What is the most reliable NG heater?

[Bugman1400]

Looking to buy 400kbtu NG heater. Had a Hayward, but it is well past it’s useful life. Most of the comments about Hayward these days are negative with most pointing to the heat exchanger, the control board, or premature corrosion. Looking for more experienced opinions.
TIA.

 

[ajw22]

Every pool gas heater has its weak spots. None of them are perfect. Pool heaters live in a harsh environment and if you rarely run it and give an opportunity for corrosion to set in and spiders and rodents to make a home in it then it will not last long regardless of manufacture.

Heater Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Raypak gas heaters have a natural draft design and simple controls which make then inexpensive to repair. Pentair, Hayward, and Jandy gas heaters have a forced draft design which requires a blower motor and complex electronics. Those all become expensive parts to replace.

However some people find that the Raypak heaters start getting internal corrosion faster due to their open natural draft design then the more closed forced draft heaters.

I would say that we see equal amounts problems with Raypak, Pentair, and Hayward gas heaters. No one is demonstrably better then the other.