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Pool Heating
Pool heating provides more enjoyment and comfort to swimmers. But since pool heating can add up to high heating bills and consumes a lot of energy, pool owners should use energy-saving pool heating systems such as solar pool heaters.
654 Questions
Which is better Electric heat or heat pump?
Heat pump - lots more efficient and dramatically cheaper to operate.
Heat pump is definitely better as it not only saves electricity bills but is also easy to maintain and install.
My guess is that your fiberglass pool is white (attracts less sunlight) and your friends' vinyl pools are blue or some other darker color, which attract more sunlight, therefore making them warmer.
When was the last time the filter was cleaned? Have all the components in the heater system been checked for proper values? Does the heater sound as if it wants to fire up? Does it have a pilot light or electronic ignition? Have the orifices been checked for bugs or spiders?
Ken
How do you compute natural gas consumption related to BTU?
There are about 1030 BTUs in a cubic foot of natural gas. If one wishes to know the gas consumption (in feet3 per hour) for a given BTU per hour usage rate, one would divide the amount of BTUs by 1030. That would yield the number of cubic feet of gas that is used per hour. Q: I'm heating a space using 10,300 BTUs per hour and I'm using my natural gas heater to do it. How many cubic feet of gas am I using per hour? A: 10,300 BTUs (the heat generated per hour) divided by 1030 (the number of BTUs per cubic foot of gas) equals 10 cubic feet. You're using 10 cubic feet per hour. You apply 10,300 BTUs to heat the space per hour, and you use 10 cubic feet of gas per hour to do that. (And yes, I picked easy numbers.)
How do you size wire for a 20kw aug heater for a heat pump?
Using the formula: Amps = Watts/Volts look up the wire size needed in the national electric code book for the amperage of the device. This formula only works for single phase current. If you are using 3 phase, look in the book. In general, 15 Amps or less: 14 Ga Copper wire. 20 Amps or less 12 Ga. 30 Amps or less 10 Ga. Anything more than 30 amps, look it up in the book.
What does orange in the flame on a gas furnace indicate?
yellow flame needs more air or cleaned orange flame could indicate moisture in the fuel if propane have your tank treated your L.P. dealer should be able to do this also I have seen this when people use hemidfers the orange is burnning of the minerals in the water
I have listed below the formula that we use to size pool heaters for our customers. This formula is used for an outdoor swimming pool. 1. Determine your desired water temperature. (75 degrees, 90 degrees, ect.) 2. Determine the average temp for the coldest month that you will be using the pool. Try www.weather.com. They are the best for breaking down the daily average temps by month. 3. Now subtract the average temp from the coldest month from the desired temperature of the water. (Subtract answer #2 from answer #1). This will give you the "temperature rise" needed. 4. You will need to calculate the swimming pool's surface area. (Length x Width) 5. Here is the tricky part: You will use the following formula to calculate the output of the heater. Pool surface Area x Temperature Rise x 12 (multiply answer to #4 by answer to #3.) This formula takes into consideration how much the temperature will rise per hour , what the average wind speed is at the pools surface. I would recommend calculating the formula yourself and then contacting a trained pool professional for accuracy. This formula is basic, but many other factors may be involved in your swimming pool that should be considered. I have had great service from Hayward and Jandy (Teledyne Laars) products. You can also call either manufacturer and they can recommend a pool professional in your area. Good Luck to you!!!
Is there any way to connect two solar pool blankets together for a long pool?
Usually not. How long is the pool? Custom covers are available -- for a price that may exceed regular cover pricing.
K
Here are a few things to check: Does the pilot light stay on after you light it? If so, good, did you turn the control valve to the "on" position? Sounds funny but there's a pilot position and a "on" position. Is the pump on? Water must be circulating through the heater to activate a pressure switch & then the burner will come on. If not find the manual on position for your pump timer to start the pump. Burner still doesn't come on? Check the burner assembly for plugged orifices (i.e. spiders, corrosion, etc.)and clean it out.
The following is a more detailed and complete walk through, analysis :-
Swimming Pool Heaters have a number of safety controls. Before the heater will turn on, all the safety switched must be "Closed", that is to say the electrical circuit is complete.
But my heater doesn't have electric going to it you say ??
The Pilot light flame is directed towards a device that looks like an AA battery with 2 wires coming out the bottom. This is called a "Thermo-pile", ( from the French word "pile", meaning Battery.) This Thermo-pile creates electricity (DC, +/- 750 mV) which is the electricity that once it passes all the safety switches makes its way to the main gas valve and lifts the gas valve to Open and let the gas through to be ignited.
Some of the safety switches are :
Pressure switch. This is an important water pressure operated switch that tells the heater that there is water flowing through the heater. ( If your filter needs backwashing, and flow is poor -this switch will stay "Open" and not allow the heater to turn on.
On/Off Switch... If I need to explain this - stop reading and call a Gas Appliance Professional.
Thermostat : This is the rotary temperature Dial that senses the water temperature
Fusible Link. : Often mounted on the front inside of the Cabinet, just above the Heater tray, this switch senses if flames are coming out the front of the cabinet. -If the fusible Link blows (a) it needs to be replaced and (b) FIND OUT WHY!! Flames and heat should go straight up, if they are coming laterally out the front of the heater then the heater is not venting properly and you need to know why. Common causes are (i) on a heater with a Flat Top, and no Stack (Chimney), a gust of wind or a downdraft caused by winds bouncing off an adjacent structure or wall can cause the flames to roll out the front momentarily.
(ii) If the heater has been incorrectly installed with insufficient gas pressure, volume available to the Main valve, then incomplete combustion occurs, and the sooty smoke can clog the heat exchanger fins, which impedes the venting of the heater and the flames roll out the front.
"Tired " Thermo-Pile. The Thermo-Piles lose their ability to produce current over time, and the Thermo-Pile may be generating enough power to keep the pilot lit, but not enough to open the main valve.
There are other switches and safety's that vary on model and the installation, but the above information should solve 99% of problems.
Remember, we are dealing with a very minute current here. If any of the wire terminals are loose or corroded, that will reduce the efficiency of the electrical circuit and cause sufficient loss of power that the Main Gas valve will not open.
Good Luck
MaDoGreg
IF YOU HAVE TO LOOSEN OR OPEN ANY GAS CONNECTIONS, YOU MUST TEST THEM WITH SOAPY WATER AFTER RE-CONNECTION TO ENSURE THERE IS NO GAS LEAK. If in doubt, call a trained professional !
Greg M Simmons, C.P.O.
East Hampton, NY 1-631-831-5017 gregs.cpo@gmail.com
Talk to a lawyer or the state department of business regulation that is in charge of construction. Send a certified letter to the contractor and CC the State, demanding that the problem be solved immediately. Most of the more slippery contractors will just try to put off expensive repairs until after the warranty period has expired.
Put your demands in writing and have them become a matter of record, that way the crooked contractor can't claim that he didn't know about the problem until after the warranty expired.
From my experience, there is no warranty on any product if there is neglect, misuse, etc and that would include improper chemical balance -- If your heater failed due to "lack of homeowner (or a service company) maintenance" I do believe you have no case. There has to be an electrical or mechanical part failure or the like. Example: You claim that your filter is broken and will not filter the water in some way. Upon having a service tech inspect the filter after dismantling it and determines that the filter has never been cleaned or even back washed then that claim is going to be denied. This is not a manufacturer's product defect. The defect lies within the owner of the product thru neglect. And on top of it you will be charged at full local service rates for that inspection. You can however, request a second opinion on your heater service call and they most likely will send out another service tech to check out the heater. Just a simple visual and or a mechanical or electrical check of the heater can often times determine neglect. Modifications to the heater that are not mandated by code or the manufacturer are obvious also.
Lack of home owner maintenance would include improper chemical balance such as low pH -- 7.0 or lower or total alkalinity readings -- below 80 ppm improper pool maintenance. Just one or two days of very low acid levels could cause the heater to fail in some way. On the opposite end of the chemical scale, pH readings of 8.0 will cause the heat exchanger to be blocked totally with scale causing the heater exchanger to fail. The latter has sometimes caused the heater to fail while firing and has been known to burn up the heater and the home .
So, it is not always the contractor or the builder who is at fault, though, there are many unscrupulous contractors in all fields.
k
Read your insurance policy. Was it covered?
You can have a team of lawyers . Your insurance WILL NOT cover homeowner or service company neglect. Read the heater warranty. B T W - tht goes for any piece of equipment covered under mfg's warr or a separate homeowners warr. It states more than once that the warranty will be voided if it is determined to be lack of maintenance or neglect. Simple as that. The factory will send a tech to inspect the heater - he or she can determine how a piece of equipment has been treated even if they have to dismantle the entire heater. Just not gonna happen. It could be as simple as improper water chemistry or maintenance.
Admittedly this is a rather "Rube Goldberg" set-up, but the results are impressive:
18 foot round by 4 foot deep pool, start temperature (with solar cover that has blue on one side and silver on the other) was 71.2 degrees. After 8 hours (two separate 4 hour runs 24 hours apart) the temperature of the pool was 92.1 degrees. Outside ambient air temperatures were in the low 80's during the day and high 50's at night. Pool lost approximately 2.5 degrees of heat overnight. Now pool can be maintained at 85 degrees with a daily burn of heater for less than 1 hour run time. Cost of operation is about $4.00 an hour for the kerosene (at 2.80 a gallon) and electric to run second pump and heater. I am still doing a cost analysis as compared to a purchase of either a 9KW electric heater vs. a 150,000 BTU heat pump vs. a gas or oil fired heater and the various energy sources required to operate them.
Ed
Answersounds like it workes great,if it workes use it.Hmm, I bet your neighbors love the noise huh? Better get htis pattented everybody's gonna want one.
Turn off the pool heater if you won't be swimming for more than four days. Let water fall to ambient temperature, then re-heat the pool. Here are sources: http://www.pentairpool.com/techinfo/tips_conservation.htm Heating & Heat Loss If you use your pool only on weekends, reduce your heater or heat pump thermostats settings by eight to ten degrees during the week. When leaving for vacation for more than a week, turn off the pool heater or heat pump, including the pilot light. Please use caution in freezing conditions. Reduce heat loss by using a pool cover. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, savings of 50% - 70% are possible. Fencing, hedges, landscaping, and cabanas that shelter your pool from prevailing winds will further reduce heat loss. If your pool heater is more than five years old, chances are a new high efficiency gas heater could quickly pay for itself in utility bill savings. A pool heat pump can save up to 80% in energy usage compared to a gas heater. Check with your pool professional to see if a heat pump is appropriate for your region. According to the National Swimming Pool Institute and the American Red Cross, the most healthful swimming temperature is 78 degrees. Reducing your heater or heat pump thermostat to maintain a 78 degree or lower temperature will also help conserve energy. Install a timer or a control system to automate the hours of operation.
http://www.poolwarehouse.com/swimmingpooltips.html ENERGY CONSERVATION To conserve energy, run your pool's filtration system only during off-peak hours. When leaving for vacation for more than a week, turn off the pool heater, including the pilot light. If you use your pool only on weekends, reduce your heater thermostats settings by eight to ten degrees during the week. Use fencing, hedges or other landscaping, or cabanas to shelter your pool from prevailing winds. According to the National Swimming Pool Institute and the American Red Cross, the most healthful swimming temperature is 78 degrees. Reducing your heater thermostat to maintain a 78 degree or lower temperature will also help conserve energy. When reopening your pool for a new season, make sure your pump and filter are working properly before adding chemicals to the water. If your pool heater is more than five years old, chances are a new high efficiency gas heater such as the MiniMax could quickly pay for itself in utility bill savings. To obtain maximum filtration and energy efficiency, backwash or clean your filter regularly, as required.
http://www.askalanaquestion.com/pool_heaters.htm ►Efficiency Concerns What is the most efficient way to run a pool heater in South Florida? Is it more economical to turn off the heater at night? Or should it be simply lowered or kept at the temperature for swimming. Also what is the recommended temperature to heat a pool? We can't agree. I like it at 87 to 90. He likes it at 82 to 84. We do not have a solar/pool blanket. Would this help by keeping the temperature up? Also how long does it take to heat up the water. if it's turned off every night w/o a pool blanket? If we do get a solar pool blanket, how can it easily be taken on & off? Thanks. Bev, Florida, 12/22/2004 Lots of questions. Unfortunately, they all don't have answers. Most heaters and filtering systems are not run 24/7. Heating the water for the overnight period, only increases the heat loss. I would shut the heater down prior to the last use of the pool and start the cycle again, a few hours prior to the first use of the day. The later in the morning - the better. You might as well have the Sun on your side. Temperature is an individual matter. It is what you like! Maybe even what he likes. Why not compromise on 85°F? A solar blanket will positively reduce heating costs. How long it takes to raise the water 1° will depend upon the heater type, size, water temperature, Sun exposure, wind, etc. Your heater instruction manual might provide the information. The water will heat up quicker with a solar blanket on. A roller system helps make a solar blanket less unwieldy. The easiest way to cover a pool is with an automatic pool cover. It can be done at the push of a button. For more on this product go to www.coverpools.com I hope that the information proves helpful.
http://www.centerpointenergy.com/staticfiles/CNP/Common/SiteAssets/doc/Fact%20Sheet-Pool&Spa%20heaters.pdf Lower the thermostat to 70 degrees when the pool is to be unused for three or four days. For longer periods, shut the heater off. You will save money on fuel consumption and help conserve energy. Less energy is required to reheat a pool for a weekend or special occasion as opposed to maintaining a constant temperature all week. For weekend swimming, turn your thermostat up to the "comfort setting" on Friday night and back down to 70 degrees on Sunday evening.
Check that you are getting voltage from the thermocouple. You should see about 600 millivolts.
How do you light the pilot light on a heater?
The detailed directions are printed on front of EVERY gas regulator. - However, in general terms, turn regulator switch to OFF for 2 minutes, then to PILOT and depress for one minute, then light pilot or press clicker till it lights. Keep PILOT pressed for 2 more minutes then slowly release it. If it stays on then turn main switch to RUN or ON. -If you have to light the pilot manually, use a barbecue match (12 inches long)
Do you need a pool heater in a warm climate?
Depends on what you want out of your pool ...
If swimming only during the hot months is okay, then you don't need a heater.
However, if you would like to extend your swimming season, you should consider a heater.
A solar heating system can extend your swimming season a couple of months earlier and a couple of months later, but probably can't heat your pool year round. For example, here in sunny Southern California, I can comfortably swim from March through October (with water temps of over 80F).
A gas or other fuel-based heater can provide year round swimming, if desired.
How warm should swimming pool water be for a baby?
General info on pool temps:
Most people are comfortable in pool water at about 80F on the low end. Almost everyone is comfortable at 85F. Some people will find a 90F pool starting to be too warm.
Babies, on the other hand, lose a lot of body heat to the water and do not have a fully developed temperature regulation system. Therefore, I would recommend a temp in the high 80's (87F) to the low 90's (92F). This should be comfortable enough for you and your baby to have a good time.
Be careful to watch for signs of coldness: shivering, loss of color in extremities like fingers and lips, etc...
Hope this helps...
Why is it that when it is cold outside the pool is warm?
Well, water has a higher heat capacity than air, so it retains its heat. It takes 4200 Joules of energy to heat 1 Kg of water up by 1 degree centigrade. The water will feel warm because it is warmer. That is, it still has its heat inside it, and loses this heat slowly by conduction, convection, radiation and cold water from rain and snow.
On the inside of the heater cover, and within the documentation shipped with the heater, there should be a diagram of the control circuit. These heaters will not operate if the pump is off (pressure switch), if the "fireman" switch is off (a switch generally inside the pump timer that disables the heater about 15 minutes prior to turning off the pump), nor if both of two additional high temperature limit switches are activated (models will vary). The fact that the pilot is lit indicates that the pilot generator is OK. If you can turn the burner on by shorting the control circuit manually (using a jumper wire) the problem is in on of the safety limit switches, or in the thermostat itself. Good Hunting!
http://www.poolcenter.com/parts_heaters_laars_xe_pg1.htm
A pilot generator may have enough power to operate the pilot ,however not be sufficient to operate the main valve as well, this is quite common.
The way I test a millivolt system of any type is I have a AA battery holder from RadioShack with a positive and negative lead, I disconnect the pilot generators 2 leads and replace them with the AA batterys. The battery is 1.5v it wont hurt though, but if the gas valve wont open and you do get voltage to the gas valve terminals for the main valve, the valve is either bad or stuck, an amp draw will tell you if its trying to work or shorted perhaps if excessive.
There are a limit and on off and thermostat on this unit I believe as well .
What angle should a solar panel pool heater be set at?
There are two angles to consider: North-South direction and inclination up from horizontal. For best performance, face the solar panel generally south at an inclination of 15 to 30 degrees up from horizontal. This will point the face of the panel nearly directly at the sun. Don't stess over the exact angle, you should be fine as long as its close. Hope this helps... In terms of angle, I have read that you should tilt the panel at an angle equal to your latitude geographically. So, LA is 34 degrees LAT, therefore tilt the panel 34 degress for year round installation. If possible it should be tilted accordingly for seasons. I found a web site with the acronym RSPEC (Reduce Swimming Pool Energy Costs) that suggests the following: The collectors should (ideally) face due south and should be angled based upon your latitude. For heating in the summer months subtract 10-15 degrees from your latitude. For heating in the winter months add 10-15 degrees to your latitude and for year round heating install at your latitude.
What is the best thickness for a solar pool cover?
First, the small variation in thickness between makes and models of solar pool covers will not significantly change the amount of heat absorbed by the water. That being said, a thicker pool cover may be more tear or damage resistant than a thinner cover and thereby, last longer. But it may also be more expensive and heavier, especially when wet as you pull it out of the pool. Hope this helps ...
Can using the pool heater on a newly plastered pool have any adverse affects?
If the installer says don't run it, I wouldn't. If the plaster falls off for any reason, he can say it was because you didn't follow his instructions and voided the warranty.
Remove the vinyl cover when using a solar blanket to warm the water. If the vinyl cover is used at the same time as the solar blanket, the vinyl cover absorbs most of the heat and then transfers the heat into the air or water between the vinyl cover and the solar blanket. Then the heat transfers to the solar blanket and then, finally, into the water. When this happens, a lot of heat remains in the vinyl cover and air/water between the two covers instead of getting into the water. It is preferable to have the heat absorbed by the solar cover and then transfer directly into the water. Hope this helps...
Too much redundancy in pool covers.
Will solar panels heat a pool as well as a propane or gas heater?
Like most things in life, "it depends"! It depends on: *how much money do you want to spend to heat your pool? Consider both up-front equipment and long-term fuel costs. *where do you live? Florida or Canada? *how much of the year do you intend to swim? May-Sept or Jan-Dec? *do you have an appropriate location and space for solar panels? *how warm do you like the water? If you live in a sunny region and have a generously sized solar system the answer could very well be "yes". If you don't live in a sunny region or don't have extra room for the solar panels, the answer could easily be "no". For example, I live in Los Angeles and use a solar heater. My pool is over 80F from early April through the end of October. This works great for me and my family. The equipment cost was affordable and the operating cost is basically zero since I have to run my pump anyway. But that's me. Only you can decide what you want and how much you are willing to pay for it. A gas heater can generally provide more heat than solar. And it can provide that heat 24/7/365. If you are willing to spend the money, you can swim whenever you want to swim in water as warm as you like it! Consider your needs and talk to some experienced pool builders and a few pool owners to get a better idea of what might work best for you. Hope this helps ...
Does a solar cover have to actually touch the water?
Yes, the solar cover should touch the pool water. The cover absorbs the heat from the sun and then transfers that heat to the water. If the cover does not touch the water, most of the heat will end up in the air between the cover and the water rather than going into the water itself. Hope this helps ...
