How To Size A Pool Heater (Step-by-Step)
- Determine Desired Temperature. The first thing you need to do is determine the desired temperature you want your pool water to be at.
- Calculate Temperature Shift. Next, figure out what the average air temperature is where you live. For this example we’ll use 73°F.
- Measure Surface Area. Not all pools are the same shape or size, so you’ll have to measure the surface area of the pool. ...
- Consult Chart. Manufacturers will provide a chart to help you determine the right size heater for your swimming pool.
What size pool heater do I need for my Pool?
What Size Swimming Pool Heater Do I Need?
- DO THE MATH. The first step to finding out the right pool heater is by identifying your pool’s surface area. ...
- OTHER VARIABLES. Where do you live, and what is the climate like? ...
- TYPES OF HEATERS. Finally, you want to choose what method of heating you use. ...
- SUMMARY. ...
How to determine what size pool heater you need?
Sizing Your Pool Heater
- Calculate your Surface Area (Pool Length x Pool Width) When you are determining which size pool heater to buy, the first step is calculating your pool’s surface area. ...
- Divide the Pool’s Surface Area by 3 The pool’s surface area divided by three gives you the minimal BTU size recommended for that particular surface area. ...
- Consider Your Variables
How do you size a heater for indoor swimming pool?
To calculate your pool’s surface area, choose from these options:
- Rectangular Pool: Length x Width
- Rectangular Pool with Rounded Ends: Length x Width x 0.8
- Oval Pool: 1/2 Length x 1/2 Width x 3.14
- Kidney-Shaped Pool: Length x Width x 0.75
How to easily heat your pool without a pool heater?
When it comes to choosing a heat pump pool heater, there are a few things to consider:
- Pool Heater Size
- Efficiency
- Cost
What size pool heater do I need for a 40000 gallon pool?
Pools up to 30,000 gallons should look at the AquaCal 120K BTU or higher, and 40,000 gallon inground pools should look at models like the Pentair 140K BTU. Pools in very windy or colder areas, or those that don't use a pool cover should consider installing one size larger.
What size pool heater do I need for 18x36 pool?
Heat Pump Sizing Chart - Inground PoolsPool Size (Feet)Summer 4 BTU'sSpring & Fall 5 BTU'sUp To 10,000 Gallons 12' x 24'50,000 BTU50,000 BTUUp To 15,000 Gallons 14' x 28'85,000 BTU85,000 BTUUp To 20,000 Gallons 16' x 32'85,000 BTU110,000 BTUUp To 25,000 Gallons 18' x 36'110,000 BTU125,000 BTU1 more row
Can you over size a pool heater?
A pool heater can be undersized: if it cannot replace the heat lost through evaporative cooling, the pool's temperature will fall below the ideal. However, there is no such thing as oversizing a pool heater. The larger the heater's output, the faster it heats the water in the pool, and it will not begin short-cycling.
How many BTUs do I need for a 15000 gallon pool?
90,000 BTUBased on this information, if your pool has 15,000 gallons of water, and you wanted to go with a 120,000 BTU heat pump, you absolutely could....Pool Volume(Gallons)Heat Output(BTU)10,00050,000 BTU15,00090,000 BTU20,000120,000 BTU25,000140,000 BTUFeb 24, 2021
How do I choose a pool heater?
Calculate the pool surface area in square feet by multiplying the length and the width of your pool. Then, use this formula to figure out the BTUs you'll need your heater to put out: pool area (sq. ft.) x temperature rise x 12.
How many gallons is a 16x32 pool?
Above Ground Swimming Pool Water Volumes by Size33ft Round22,488 gals25,700 gals12x24ft Oval5,948 gals6,797 gals15x30ft Oval9,293 gals10,620 gals16x32ft Oval10,573 gals12,084 gals10 more rows•Sep 9, 2021
How many BTUs do I need for a 20000 gallon pool?
166,000 BTUsPool heaters measure their power in BTU (British thermal units). One BTU raises the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. There are 8.33 pounds of water per gallon. That means that if you have a swimming pool that holds 20,000 gallons, it requires 166,000 BTUs to increase by one degree.
How long does it take to heat a 20000 gallon pool?
You have a 20,000-gallon pool and use a 125,000 BTU heater. Your water is currently 70 degrees F but you would like it to be a minimum of 80 degrees F. How long will it take before the pool water reaches 80 degrees F? 10 x 1.33= 13.34 hours of heating before the pool reaches 80 degrees F.
Is Pentair better than Hayward?
Their filters are user-friendly and reliable. They clean well and overall are very well designed. If you ever have to make a decision from a price perspective, then hands down Hayward is the better choice. However, I personally prefer Pentair products because they have a nicer design and are easier to use.
How many BTUs do I need for a 25000 gallon pool?
110,000 BTUEnergy-Saving ComforTemp Pool Heat Pump 110,000 BTU to Heat 25,000 Gallons.
What size heat pump do I need for 12000 gallon pool?
50K BTU heat pumps are meant for small pools, or aboveground pools, under 12,000 gallons.
How many BTU heater do I need?
For example, a 300 square foot room typically requires 7,000 BTUs to maintain a comfortable temperature, while a 1,000 square foot room requires 18,000 BTUs. A simple formula to determine your heating needs is: (desired temperature change) x (cubic feet of space) x . 133 = BTUs needed per hour.
How many BTUs do I need for a 20000 gallon pool?
166,000 BTUsPool heaters measure their power in BTU (British thermal units). One BTU raises the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. There are 8.33 pounds of water per gallon. That means that if you have a swimming pool that holds 20,000 gallons, it requires 166,000 BTUs to increase by one degree.
How many BTUs do I need for a 25000 gallon pool?
110,000 BTUEnergy-Saving ComforTemp Pool Heat Pump 110,000 BTU to Heat 25,000 Gallons.
How long does it take to heat a 20000 gallon pool?
You have a 20,000-gallon pool and use a 125,000 BTU heater. Your water is currently 70 degrees F but you would like it to be a minimum of 80 degrees F. How long will it take before the pool water reaches 80 degrees F? 10 x 1.33= 13.34 hours of heating before the pool reaches 80 degrees F.
Which is better a heat pump or gas heater for pool?
Heat pump pool heaters cost more than gas pool heaters, but they typically have much lower annual operating costs because of their higher efficiencies. With proper maintenance, heat pump pool heaters typically last longer than gas pool heaters. Therefore, you'll save more money in the long run.
What size heater should I use for a 15x30 pool?
Therefore, the minimum size heater that is recommended for a 15 x 30 pool is 150,000 BTUs. This is simply the recommended minimum size. I always go higher. Especially when it comes to gas heaters, you always want to oversize the unit. The job of a pool heater is to replenish the heat loss at the surface of your pool.
How fast does a 400k heater heat a pool?
A 400k BTU heater will heat a pool twice as fast as a 200k BTU heater and burn gas twice as fast. Heating up a pool versus a pool/spa combination requires less BTU power. Usually, if you have a pool and spa combination, I recommend purchasing 30% higher BTU, for example going from a 300k to a 400k. If you want to perform ...
What is the minimum BTU for a 15 x 30 pool?
Therefore, the minimum size heater that is recommended for a 15 x 30 pool is 150,000 BTUs. This is simply the recommended minimum size.
What is the job of a pool heater?
The job of a pool heater is to replenish the heat loss at the surface of your pool. Most heat loss happens overnight. Without a solar cover, there is no way to make up for the loss. That’s when having a higher BTU size comes in handy.
How to calculate the surface area of a pool?
To calculate the surface area of your pool, multiply the length times the width. For example: If your pool is 15 x 30, then your surface area is 450 square feet. Related: Pool volume calculator.
Do you need a heater for a solar blanket?
With a solar blanket, you might not need a 300 K BTU heater. You might settle on the 200K or 250k heater. Sometimes, it’s cheaper to simply invest in a solar blanket than paying for a larger heater.
MORE ABOUT Btu
Before we start, it is important to understand that it does not matter what kind of heater you are talking about — all pool heaters are measured in Btu (British thermal units), which measures the amount of heat (energy) required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
SIZING CONSIDERATIONS
In order to make an informed decision about what size of pool heater you need for a given application, you need to know the following:
HEATER CALCULATIONS
In order to help all of this make sense, let’s use some real-world examples. For the following scenarios, we’ll assume we’re working on a 16-by-32-foot rectangular pool with an average depth of 5 feet, which would equal approximately 20,000 gallons of water (19,200 rounded up).
What is the best pool heater?
Gas is the most popular type of pool heater. ( Buy from Amazon) Unlike heat pumps, gas powered pool heaters can function in any climate or weather. They heat a pool really fast, do not depend on the temperature of ambient air, and are the only choice if you have a hot water spa or jacuzzi.
How does a pool heat pump work?
A pool heat pump will extract the latent heat from ambient air surrounding it and transfer that energy into the pool water circulating through its heat exchanger. And unlike gas heaters, a heat pump doesn’t just convert energy from one type to another, it amplifies the heat energy before sending it into the pool water.
How does a solar pool blanket help?
And while there are other forms of heat loss from the pool surface such as radiation and convection, they only add up to around 20 or 30 percent of lost heat. With a solar pool blanket, you can prevent most of the heat loss that happens through evaporation and also suppress heat loss via convection. Not only are you retaining the pool heat for longer, but you also prevent loss of valuable pool chemicals through evaporation or convection.
How many BTUs does a gallon of water need to heat?
One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, and we know that a single BTU is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 pounds of water by 1 degree. So, to heat 8.34 pounds of water we need 8.34 BTUs, which is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one gallon of water by 1 degree.
How much sunlight does a solar pool need?
In order to function properly, a solar pool heating system needs at least 8 to 10 hours of uninterrupted exposure to direct sunlight each day.
What does it mean to own a pool?
Owning a swimming pool means you and your family get to have a lot of fun together, and you can invite your friends and relatives on the weekends for pool parties. However, there are limitations on how long you can use your pool because of climate and day/ night cycles.
Can you heat a pool in Alaska?
But if your house it located in a place where you get enough sunlight for at least 2 or 3 months a year to operate the heating panels, then you pretty much have a zero-cost, zero-maintenance pool heating solution.
How to determine the size of pool heater?
Use the following formula to get started: Determine what temperature you'd like the pool water to be. Subtract the average spring and fall air temperature for the period you will use the heater.
What happens if you put a heater in your pool?
An overpowered heater may raise the temperature too high , risking injury to you as well as damaging your pool.
Why does my pool water temperature drop?
The biggest cause for water temperature drops is evaporation and contact with cooler air. By adding a cover to your swimming pool (ideally an automatic cover that's easy to open and close) you're adding an extra layer of insulation, which holds the heat in the water.
Do you need a heater for a pool?
For many, a natural gas or propane-fueled pool heater is an absolute necessity. Not only does adding a heater to your pool ensure you'll have a warm, comfortable pool to hop in every time you're ready to take a swim, but a heater can also drastically extend your swimming season.
Can you use a pool heater in advance?
Of course, there are two main ways you as as pool owner may choose to use a pool heater. One of these is to let the pool cool down when not in use, then turn on the heater in advance of any swim to bring the temperature back up to where you'd like it.
