I'm putting together all of the final pieces for our pool -- should start construction in 6 weeks or so (rain permitting).
Being in Southern California (and possibly putting in a solar system) we will not use the heater much -- except for heating the spa. Looking at the way heaters are made -- with a lot of small capilary tubes to aid in heat transfer -- they appear to create a lot of back-pressure. Why pump water through this restrictive system if not needed?
I am planning to put in an Intel-7 Automation system and thought it should be easy to put an automatic valve in to only have the water flow through the heater when in spa or pool heat modes.
Has anybody done this -- thought of this -- or any comments?
- does the additional valve cause the same amount of elevated head as the heater?
- is this not a problem at all?
A secondary benefit is to keep the saline water out of as much equipment as possible -- I have read that salt pools destroy equipment (or is this a myth?). I guess even if I bypass the heater saline water is still sitting in the heater. Bringing up another issue -- I don't like the idea of water sitting in the heater for 6 months turning green. I'd have to keep a small flow through the heater -- maybe 5 GPM -- just to flush it out.
Thanks for the input!
Steve
Being in Southern California (and possibly putting in a solar system) we will not use the heater much -- except for heating the spa. Looking at the way heaters are made -- with a lot of small capilary tubes to aid in heat transfer -- they appear to create a lot of back-pressure. Why pump water through this restrictive system if not needed?
I am planning to put in an Intel-7 Automation system and thought it should be easy to put an automatic valve in to only have the water flow through the heater when in spa or pool heat modes.
Has anybody done this -- thought of this -- or any comments?
- does the additional valve cause the same amount of elevated head as the heater?
- is this not a problem at all?
A secondary benefit is to keep the saline water out of as much equipment as possible -- I have read that salt pools destroy equipment (or is this a myth?). I guess even if I bypass the heater saline water is still sitting in the heater. Bringing up another issue -- I don't like the idea of water sitting in the heater for 6 months turning green. I'd have to keep a small flow through the heater -- maybe 5 GPM -- just to flush it out.
Thanks for the input!
Steve