Pros and Cons of Using a Natural Gas Pool Heater
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0-40 hours
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Intermediate
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- 0-5,000
You can start a long debate when talking about the pros and cons of using a natural gas pool heater. Analyzing both areas could become some murky waters to dive into. Never forget to make sure about the amount of water in the pool and the capacity of the gas system to heat it, which are fundamental aspects for every basic analysis.
Pro—Performance
Here is where natural gas pool heating shines the most. Natural gas provides the fastest heating performance from any other heater available. You won't have to wait too long for it to work consistently. It is an excellent feature if you are an avid party host who likes to throw pool parties every weekend with a large amount of guests coming by the house, or if you plan to pursue winter training sessions for the local swim team. The appropriate way to put it in numbers is 400,000 BTU per hour.
Con—Cost of Fuel
The main competitors of a natural gas pool heater are electrical water heaters and solar water heaters. Solar heaters are also called “magical,” because their fuel consumption is zero, so using a solar heater will translate into money savings over a natural gas pool heater. The heat pump is a device that is also very well-known in the water heating market, and it could be a good purchase, depending on your budget.
Con—Durability
Consider this if you're heating your swimming pool for very long periods of time, in the span of years rather than months. Extensive time spans are an enemy for natural gas pool heaters, compared to their solar and electrical counterparts. If you plan to use a natural gas pool heater long-term, you'll have to put more attention toward maintenance. The usual life for this appliance ranges from one to five years, maybe a little bit longer.
Compare that to the longevity of the solar heater; it goes from 10 to 20 years. What about maintenance? So far, solar heaters are not as expensive to maintain, since they seldom need to be checked for proper use. Heat pumps last from five to 10 years, so they fall between the natural gas pool heater and the solar option.
