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naturallyBetter

The chill is gone

There are benefits to heating pools with natural gas.

By Monica Stavish Skaggs

hhhh… There’s nothing like slowly easing into the com- “Gas-fired heaters are the most popular way to
fort of a heated swimming pool. With a natural gas pool heat a pool.”
heater, a pool’s desired temperature can be maintained
A — providing year-round comfort no matter the climate — U.S. Department of Energy
or outdoor temperature.
A heated pool provides effective relaxation to swimmers and thera- determine what size pool heater will work best based on pool size.
peutic benefits to physical therapy patients any time of year, whether A heater should be based on two factors: Surface area of the pool
in Miami, Florida, or Minneapolis, Minnesota. Even on days when and the difference between the pool’s water temperature and aver-
outdoor temperatures are warm, a heater ensures that the water age air temperatures. Humidity, wind and nighttime temperatures
isn’t too chilly to enjoy. should also be considered.
Gas-fired heaters are the most popular way to heat a pool, accord- British thermal units (Btus) are used to rate gas pool heaters, with
ing to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Today’s gas heaters outputs ranging from 75,000 Btu to 450,000 Btu. Gas heaters range in
are much more efficient and reliable than older models and heat the price between $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the unit’s size and brand.
water faster than electric heaters. Information about a gas heater’s It’s also important to have the pool heater installed by a qualified
efficiency is available to the consumer through the manufacturer or pool professional. DOE also advises homeowners to contact a profes-
labeling on the side of the system. sional for complex maintenance issues or repairs to the system. Regu-
Heaters that burn natural gas will hook up to a gas line provided by lar maintenance is essential to keep the heater working efficiently.
the local gas utility. The natural gas heater quickly warms the water to With proper installation and routine maintenance, a gas pool
the desired temperature. A gas heater uses a pump to circulate pool heater will operate five or more years, according to DOE. Owners
water, which passes through a filter to the heater. Heat is generated should carefully read the manual, heed maintenance recommenda-
by gas burning in the heater’s combustion chamber and then the tions and schedule annual tune-ups. n
water is returned to the pool.
Since gas pool heaters reliably
maintain desired temperatures
in various weather conditions
and climates, they’re a plus on
those colder days. They oper- Photo Courtesy of CoPPer leaf
ate for less time than electric
models, saving wear and tear
on equipment. Because of how
quickly gas heaters heat a pool
they are useful for heating on an
as-needed basis.
Consumers should take into
account several factors when in-
stalling a gas pool heater, DOE
advises. In addition to pool size,
it’s good to consider the heater’s
size, efficiency and cost.
The first step is to contact
a trained pool professional to Today’s gas heaters are much more efficient and reliable than older models and heat the water faster than electric heaters.

Spring - Summer 2022 ❙ naturalliving 15
Please recycle this magazine after you read it.