Gas Pool Heater: Swimming Pool Heaters 101

Unless you live in a very warm climate, heating your swimming pool at certain times of the year is necessary to keep swimmers comfortable and maximize enjoyment. Over the next few weeks we will be featuring a mini-blog series discussing all the different types of swimming pool heaters. This week we will take a look at a gas pool heater.

The category of “Gas” swimming pool heaters includes both natural gas swimming pool heaters and propane swimming pool heaters.  While there are differences depending on which fuel option you choose, both types of gas pool heater are effective way to heat your swimming pool.

Propane vs. Natural Gas

As their name implies these heaters run off of natural gas or propane, a natural gas pool heater needs a natural gas line for fuel, while a propane pool heater draws fuel from a propane tank.  Up front cost for a gas pool heater can range from about $1000-$5000, depending on the size and unit needed. Monthly costs will depend on usage and current fuel prices for either the natural gas or propane.

Cost

Gas pool heaters can be more costly to install up front than an electric heater but as natural gas is normally less expensive than electricity may be less expensive and efficient to operate over and extended time period. Gas heaters are often considered ideal for large pools because they can heat a larger volume of water in a shorter period of time.

Variety

Here at Sunplay we carry a large variety of propane and natural gas swimming pool heaters from household names Pentair, Jandy, and Hayward. When determining what heater to purchase you will want to consult with your pool technician on the BTU needed for your size of pool, and what features are important to you. All of our swimming pool heaters are covered by the full manufacturer’s warranty, so you can purchase it, let your pool technician do the work of installing it, and then sit back, relax, and enjoy your extended swimming season!