Pool Heating

Black on topside, silver underneath.

If you are using a heat pump then you want to heat during the warmest part of the day. So I run my water pump maybe 9 am to 5pm. Then the heater will cycle on and off during that time. If a heat pump has 100,000 BTUs when it is 80 degrees outside that might fall to 80,000 BTU's when it is 50 degrees outside. Now some people get a 40 or 50% break on their power at night. Then I would run the heat pump at night as the savings in power makes it worth the reduced BTU's. If you have a gas or oil heater it really doesn't matter as they both heat the same day ot night. If you have a 400,000 BTU gas heater you really are putting about 330,000 BTU's in the water as the rest goes up the exhaust. That will be the same day or night. A blanket on the water will help keep in the heat though and might cut your heating bills over 50%.

Input pressure.

If you mean "stay lit", you probably have a faulty thermocouple. This costs about $10 and a competent handyman or technician can fit it in less than an hour.

Most people would want the spa hotter, so in that case there is no way to use only one heater.

Yes they do work at night they are mention to keep heat in.

If I understand the question, you would need a plumber to run a gas line for Natural gas (or setup a propane tank). If you used an electric heater, they would need to get some more electric to the existing box (another 220 circuit). You would also need a concrete pad put in the ground to support the heater. Ideally, this would be part of your installation process, just make sure you get any necessary inspections for new gas or electric lines.

Skin temperature is about 88 degrees F. A pool heated to 88 degrees is almost instantly comfortable.

The answer is definitely! I am a lifeguard and we learn all about this stuff in training.

It depends on the temperature you have the thermostat set at. In Arizona, the heaters work even during the summers because the altitude makes a difference in how warm the pool stays.

it heats up the thermo couple which opens up the gas control valve allowing gas to flow to the main burner. if the pilot goes out the thrmo couple will cool and shut the gas valve so gas does not come out

Keep it lit. One thing it does it keep moisture out. I turned mine off one summer trying to save a couple of bucks and had to spend about two hours cleaning the rust out.

Yes, a leak in a pool heater's copper fins heat exchanger can often be fixed by welding, provided the damage is not too extensive and the integrity of the heat exchanger is maintained. However, welding copper can be challenging due to its thermal conductivity and the risk of warping. It’s important to ensure that the repair is performed by a qualified technician to prevent future leaks and ensure safe operation. In some cases, replacement of the heat exchanger might be a more reliable long-term solution.

the pilot light in my fireplace is working but when i turn the switch on (new switch) it wouldn't fire up

{Sigh} I hate English units.

A BTU is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 lb of water by 1 deg F.

The basic relation is

Q = mcdT

Heat = mass * heat capacity * change in temperature.

A gallon of water weighs about 8 lb, so you're talking about 500,000 gal * 8 lb/gal = 4 million pounds.

The constant c for water, by the definition given above is 1 Btu/lb-deg F.

So

Q = 4 million pounds * 1 Btu/lb-degF * 32 deg F = 128 million BTU

Note: 500,000 gal should be changed to 1250 gal or 3.2 million BTU?

On the ground. Unless you want hundreds of frogs around your house.

To wire a firefighter's switch for a pool heater, first ensure the power is turned off to the heater at the circuit breaker. Connect the incoming power supply to the switch terminals, ensuring to follow the manufacturer's wiring diagram, typically involving connecting the line and load wires correctly. The switch should be wired in series with the heater's power supply, allowing it to cut power to the heater in case of an emergency. Finally, secure all connections and enclose them in a junction box for safety before restoring power.

No! if you cut the cover in two each of the little bubbles of insulated air will burst! It may be too difficult to do it anyway. All those bubble bottoms will be topless.

A pool with a solar cover will absorb the heat faster during the day and when left on the pool over night it will prevent the loss of heat.

You should run your pool heater when you want to maintain a comfortable swimming temperature, typically between 78°F and 82°F (25°C to 28°C). It's most efficient to heat the pool during off-peak electricity hours if your utility offers lower rates at those times. Additionally, consider running the heater when the pool is covered to retain heat and reduce energy costs. Finally, monitor the weather forecast, as cooler nights may necessitate heating.

Replacing the thermocouple that the pilot flame touches when it is lit will fix the problem 90% of the time. A thermocouple costs about ten dollars and allows the gas to the pilot and main tube to flow by generating millivolts from the heat of the pilot flame. The thermocouple is a copper wire attached by a small nut to the main gas valve near the pilot tube coming out of the gas valve.

A Heat Pump while more expensive to buy than a gas heater has much lower operating costs. It is also much cheaper to install requiring only an electrical connection instead of a gas supply line.

If the water balance is correct then no it will be fine, but in my experience it's generally not so I'd advise to remove it, dry and fold, and store out of direct sunlight.

If you do it that way you have to keep in mind that it drains properly when rain, frost or snow lands on it otherwise it may become so overloaded that it will be damaged.

I buy the more expense solar covers ( 16 ml ) you pay a little more but you get a 3 year full replacement warranty and 7 year pro rated. The max I've gotten is 4 years but with the warranty I can replace the cover for about $50. My pool holds 30,000 gallons of water and we keep the heater on 86F. The cover works wonders to hold heat in, it only drops about 2 degrees each night. After the first spring heat up it sure does save on the gas bill.