Of all the pool heater types out there, gas pool heaters retain a particularly distinct reputation for their performance. Specifically speaking, it’s their exceptionally fast heating speed that makes them stand out. But how exactly do gas pool heaters accomplish such an impressive feat? Keep reading to find out!
How Gas Pool Heaters Work
Unlike other pool heaters, the inner workings of gas pool heaters are fairly straightforward and simple. Starting off, the heater must be supplied with either propane or natural gas (dependent on model). Once that’s taken care of, the process begins.
The combustion chamber is where most of the work takes places. As gas enters the chamber and burns, heat is produced. Specially designed metal tubing runs through the chamber providing a safe means of travel for pool water. As the pool water passes through the combustion chamber, it becomes warm. From there, the heated water is pumped back into the pool, and the process restarts.
Simple enough right?
The Good, The Bad, and The Rest
Since gas heaters produce heat on-the-spot via combustion they’re able to provide an unrivaled level of pool heating speed. Moreover, they’re also able to maintain consistent temperature regardless of external temperature and weather conditions – a limited feature within the pool heating world. But as previously mentioned, such speed does come at a cost.
Gas is expensive. Gas pool heaters burn A LOT of gas. In terms of energy efficiency, gas pool heaters sit just below 1.0 – a C.O.P fairly low when compared to that of pool heat pumps. Additionally, due to the nature of their heating methods, gas pool heaters release harmful CO2 emissions into the environment, so they’re not the most eco-friendly option on a large scale. For that very reason, most gas pool heaters are often seen in a spa or small pool installations (which can also require an additional gas line to be installed).
Closing Note
At this point, you should have a pretty well-rounded understanding of gas pool heaters as a whole. Gas pool heaters provide exceptional speed at the cost of well…cost. Regardless of a heater’s winning features, there will always be advantages and drawbacks. To make the best decision for your home pool setup, it’s important to understand the differences between all the major pool heater types.
We hope you found this article helpful!
