Adding a gas heater to a heat pump setup

[jbslade82]

Hello,

I'd like to add a gas heater into our current heat pump setup. With the climate in central new york it would allow me to have the best of both worlds. Use the gas in the spring and fall, heat pump in the mid-summer to maintain. My idea would to use one or the other and change the water flow with valves. I'm open to any better ideas/suggestions.

I attached a picture of my current setup. Do you think I could get away with putting the gas heater to the right of the pump? Does anyone have a photo of a setup like this or how I could do the valves?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Pprior]

I'm not sure what you mean best of both worlds. If it's under 65 and heat pump not working efficiently you probably won't be in pool anyway it will be too cold! We have gas and heat pump in our pool in Florida but mostly to rapidly heat spa if we need and honestly it wasn't worth it. It costs a fortune to heat a pool with gas - you'll spend probably 500-600$/month at least. So you're adding several thousand dollars in equipment costs to accomplish what exactly? If you need rapid heating then yah it's great, but in terms of cost, it will be much much more. At least that's how it works down here.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Looks like it would be very feasible to add the gas heater to the right of the pump. With a little ingenuity in plumbing you could have it where you could run it either with the HP or separate from the HP.

Here's a preliminary of a diagram on how to plumb them to run one or the other.

 

[JamesW]

Putting the heater to the right of the pump is probably going to put it too close to the window.

Check the installation manual for requirements as to offsets from doors, windows and other openings.

 

[jbslade82]

I'm not sure what you mean best of both worlds. If it's under 65 and heat pump not working efficiently you probably won't be in pool anyway it will be too cold! We have gas and heat pump in our pool in Florida but mostly to rapidly heat spa if we need and honestly it wasn't worth it. It costs a fortune to heat a pool with gas - you'll spend probably 500-600$/month at least. So you're adding several thousand dollars in equipment costs to accomplish what exactly? If you need rapid heating then yah it's great, but in terms of cost, it will be much much more. At least that's how it works down here.

Yes, I need rapid heating. Best of both worlds is that I have the ability to heat up quickly. Or run the heat pump to maintain temp when the temp is appropriate more efficiently. Our weather can be 50-60 degrees for 3 or 4 days during the week, then 80 degrees on the weekend during spring and fall. I have no way to heat the pool before the weekend with a heat pump. Also, because of the temperature fluctuations overnight in the spring and early fall I can't run the heat pump overnight. Also, the heat pump is loud. An example from the last two weeks it the temps barely touching 60 during mid day. But starting today through next week the temps will be 75ish. Kids want to swim, but pool temp is 60. I plan to run it only when needed to get the temp up, then run heat pump to maintain.

 

[jbslade82]

Putting the heater to the right of the pump is probably going to put it too close to the window.

Check the installation manual for requirements as to offsets from doors, windows and other openings.

Good point, I will check that out. Does it matter if that window is a garage window?

 

[jbslade82]

Looks like it would be very feasible to add the gas heater to the right of the pump. With a little ingenuity in plumbing you could have it where you could run it either with the HP or separate from the HP.

Here's a preliminary of a diagram on how to plumb them to run one or the other.
View attachment 140034

Very helpful, thank you!

 

[JamesW]

Good point, I will check that out. Does it matter if that window is a garage window?

You don't want the heater near any opening to any building because the heater exhaust could potentially enter the building and create a dangerous situation.

Heater installation manuals all show the required setbacks from buildings and openings.