it takes propane to heat up a pool but am having a hard time quantifying how often... We dont want a pool that we bned to pre plan usage. Thats no fun... We also dont want a warm pool - just not freezing.

I know propane is expensive but when its heated up Memorial day thru Labor day - how often would we actually have to run it to maintain 77-80 max? Is it reasonable to think that with a solar blanket, we would only need to run it once every few days to maintain temp? Would be happy if we could spend less than 400 month on average keeping it swimmable for the most part...

Also, looking at solar but only have room for 50-60% coverage. but thats about 4k all in but we need a big rack of panels on a ground rack.

As well, looking at heat pump but looks to be very expensive up front with the electrical and yard trenching etc...

Its only a 3 year or so house for us.... but we want to use pool

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

It is all about BTUs. 1 BTU will increase the temperature of 1lb of water by 1 degree in 1 hour.

Raypak has a Gas Pool Heater Sizer. It tells you the Temperature Rise/Hr and Natural Gas and Propane costs to heat a pool in your local area to selected temperature by month. Adjust the natural gas cost and propane cost in the lower left to your local gas prices for accurate costs.

Pentair has a Heat Pump Calculator to determine the appropriate size Heat Pump for your location. Pentair seems to do honest calculations based on the physics and efficiencies of each type of pump and energy source.

Raypak also has a Heat Pump Heater Sizing App.

Aquacal has a Heat Pump Sizing and Savings Calculator.

To get the most accurate cost comparison you should change the default electric kwh, natural gas price, and propane price to actual prices in your area.

Water Heating Calculator for Time, Energy, and Power​

Water Heating Calculator for Time, Energy, and Power computes how long it takes to heat water, how much energy is consumed, and how much heating power is required.

The calculators support Celcius/Centigrade, Fahrenheit, Watts (w), Kilowatts (Kw), Btuh, Joule, British termal unit (Btu), liter, gallon, kg, lb, cubic inch, cubic foot etc.

The calculators assume 100% efficiency and no loss of energy during the heating process.

 

[Newdude]

Get a solar (bubble wrap) cover for $125(ish). It will help considerably when a few cooler days pass through. If the temps are particularly cool for the whole week, you probably won't feel like swimming anyway.

Otherwise, with only 3 seasons to enjoy it, Murphys law says one will be really wet and one will be really cool so you'll spend all that money for only a couple weeks payoff.

Or go with a 400k BTU gas heater which will have season extending capabilities. Then use it as a selling point when the time comes that your pool can stay warm into November. You won't have to pay *their* gas bills.

 

[1poolman1]

We have a 18x38 above ground - No heater... Its the typical warm one day at 3 pm and then cold at night morning and afternoon the next 2 days... Its so inconsistent we dont use it much as its too cole when we want to (mostly evenings)

We are reviewing different heaters and do not have natural gas and we use a solar blanket (qbout 50/50 sun/shade)

I can find info on how long it takes propane to heat up a pool but am having a hard time quantifying how often... We dont want a pool that we bned to pre plan usage. Thats no fun... We also dont want a warm pool - just not freezing.

I know propane is expensive but when its heated up Memorial day thru Labor day - how often would we actually have to run it to maintain 77-80 max? Is it reasonable to think that with a solar blanket, we would only need to run it once every few days to maintain temp? Would be happy if we could spend less than 400 month on average keeping it swimmable for the most part...

Also, looking at solar but only have room for 50-60% coverage. but thats about 4k all in but we need a big rack of panels on a ground rack.

As well, looking at heat pump but looks to be very expensive up front with the electrical and yard trenching etc...

Its only a 3 year or so house for us.... but we want to use pool

If your pool has an average depth of 4', a 400K BTU heater should heat your pool about 2.5 degrees per hour and use 4 gallons of propane per hour. You would want to keep a solar cover on the pool while heating to save as much of that heat as possible until removing it for the pool to be used. Since the sides of an ABG pool are exposed, what it would take to maintain the heat is very much dependent on the environment.

You also have to factor in the cost of the propane tank, the gas lines, the heater itself, and the installation.

 

[MtnDru]

If your pool has an average depth of 4', a 400K BTU heater should heat your pool about 2.5 degrees per hour and use 4 gallons of propane per hour. You would want to keep a solar cover on the pool while heating to save as much of that heat as possible until removing it for the pool to be used. Since the sides of an ABG pool are exposed, what it would take to maintain the heat is very much dependent on the environment.

You also have to factor in the cost of the propane tank, the gas lines, the heater itself, and the installation.

its in ground pool