Planning for my heater....which I might never put in.

[trivetman]

Every April my wife puts her toe in the water....stares at me....and declares that if the pool had a heater, she'd be swimming now.

I grunt in response.

I have no plans to put in a heater anytime soon, but that might change in 5 or 15 years. If I ever do so, I'm sure that means routing a new power line (or possibly gas line?) 60-80 feet from the house, across a walkway and a driveway to the pool pad. My pad currently has two 240 Volt circuits from the house (15 amp and 20 amp). I am assuming any heat pump will need a single line with more power than these offer (let me know if I'm wrong!).
I AM planning however on repaving the walkway and driveway soon....maybe next year. Should I be looking to install some conduit under the concrete work on the chance I actually cave to my wife's glare and give her pool heat someday? What exactly would be the right thing to install that would have the best chance of being useful? Can a gas line be fished through conduit like electrical wire can?

Or am I just way overplanning this?? That is how I tend to roll.....

 

[HermanTX]

I would cave now and put the gas line in proper before you put in that new drive and walkway. Also, run your electrical conduit to facilitate that. Have you done any research as to what size heater and if you go with gas can your existing meter feed it?
You may want to save for that heater instead of that next vacation or fishing trip or whatever you may be planning.

 

[trivetman]

Well the gas steam boiler for the house runs 400K BTU. It's a monster in the basement. So yes...I assume the existing gas meter has the capacity.
If I went with gas would I need to actually run the line at this point? I was envisioning a pvc conduit just as a placeholder. Also thinking that the constant temp of a heat pump might be what we want down the line vs. blast it for a day benefit of a gas heater.

Right now I'm saving for a driveway

 

[HermanTX]

f I went with gas would I need to actually run the line at this point? I was envisioning a pvc conduit just as a placeholder. Also thinking that the constant temp of a heat pump might be what we want down the line vs. blast it for a day benefit of a gas heater.

I suggest you contact your local plumbing company as there could be regulations regarding depth below surface for a gas line.
The trade off of a heat pump vs gas heater is well documented on the forum. What fits your needs and budget are the main drivers.

 

[trivetman]

 

[wireform]

Trivet,
Not sure on the pool habits you have but in your location the swim season will be rather short if you go with the HP vs a gas heater. As Herman said it, the forum has plenty on this subject.

 

[PoolGate]

Gas lines don't typically run in conduit. For that distance, you'd probably use1" high pressure gas line. To have gas line run that distance could cost $4k or more. Gas plumbers charge a ridiculous amount of money because in most cases you are required to use one and cannot do the work on your own. You could run the electric with capacity for 60amps or more and may get away with running your own. Most heat pumps need a 60 amp dedicated breaker.

 

[Newdude]

To have gas line run that distance could cost $4k or more. Gas plumbers charge a ridiculous amount of money because in most cases you are required to use one and cannot do the work on your own.

+1. you are typically paying master HVAC/ plumber rates for 2+ techs to dig or trench. The time they spend could be elsewhere getting that full amount so you have to pay their regular rates even for the grunt work. It gets pricey quick. If your municipality allows it, you can save a boatload doing the time consuming and non-skilled work yourself.

 

[trivetman]

Yep….definitely not putting in a 4K gas line at this point. Was really wondering if I could do something now to make that electrical 60 amp line feasible when/if the time comes. Might be something we just have to deal with down the line

 

[PoolGate]

Yep….definitely not putting in a 4K gas line at this point. Was really wondering if I could do something now to make that electrical 60 amp line feasible when/if the time comes. Might be something we just have to deal with down the line

If it was me, I would run the electric line myself. Just make sure you follow code for correct gauge wire and correct burial depth. Where I am electrical must be at least 36" deep. You are looking at $300-$400 in materials to run the wire yourself and prep it for a heater.

 

[trivetman]

Yep that makes sense