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pool heating cost
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Posted by terryibra (My Page) on Sat, Feb 6, 10 at 20:51
| Pool goes to Pebbletec this week! we want to heat the pool and use it for the first time. our pool is 18,000 gallons 21X37 free form 3-5-4 ft deep. I am looking to see how much it would cost me for our h400 to heat the pool. Also, we have a 7ft diameter hot tub and will be heating that up a lot. anybody know of any good online calculators? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: pool heating cost
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| First, you have to wait a month before firing up the heater for the PT to cure. Depends on the cost per therm for gas. I seem to remember a heat pump maker having a calc. I seem to think it was Aqua Comfort but I am not sure. Scott |
RE: pool heating cost
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| I found a calculator and it said would cost me a dollar to hear my spa and $30 to heat my pool from 55 to 85 degrees. 589sq. I thought with pebble you did not have to wait like plaster finishes? I will play it safe and wait a month anyway, hopefully the weather will warm up by then. Thanks! |
RE: pool heating cost
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| We are getting pebble sheen in a month or so (after gunite cures)...there is a thread on here about waiting 30 days before adding salt...it might be best for you to do that and then start up at that point...I'm very conservative when it comes to protecting my warranty! :) Post pics!! Tara |
RE: pool heating cost
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Depends on what you pay per therm.
Here in Phx for a 400k heater, it is about $6.00 per hour to run.
I dont think you have that right terry sounds way to cheap. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| Thanks for the response pb, I will try another calculator to compare. I pay .96361 per therm and I used this calculator.... http://www.discount-pool-supplies.com/heatingcosts.php I plan on holding off on salt for 30 days for sure. I was unaware about the heater. I quest the water might mess up the coils or something. too bad, really wanted to get in the hot tub. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| It isn't too hard to calculate by hand or even a spreadsheet. For a 400k heater: Cost per Hour ~ 4 Therms * $0.96361 / Efficiency Efficiency = 80% for a typical NG heater Approximately $5 per hour. |
RE: pool heating cost
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Scott,
I have never heard of not heating PT for the first 30 days, nor have I ever read anything about that.
Most of my clients have fired up their spas, or pools in the first five days with no issues.
I will talk to PT rep tomorrow about it and get back to you all.
Terry, that calculator is close but it messes up the total calculation, it shows heat loss but doesnt figure it in to total cost. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| thanks PB, I think I have an idea so I can plan accordingly of when to heat the pool and if it is worth it. I appreciate everyone's feedback! |
RE: pool heating cost
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| Arm+leg = heating cost and it's worth it! |
RE: pool heating cost
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| As a rule, it is not a good idea to heat uncured finishes. With water chemistry improperly/infrequently checked during a cure, scaling inside the heater and spa walls can get a start. People release sweat and skin oils. This can and does cause a stain ring. With new finishes, it may not come out. In a spa, this is a pretty confined location so it becomes apparent after only a few hours of use. Uncured finishes may still be somewhat softer and more susceptible to dings, dents wear spots, etcetera. This is especially true with cold water cures, which take somewhat longer to happen. Scott |
RE: pool heating cost
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| thanks Scott, we plan on sitting tight for the month and enjoying the view. Our PB thought it would be best to wait a month also just to be safe but has also had customers who used it right away also. It will probably be okay but why risk it even if there is a small chance. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| FWIW, Small Chance is the race horse owned by the Murphy's Law ranch. lol Scott |
RE: pool heating cost
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| I believe the rate of heating a pool that size is about 2 degrees an hour, i have never heated my pool but i do use the spa alot and the cost is minimal. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| By definition, a BTU is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree F. You are attempting to raise 150,000 pounds of water 30 degrees, therefore at 100% efficiency you will burn 4.5 million btus. At 80% efficiency it will be 5.6 million btus. 5,600,000/100,000 = 56 therms X $.97 = $55. Size of heater has nothing to do with heating costs, only heating times. An un-covered pool in a cool climate will greatly increase this cost. You will be losing heat to the ground to a small extent and to the atmosphere to a greater extent forever so these figures are rough (and low) and YMMV. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| wow, thats twice what I thought it would cost. would I be better off to add a heat pump for the pool and use my gas heater for the spa? |
RE: pool heating cost
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| To add on to Cascades number is the heat loss. Surface Heat Loss due to Temperature Difference
The heat load necessary to cover up the surface loss due to temperature difference between pool surface and ambient air can be expressed as hsurface = ks dTaw A (4) where ks = surface heat loss factor - for sheltered positions with average wind velocity 2 to 5 (mph), the surface heat loss factor is in the range 4 to 7 (Btu/hr ft2 oF) dTaw = temperature difference between the air and surface water in the pool (oF) A = surface area of the pool (ft2) So if you heat to 85 degrees and it is 65 degrees outside with a light breeze then you will be losing 86,000 btus per hour, or about 83 cents an hour.
Now there are other losses as well, but they are more minimal.
A solar cover of some sort will minimize these loses alot.
Most of the loss comes from evaporation, so even a thin bubblewrap solar cover makes a big difference. |
RE: pool heating cost
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| I don't have the equation or exact way I figured it out in front of me, but I have a Jandy 300OTR Heat Pump, 130,000 BTUs (roughly) and I figured it costs me $1 per hour to run it. I pay .12 a KW. I'm still very happy with my heat pump purchase, but Florida has been extremely cold this year so I have not been able to test out the effectiveness of it. Since most of the days are highs in the low 60's and lows under 50 the heat pump won't get my pool to swimming tempurature. I do have to plan ahead to use the hot tub, but I don't mind. I'll take that over having to put a propane tank in my yard. |
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