Decision to make: Heat pump/Chiller versus separate gas heater and Glacier cooler?

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Travelguy73

Active member
Aug 16, 2020
25
Houston
Live in Houston and built our 13,000 gallon pool in late 2020. At the time, our pool builder recommended holding off on any sort of heat/cool options until we knew how we would use the pool. Well, in full sun, the water temp is hot in the summer (90s), but then too chilly to use in March/April and in the Fall when the temps are ideal to hang out in the backyard. Here's the issue I could use your feedback on--in order to get the AquaCal 166 installed (model recommended by pool builder), we will have to upgrade the service sub-panel and run new wiring underground to behind our detached garage to get 240V to the pool pump area. So that's $3k- just for the electrical. And then we have the cost of the unit itself. So $10k for the package and all installation. Sigh...

However, our gas meter is behind the garage, right next to the pool pump, so I was thinking--what about a traditional gas heater and then a separate Glacier cooler? Would that make MORE sense or be just as expensive but then more for power and maintenance? Honestly I have no idea what I'm talking about with any of this, but am looking for the BEST option for our situation.

We want to cool the pool down to low 80s in summer, and then extend the pool season in spring and fall. We don't intend to use it in the winter.

Thanks for any feedback you have!
 
My vote is to get the gas heater and the Glacier cooler. The glacier will use much less electricity for cooling then the HP cooling.

Check what size Glacier you need. All GPC-23 through GPC-220 models are single phase and require electrical power from a 115V 60 Hz source. All GPC-230 through GPC-280 models are 3 phase and require electrical power from a 220/480V 60 Hz source.

Cooling A Pool - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
+1 for gas heater and Glacier chiller. I am sure you can do well with the GPC25 which is for up to 20k gallons. GPC210 is up to 30k gallons. Make sure you have space on your equipment pad.

Oh, I can keep the pool water temp around 85, 86 degrees on my pool here in the Las Vegas. Here it is high heat with low humidity.

edit: I wouldn’t have a pool here without a chiller. We get full sun, all day.
 
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I’m kinda late to the party, but I have a gas heater and a Glacier chiller. I also looked at the Aquacal but went with the Glacier mostly because I was concerned about operating expenses. From what I read, the Aquacal was similar in cost to running a house AC, but with zero insulation. The Glacier has worked great for us, especially with the low humidity this summer. Even with temps over 100° for more days than I care to count, some of which were over 110°, our pool has maxed out at a very refreshing 83°. It was 81° today with an air temp of 102°. Prior to the chiller, our pool would hit 95° by early July and no one wanted to get into the pool. It has been the best investment we’ve made in the pool, other than a SWCG. Interestingly, we rarely use our heater.
 
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If you have natural gas, you will be much less expensive to run that gas heater in the winter as needed and use the chiller for summer.
I heated my pool several times and it was only extra $50-80 cost for NG. I have no info on how much a chiller costs to run. Many people like them. We have been fine without one plus, I do not think I could add one in the space where my pool equipment is located without major changes.
 
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