When evaluating various ways of heating your pool, one thing that needs consideration is a heating system that uses natural gas. Natural gas pool heaters have been very effective and efficient for many years. It has been a top choice for many pool owners. Well, what are the best natural gas pool heaters to buy in the market? This is a pondering question that needs to be addressed.
Top 7 Natural Gas Pool Heaters in 2020
Are you planning on buying a natural gas pool heater, or you already have one but not working fine for you? Here is a chance with our buying guide to get the best out of the market. Buying a natural gas pool heater can be scary because of lots of fake products in the market. But with our critical reviews and observation on various products, be rest assured to have a safe investment.
1. Raypak 336,000 BTU Digital Electronic Ignition Natural Gas Pool Heater
This powerful product is designed for efficiency to provide all your pool essential heating needs. It is one of the top-rated products in the industry with a built-in electronic ignition pilot safety control. This gives you a more efficient way to manage your energy by not having a standing pilot.
The product provides an easy to use microprocessor control thermostat. To enable you to adjust the temperature, which is displayed on the LCD digital screen. Interestingly, the embedded remote system is compatible across major pool control system you can find in the market today with an option to adjust between devices.
It comes with a poly-tuff powder coating and a non-corrosive cabinet for durability. The product has a self-diagnostic system
2. Hayward H150FDN Universal H-Series 150,000 BTU Natural Gas Pool and Spa Heater
The Hayward Universal H-series is a sort after product in the market. Because of its energy efficiency with a combined advanced technology to provide you with powerful features. The Hayward brought you a new design with features that include left and right electric, water, and gas connection. The new design also comes with 110v or 220v of electric hook up.
The product is built for adaptability and designed with lightweight material to enable compatibility across several heating systems. The easy to use digital display screen displays the thermostat reading. Also, it features an industry-leading hydraulic performance to reduce circulation time.
The low nitrogen oxide emission rate makes it favorable for the environment, which is well accepted by California and Taxa air quality standards.
3. C-R406A-EN-X Ruud Rheem Gas Pool Heater 406k BTU Electronic, Natural, ASME
The Ruud Rheem gas pool heater provides all features your pool needs to keep you up throughout the summer. The heater is designed with a microprocessor controller that allows you to regulate the temperature of your pool. With the LCD digital screen display, you can view all activities as regards temperature reading and diagnoses.
The product is manufactured to make troubleshooting easier with the embedded self-diagnoses controls. With the design structure, the remote system can be compatible with any pool control system you can find in the market today.
The pilot ignition system is one of the most reliable and robust ignition systems you can find in the market. And the wind-resistant feature gives you high performance and reliable operation in windy conditions.
4. Hayward H400FDN Universal H-Series 400,000 BTU Pool and Spa Heater, Natural Gas
The Hayward Universal H-series is an energy-efficient heater, designed for high performance and with adaptability features. It has great energy efficiency power, which is channeled to reducing the circulation run time—thus reducing energy consumption to 18%.
The energy produced is low in Nitrogen oxide, which makes the product favorable to the environment and acceptable to most cities in the US. It comes with a standard cupro-nickel heat exchanger, which makes it perfect for saltwater pools. This also makes it to be resistant to corrosion.
The patented header and bypass valve design make the hydraulic more efficient and reliable, and the same velocity of water goes throughout the pool for faster heating.
5. Pentair 460736 MasterTemp High-Performance Eco-Friendly Natural Gas Pool Heater
This Pentair product is designed for efficiency, user-friendly, and convenient in use. All features integrated into the system, such as the light indicator, gives you a swift operation and quick monitoring of the machine.
The compact designed is structured to give you an eco-friendly operation. So, this will not intrude on your leisure time. It is fully engineered with a hot surface ignition, push-button, and digital control to give you a smooth operation.
The ease-to-use digital display is integrated with controls at the front and center of the machine to give you a directional view. Safety is a priority in any design. With features like the water pressure sensor that detects overheating when the pump is on you are guaranteed a safe operation
6. Raypak 406,000 BTU Digital Natural Gas Pool Heater
This product is designed with a constructive idea of giving out quality to consumers. It is constructed with a high-quality cupro-nickel exchanger, which enables the product to withstand corrosion, low pH, heavy use, or high flow.
Like other products of its class, it comes with a digital control that enables you to regulate the temperature of the heater. Also, with the LCD screen, you can view the temperature and monitor performance.
The Raypak 406,000 is designed with a polymer resin header to prevent rust from destroying your pool material, thus giving you a long-lasting service. The remote system that comes with it is compatible with most major pool control system you can find today
7. Raypak 266,000 BTU Digital Electronic Ignition Natural Gas Pool Heater
Raypak design is impeccable with excellent features that provide you with a durable, efficient, and smooth operation. The polyester coated material and non-corrosive cabinet give you a durable heating system than the water-borne coated.
It is perfect for combating drafting problems because the product is designed to resist wind. This heater is carefully designed to regulate the flow rate automatically. This helps to keep the water temperature in the heat exchanger above 105oF. The heater can handle flow rate up to 125GPM, making it one of the best in the market.
The company offers two control options in this product to meet the user’s requirements. The two control options are the digital electronic ignition, or as a millivolt design.
Things to Consider Before Buying Natural Gas Pool Heaters
Before you make a step in getting a natural gas pool heater home, they are a few things you need to take into consideration. With the help of this buying guide, you should be able to get the best quality out from the market
Size of the Heater: The size of the pool should be the first thing to consider before buying a pool heater. Heater size is measured in BTU (British Thermal Unit). A larger pool will require a large heater size. If you have a bigger pool, you should consider getting a bigger heater.
Type of Material: If you are looking for a durable heater, go for heaters with cupro-nickel tubing and heat exchanger. Also, go for heaters with polymer or resin headers to give you better performance and offer you a reliable operation.
The form of Ignition and Type: They are two different forms of ignition systems, the millivolt, and the electronic ignition. The millivolt is a pilot light that usually stays on throughout. However, it is reliable but not as efficient as the electronic. The electronic ignition, on the other hand, is efficient and can be switched on when needed.
Effect on the Environment: Part of what we do not understand while purchasing a heater is the type of gas the heater uses. The emission of Nitrogen oxide when natural gas is used could have a drastic effect on the environment. Therefore, propane gas is preferable because it has a low impact on the environment.
Cost: They are majorly two factors that can increase the cost of your heater. The first is the type of gas used, and the second is the features integrated. Heaters that use propane gas tend to be more expensive than those with natural gas. If you stay in places where propane is scarce, be sure to see it at a very high cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Much Natural Gas Does a Pool Heater Use?
A: Natural gas combusts about 1 therm per 100,000 BTU. Currently, the cost of natural gas is 1.83 per therm. This means a pool heater with an average size of 400,000 BTUs will cost around $7.32 per hour to heat your pool.
Q: What Size Natural Gas Pool Heater Do I Need?
A: If you are considering buying a pool heater, note that the heater is meant to be large enough to meet up with the surface area. To calculate the surface area of your pool, multiply the length by the width, such as 16×25, to give you a surface area of 400 square feet. However, if you stay in cold areas or you do not have a pool blanket, you would need a heater that is one size larger.
Q: How to Convert Hayward Pool Heater from Natural Gas to Propane?
A: Converting between gases in pool heaters is not so complicated. You cannot switch between gases when the heater is designed to operate with a specific gas. If you need to convert Hayward heater from natural gas to propane, you would need a new gas valve along with burner orifices. You also need an air restrictor plate during conversion. You can get your conversion kit from Hayward via your local stores.
Conclusion
We hope the top product reviews and buying guide presented above will be able to guide you through getting the best natural gas in ground pool heaters in the market. As you embark on the journey in seeking the best heater, also remember to know your pool sizing. This will help you know the size of the heater that is required.