For decades, swimming pools have utilised Gas-fired pool heaters to create an ambient swimming temperature in the water. And even today, gas remains one of the most popular systems for heating swimming pools. With the huge shift in people’s awareness of environmental impact and the importance of operating energy efficient equipment, the newest gas-fired heater models have much higher efficiencies than older models.
Gas Pool Heaters work like a larger version of a domestic water heater. Your pool water can be heated to your required temperature 365 days of the year. Gas heaters are fast, so you are able to heat your pool at weekends, holiday times or for that special occasion and leave it turned off when you don’t need it.
How do they work?
Gas pool heaters use either natural gas or LPG. As the pump circulates the pool’s water, the water drawn from the pool passes through a filter and then to the heater. The gas burns in the heater’s combustion chamber, generating heat that transfers to the water that’s returned to the pool.
If you do not use your pool all that often but still want the convenience of a heated pool then gas heating is your answer. They’re most efficient when heating pools for short periods of time, and they’re ideal for quickly heating pools. Gas pool heaters can maintain any desired temperature regardless of the weather or climate.
Having a gas pool heater means you also get the option of combining it with a solar heating system. Although solar has many benefits, to some extent it is weather dependant. By having a gas pool heater installed as well then you can have a solar system has your pool comfortable with no fuel costs for up to six months of the year; and a gas heater to bring your pool to your desired temperature any day of the year, regardless of weather. What more could you ask for?
Gas Heater Types
Pool Heating NZ has access to a wide range of gas heaters for your swimming pool. Gas system boilers come in two varieties – condensing and non-condensing.
Condensing gas heaters can save you money. Yes, save you money. The smart design enhancement that increases the efficiency of gas condensing water heaters can reduce your natural gas bills by more than $100 each year. By installing a condensing gas boiler you can cut your water heating energy use for your swimming pool by 30%. If you are installing a gas heater for a swimming pool that is not often used – say at a bach or holiday home, or perhaps you just don’t use your home swimming pool all that often – then you get the added benefit of your pool water turning warm in a short amount of time. Gas boilers are super efficient at heating water.
Non Condensing gas heaters have a tried and true design. They can reach efficiencies of close to 85%. A non condensing gas heater allow you to receive cost savings, easy installation and increased energy saving
There are various brands available for you to choose from however, Pool Heating NZ can advise you on the best options for your swimming pool and help you select from recognised world leading brands you can trust.
Just how efficient are they?
All new gas swimming pool heaters have a standard test they go through to determine their energy efficiency based on their Btu (British thermal unit) output.
Gas appliances have become increasingly more efficient in recent years. With innovations in hydraulics, heat exchanger technology, forced draft combustion systems, and pilot-less ignitions, efficiency has almost doubled in recent years.
High efficiency pool heaters are now available that are 89-95% efficient. Heater efficiency is the ratio of usable output to energy input. For example, an 80%-efficient heater uses $80 worth of useful heat for every $100 worth of fuel. Therefore, it wastes 20% of the fuel. Efficiency means cost savings in your back pocket. The higher the efficiency rating the less money you have to outlay.
Installation and Maintenance
Proper installation and maintenance of your gas pool heater can optimize its efficiency. A Gas Pool Heater will usually be installed alongside your filtration system, with connection to your swimming pool an easy job for the installer. You will require a certified gasfitter to install the gas supply and the valves and provide the compliance documents.
Like with a heat pump, you will find that you probably need to tune up your pool heater annually. Over time, scales can build up in the burner or heat exchanger and this may decrease efficiency over a period of time. Scaling should be checked for each year.
However, with proper installation and maintenance, gas pool heaters typically last five or more years.
Gas Pool Heaters have long been recognised as a quick and reliable pool heating system. A correctly sized gas heater can heat a domestic pool in less than 8 hours. This means you can decide this morning to have a pool party tonight, and by the time guests arrive, your pool is warm and inviting.
Benefits of Gas Pool Heating
Staying comfortable through the chilly days of winter no longer has to mean paying high energy bills for the privilege. Given that New Zealanders attest around 23% of their entire household energy use to heating and cooling, it makes sense to choose a system that delivers the right amount of warmth to your home and allows you to avoid wasting energy and receiving huge energy bills.
Throughout New Zealand there are around 350,000 home that are connected to gas. Of these, around 40% of homes have twin-pack cylinders and 60% use reticulated gas. On top of these, there are hundreds of thousands of homes and small businesses that use LPG cabinet heaters and LPG for space and water heating.
As more and more people gain appreciation for better lifestyles, lower utility costs, energy efficiency and understanding of the devastating effects of carbon footprints, the number of gas connections are rising.
Whether you are considering gas heating or have made the change already, there is comfort in the knowledge that you’ve made the right choice and the reasons why. Traditionally, homes have been heated in a variety of ways – coal, oil, wood, electricity, gas and solar. Let’s see why gas heating is a wise investment in your home and comfort.
- Natural Gas has lower carbon emissions than coal heating. It has less environmental impact than other fuel options for heating and the emissions from gas heating are 45% less than other conventional fuels and 30% less than oil.
- It can be stored and transported through pipelines, small storage units, cylinders or tankers on land and sea. It is easier to transport than other fuel options and easier to preserve.
- Most areas now have gas lines laid for residential use. If you do not have the ability to have gas connected in your area – not to fear! – gas can be provided for your family’s use in cylinders which you replace when they get low in gas.
- When Natural Gas burns it does not have any smell, ash or smoke. This makes for a clean burn and very little environment impact. There is no heavy work involved in cleaning after gas is used, unlike a traditional fireplace.
- Natural Gas is relatively abundant compared to other fossil fuels. It is currently estimated that New Zealand’s gas supply can service another 30 solid years however there are many new gas fields that are being discovered and opened up so the supply is not likely to stop any time soon.
- If there is a leak, Natural Gas and LPG are lighter than air and tends to dissipate when there is a leakage. There are no unnerving situations like what can happen with Propane, which being heavier than air, collects into explosive pockets.
- Natural Gas and LPG are cheaper than electricity. Gas is quicker when used for cooking and heating water and majority of gas appliances are cheaper than electric appliances.
- Gas appliances do not create electric fields which are unhealthy near your homes.
- Gas heat emits 23% less carbon dioxide than oil heat.
- Gas heat has averaged 30% to 50% less expensive than oil heat every year since 2002.
- You typically can recoup conversion costs within five years, depending on gas prices and usage.
- Producing and delivering electricity is 2/3 less efficient. Only 30% of the energy used to generate electricity actually reaches your home. This means 70% of that energy is lost along the way. Part of it is lost while burning energy to create electricity. The rest is lost in the transmission and distribution of the electricity to your home.
- 90% of the natural gas that enters the pipeline reaches you, the consumer. Only a mere 10% of the energy is lost in the process.
- If all you have is a gas fuelled continuous flow hot water system, then you’ll notice that you will never run out of hot water. Ever!
- If you have gas space heating then you will benefit from powerful, energy efficient heat that is very cost-effective, and that heats large spaces quickly. You can keep the whole house warm, which is a major bonus for families.
- Natural gas appliances are faster and use less energy than electric appliances.
- Natural gas dryers use less energy and can dry clothes faster than electric dryers.
- Natural gas hot water heaters heat water twice as fast as electric water heaters.
- Choosing natural gas appliances is an easy way to reduce your impact on the environment without sacrificing comfort or style
- Most natural gas appliances work even when the electricity is out.
- Since the natural gas system is underground, outages are rare.
- Most natural gas appliances cost less money to operate than electric appliances.
