We have an old Comfortzone natural gas heater (150,00 btu) from 1991 that has finally bit the dust. The burner tray is all rusted out and I'm sure there are other problems. It just won't fire up. Got it to start a couple times, but it just went out after a short period of time. We did have someone come out to look at it and he said he might have a burner tray and would get back to us. Anyway, I'm thinking unless it were not that much to get it fixed, we're looking to get a new heater and had a few questions:
What is a really good reliable brand? Or, are they all pretty much the same? Is a cupro nickel heat exchanger really better, or is it simply marketing? How does Raypak compare to Sta-Rite Max-E-Therm? Millivolt or electronic? I understand the Max-E-Therm uses forced air and a blower. For anyone that has one of these, is it very loud? I'm also looking at a Lochnivar EnergyRite. Is this a good heater?
We use a solar cover at night to keep the heat in, and mostly use a heater during May and September when it's cooler here. We're in Michigan if it makes a difference in choosing a particular heater. We have a 20,000 gallon inground vinyl lined pool and also have a salt water chlorine generator. Would 200,000 btu be enough? With our gas piping, I believe the most we could have is 266,000 btu.
Thanks in advance for any help.
What is a really good reliable brand? Or, are they all pretty much the same? Is a cupro nickel heat exchanger really better, or is it simply marketing? How does Raypak compare to Sta-Rite Max-E-Therm? Millivolt or electronic? I understand the Max-E-Therm uses forced air and a blower. For anyone that has one of these, is it very loud? I'm also looking at a Lochnivar EnergyRite. Is this a good heater?
We use a solar cover at night to keep the heat in, and mostly use a heater during May and September when it's cooler here. We're in Michigan if it makes a difference in choosing a particular heater. We have a 20,000 gallon inground vinyl lined pool and also have a salt water chlorine generator. Would 200,000 btu be enough? With our gas piping, I believe the most we could have is 266,000 btu.
Thanks in advance for any help.