My natural gas utility offers rebates on pool heaters with >84% efficiency, but it looks like there aren't any Raypak residential low-NOx heaters that meet that requirement. There are Hayward and Pentair heaters that do. I just wanted to check if Raypaks are still the most recommended on TFP and if there might be a model I'm missing.
Raypak heaters lack efficiency?
- Thread starter sbcpool
- Start date
Professional Series X94 – Raypak
Raypak Pool & Spa, Residential and Commercial Hydronic Products -
www.raypak.com
Thank you. That heater is almost $10,000 and the rebate is only worth $750. I'm probably going to end up with a Hayward, but I'm still researching their reliability and warranty.
I've been looking at the H400FDN. It's on my utility's pre-approved list. Also, the Pentair ETi 400.
I find the Hayward for around $2,600. It's rated at 84%. The Pentair is very hard to find, but seems to be about $6,000. It's rated at 96%.
Pool Heater List | SoCalGas
Look through the list of pool heaters that qualify for a rebate.
It looks like the Hayward only qualifies for the 300 dollar rebate.
Yeah, I just saw that. Still, $2,300 isn't bad. I still can't find anywhere selling a low NOx Raypak with cupro-nickel heat exchanger (residential models, that is).
Also remember that the heaters that are +84% efficiency usually have a fan motor to reach that efficiency and when eventually the fan fails their usually $500+ to replace. The Raypaks don't have
an expensive fan assembly. The design is simpler and maybe slightly less efficient but it makes up for it when you need to replace parts down the road.
an expensive fan assembly. The design is simpler and maybe slightly less efficient but it makes up for it when you need to replace parts down the road.
I do want to lean towards the Raypak, but I can't find a residential low NOx model with cupro-nickel heat exchanger. Maybe the Southern California market isn't large enough to justify the expense of making that particular combination.
Found one, but apparently Raypak has shut down all production because of COVID-19 so that's pretty much going to rule them out.
I'd look at the Raypak ASME version. You will probably find them easier and they build that version with cast iron headers and a heavier duty exchanger.
Thank you. I did find the CR406AENX, but I think because I live right at the 2,000 foot elevation line that I need the 2,000 - 6,000 foot version, which nobody seems to have. Does anyone know if the different elevation models make that much of a difference?