Discussing the ins and outs of heating options can help clarify which one \u2014 or combination \u2014 is right for each customer.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s new construction or an equipment replacement, today\u2019s pool heating technologies offer a solution to every consumer\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n
Here, builders, servicepeople and manufacturers share insights on discussing heating options with customers. As these industry veterans explain, selecting a system is a straightforward process, but a strong knowledge base will keep the dialogue on track.<\/p>\n
Assess expectations<\/strong> For new construction, the heating system will probably come up in the overall design discussion. If the project involves an existing pool, on the other hand, the customers\u2019 interest will typically stem from dissatisfaction with their current heating situation, which will lead them to initiate the dialogue.<\/p>\n In either case, it\u2019s a good idea to first assess the customer\u2019s pool usage needs.<\/p>\n \u201cStart by asking them how often they plan to use their pool,\u201d says Terry Doyle, marketing manager at Raypak in Oxnard, Calif. \u201cAre they looking for a system that allows them to turn the heater on Friday night and be swimming in warm water by Saturday? Or are they looking to maintain a constant temperature year-round?\u201d<\/p>\n If quick heating is a priority for the customer, it makes sense to recommend a gas heater \u2014 although these entail a higher energy bill, they\u2019re reliable and rapid. But if the homeowner is willing to wait a week or so to get the pool up to the desired temperature \u2014 or if the pool is going to be kept at a certain temperature for extended periods \u2014 a heat pump or solar heating system is likely to make more sense. Despite the slower speed of these options, they\u2019re more energy-efficient than gas heaters, so they\u2019ll involve much lower monthly bills.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to ask how long of a swim season the customer expects to enjoy. Though every region\u2019s climate is different, it\u2019s beneficial to keep some general rules in mind. \u201cIf they say they\u2019d like to extend the swim season beyond the summer months, then we look at how long they want to stretch it,\u201d says Brian Evers, store sales manager at Dolphin Pool and Spa in Burnsville, Minn.<\/p>\n For those customers who want to keep swimming well into autumn, a gas heater may be the best recommendation \u2014 though again, it\u2019s important to make the customer aware of the monthly gas costs involved. If the customer only wants to extend the season a few weeks on either end of summer, however, the combination of a heat pump or solar system with a heat-retaining pool cover may be sufficient to maintain a warm temperature.<\/p>\n In fact, builders, service technicians and manufacturers all recommend complementing any heating system with a cover, at least during the cooler months on the margins of the swim season. \u201cWe always recommend some type of cover \u2014 whether it be a liquid solar cover or a traditional cover \u2014 because most of the pool\u2019s heat is lost from the surface of the water,\u201d says Brian Diglio, president of Blue Wave Pool Service & Supplies in Hamden, Conn.<\/p>\n Weigh the options<\/strong> If the customer is interested in a gas heater, explaining the costs now can prevent surprises down the road. For some customers, these costs aren\u2019t particularly significant. But others, Heine says, end up shutting down their gas heaters and seeking out other heating options when these monthly bills begin to pile up. Even if a full explanation of gas heating costs prevents an immediate sale, an open and honest discussion now may create an appreciative and loyal client for the future.<\/p>\n A heat pump installation typically comes with similar equipment costs to those entailed by a gas heater, though some heating experts say those costs may run up to $1,000 higher. Still, the monthly price tag of operating a heat pump will average somewhat lower. \u201cYou\u2019ll typically end up with an electric bill from $75 to $500 a month, depending on the climate and the season,\u201d Heine says.<\/p>\n Another aspect of heat pump usage that\u2019s important to note is the rate at which it can raise water temperature \u2014 whereas a gas heater can often raise a pool\u2019s temperature by as much as 10 degrees in a single day, a heat pump\u2019s maximum is closer to two to four degrees per day, depending on the air temperature and the ratio of the heat pump\u2019s capacity to the size of the pool.<\/p>\n Environmentally conscious consumers are likely to bring up solar heating, but they may need some explanation to grasp what\u2019s involved in setting up and running one of these systems. \u201cThe average cost of a solar pool heating system is approximately $4,000 \u2014 about the same price as the other heating methods,\u201d Heine says.<\/p>\n The main advantage of solar heating is that utility bills for these systems will run much lower than those associated with other heating technologies, because the only power necessary for heating water with solar panels is the electricity that runs the pool\u2019s circulation pump. The main downside is the pace of heating \u2014 most solar systems will heat water at the same rate as a comparable heat pump: Approximately two to four degrees per day.<\/p>\n A possible compromise between these options is to combine a gas heater with a heat pump or solar heating system, forming a hybrid heating solution that combines low-cost efficiency with boosts of speed when needed. \u201cIf cost isn\u2019t a factor in the project, we\u2019d definitely introduce the option to combine multiple heating elements,\u201d Evers says. For instance, a gas heater might be helpful to kick the pool up to a certain temperature during the first or last few weeks of the swim season, but a heat pump might be enough to maintain the desired temperature for the rest of the summer.<\/p>\n For a system involving solar heating, \u201cWe can plumb the solar cells in as a pre-heater, but they can function as the primary heating system,\u201d says Dave Sizelove, president of Aquatherm Industries Inc. in Lakewood, N.J. In other words, water flows through the solar system first, then through the gas heater, which can be turned on to warm the water a bit more.<\/p>\n Once the water is brought up to the desired temperature, Sizelove adds, the solar system is often sufficient to maintain it there for at least several months \u2014 unless an additional boost is needed, in which case the gas heater would kick in again.<\/p>\n Consider mechanics<\/strong> \u201cYou always have to watch your flow, especially if you have multiple heaters,\u201d Sizelove says. Although most modern heaters include built-in bypasses, and thus aren\u2019t very restrictive to flow, it\u2019s still worthwhile to double-check that these additions won\u2019t place undue stress on the pump.<\/p>\n On the solar side of things, the surface area of the house\u2019s roof or attic must be roomy enough to accommodate all the necessary panels. \u201cA good rule of thumb,\u201d Heine says, \u201cis that the surface area of all the collectors combined should be roughly equivalent to the pool\u2019s surface area in order for the system to keep the water heated effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n On a broader scale, it\u2019s also important to take a look around the area where the heater or heat pump is going to be installed, and check it for adequate venting. \u201cWe see plenty of heaters out there that are placed too close to windows, or where the installers don\u2019t leave sufficient room for ventilation around them,\u201d Diglio says.<\/p>\n Taking issues like these into account will help keep installation trouble-free. If the heating design is backed up by careful calculation, and the customer has a solid understanding of why the chosen heating options are appropriate for the project, the entire process should move along smoothly.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: Ben Thomas- Pool and Spa News | 9.16.2011<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discussing the ins and outs of heating options can help clarify which one \u2014 or combination \u2014 is right for each customer. Whether it\u2019s new construction or an equipment replacement, today\u2019s pool heating technologies offer a solution to every consumer\u2019s … Continue reading
\nThe conversation about heating is likely to begin in one of two ways.<\/p>\n
\nThe next step is to compare, side by side, the costs and benefits of each heating method \u2014 or group of methods \u2014 in which the customer has expressed interest. Telling a client that a certain type of equipment brings higher monthly costs, or that it can bring significant energy savings, isn\u2019t always enough to fully convey the differences between options. Thus, an explanation of the exact numbers involved will ensure that customers are clear on what the system\u2019s upkeep will entail, and will be satisfied with the purchase they make.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cA gas heater will cost around $4,000 to install, and bring a gas bill that can range from $75 to $350 a month, depending on the time of year,\u201d says Roy Heine, founder of Suntrek Industries in Irvine, Calif.<\/p>\n
\nOnce the customer has settled on one or more heating methods, it\u2019s time to analyze some physical properties of the pool system as a whole. If the system involves multiple heaters or solar panels, it may be helpful to calculate the system\u2019s total dynamic head (TDH) to ensure the pump is powerful enough to keep up the necessary flow rate.<\/p>\n