This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas) capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

In article ,
"JimT" wrote:

This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas) capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

Do you have either a solar cover or an automatic cover? If you don't
have some way to hold the heat in, you are merely heating the couple
feet above the pool surface for 27 hours a day.

--
"Even I realized that money was to politicians what the ecalyptus tree is to koala bears: food, water, shelter and something to crap on."
---PJ O'Rourke

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
m...
In article ,
"JimT" wrote:

This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas)
capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

Do you have either a solar cover or an automatic cover? If you don't
have some way to hold the heat in, you are merely heating the couple
feet above the pool surface for 27 hours a day.



I have the solar cover on until I have to clean the pool. So it's on about
80 to 90% of the time. It's a higher quality cover with a thermal coating
too. Seems to work pretty well.

Jim

And, those 27 hour days sure get expensive. My parents used to have a
pool, and a pool heater. The pool got filled in, and the heater was
given away. They found it raised the pool about one degree an hour.
Hardly worth the effort, I think.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
m...


Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until
I want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

Do you have either a solar cover or an automatic cover? If you
don't
have some way to hold the heat in, you are merely heating the couple
feet above the pool surface for 27 hours a day.

--
"Even I realized that money was to politicians what the ecalyptus tree
is to koala bears: food, water, shelter and something to crap on."
---PJ O'Rourke

"JimT" wrote in message
net...
This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas) capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

heh I'm questioning which way would possibly use less gas?

Jim

On Nov 1, 2:04*pm, "JimT" wrote:
This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas) capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

It's always best to turn the heater off...... as long as you turn it
on soon enough to get it up to desired swimming temp.

cheers
Bob

"DD_BobK" wrote in message
...
On Nov 1, 2:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:
This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas) capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

It's always best to turn the heater off...... as long as you turn it
on soon enough to get it up to desired swimming temp.

cheers
Bob

====


Thanks. That does make sense. What would be nice is if the heater had a self
timer to activate the cycle for me.

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Jim

In article ,
"JimT" wrote:

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Why? Close it down, put some antifreeze in the pipes and save both
gas and electricity.

--
"Even I realized that money was to politicians what the ecalyptus tree is to koala bears: food, water, shelter and something to crap on."
---PJ O'Rourke

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
m...
In article ,
"JimT" wrote:

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Why? Close it down, put some antifreeze in the pipes and save both
gas and electricity.

snip

It's a pool spa and we use the spa all the time

Just drain the pool about 1/3, and top it off with non toxic RV
antifreeze.

Or, you could valve off the pool heater, and blow the water out with
compressed air.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
m...
In article ,
"JimT" wrote:

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the
heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Why? Close it down, put some antifreeze in the pipes and save both
gas and electricity.

--
"Even I realized that money was to politicians what the ecalyptus tree
is to koala bears: food, water, shelter and something to crap on."
---PJ O'Rourke

On Nov 2, 12:29*am, "JimT" wrote:
"DD_BobK" wrote in message

...
On Nov 1, 2:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:



This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas) capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

It's always best to turn the heater off...... as long as you turn it
on soon enough to get it up to desired swimming temp.

cheers
Bob

====

Thanks. That does make sense. What would be nice is if the heater had a self
timer to activate the cycle for me.

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Jim

There are timers with separately settable switches for the pump and
heater. One is made by a Tork (Torx?) and I'm sure there are others.

"Ivan" wrote in message
...
On Nov 2, 12:29 am, "JimT" wrote:
"DD_BobK" wrote in message

...
On Nov 1, 2:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:



This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas)
capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it
into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

It's always best to turn the heater off...... as long as you turn it
on soon enough to get it up to desired swimming temp.

cheers
Bob

====

Thanks. That does make sense. What would be nice is if the heater had a
self
timer to activate the cycle for me.

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Jim

There are timers with separately settable switches for the pump and
heater. One is made by a Tork (Torx?) and I'm sure there are others.

===

I have timers but the heater has a control panel that has to be manually
shut off prior to the pool shut down or it will fry the control panel. It's
a dumb design but I got the heater real cheap.

Anyway, without changing the heater's control panel, it can't be done.

Jim

On Nov 2, 11:27*am, "JimT" wrote:
"Ivan" wrote in message

...
On Nov 2, 12:29 am, "JimT" wrote:





"DD_BobK" wrote in message

....
On Nov 1, 2:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:

This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas)
capable
of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use it
into
December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep
it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

It's always best to turn the heater off...... as long as you turn it
on soon enough to get it up to desired swimming temp.

cheers
Bob

====

Thanks. That does make sense. What would be nice is if the heater had a
self
timer to activate the cycle for me.

In the winter months I plan to run the pump at night and keep the heater
about 35 (F) in case of a freeze.

Jim

There are timers with separately settable switches for the pump and
heater. One is made by a Tork (Torx?) and I'm sure there are others.

===

I have timers but the heater has a control panel that has to be manually
shut off prior to the pool shut down or it will fry the control panel. It's
a dumb design but I got the heater real cheap.

Anyway, without changing the heater's control panel, it can't be done.

Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I don't see how a pool heater with any reasonable and safe design
could have a control panel that gets ruined if the pool heater is not
shut down via its own control panel prior to the pool pump being shut
off. What happens if the breaker trips or power goes out in while the
heater is on? Even if it has that limitation, are you saying you
can't get a seperate timer for the pool heater and have it energized
after the pump timer goes on and before it shuts off?

Definitely best to only fire it up long enough to heat it up before
using it. You have a relatively large heater for a 10,000 galloon
pool. The one here is 400K BTU for 48,000 gallons. The heater may be
cheap, but I'd keep an eye on the gas meter. Even with that size
pool, I think you'll be surprised how much heat in can use. Compare
that 265K BTU to a typical home furnace and it's 3X the capacity.
Using the cover will cut the heat loss substantially.

JimT wrote the following:
This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the
fall because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat
Gas) capable of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I
plan to use it into December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm.
I keep it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

I seem to remember that many years ago, my then FIL had a pool heater
(250,000 BTU) for his above ground oval pool. It took about 1 hour to
raise the water temp 1 degree.
Does that sound right now?

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

"willshak" wrote in message
m...
JimT wrote the following:
This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the fall
because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat Gas)
capable of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to use
it into December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm. I
keep it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

I seem to remember that many years ago, my then FIL had a pool heater
(250,000 BTU) for his above ground oval pool. It took about 1 hour to
raise the water temp 1 degree.
Does that sound right now?



That would depend on the weather but yes.

On 11/2/2010 8:32 AM, willshak wrote:
JimT wrote the following:
This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the
fall because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat
Gas) capable of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I
plan to use it into December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm.
I keep it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

I seem to remember that many years ago, my then FIL had a pool heater
(250,000 BTU) for his above ground oval pool. It took about 1 hour to
raise the water temp 1 degree.
Does that sound right now?

It take 1 BTU to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree F. So for a 30K
gallon pool, that would be right. Not counting losses which can be
appreciable.

Jeff

On Nov 2, 5:32*am, willshak wrote:
JimT wrote the following:

This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the
fall because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat
Gas) capable of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I
plan to use it into December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm.
I keep it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

I seem to remember that many years ago, my then FIL had a pool heater
(250,000 BTU) for his above ground oval pool. It took about 1 hour to
raise the water temp 1 degree.
Does that sound right now?

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Yes you are correct....in Jim's case (small pool / big heater) he
might get ~2+ degs per hour.
In ground pool heating is a SLOW, expensive process.


pool capacity (gals) x 8.3 / heater capacity (factored by estimated
efficincy) = ~ water temp degs rise per hour.


Pool users / owners can get an idea of heat losses by meaursing pool
water temp over time in various conditons (cover / no cover, etc)

Where is the pool located? Depending on local environment, a pool
cover might be enough to prevent freezing along with running the pool
a few time per day to bring "warmer" water into the pipes & filter.

But is $250 (someone check my number) for a refill, worth the
potential freeze? How about shutting down for the winter?

cheers
Bob

"DD_BobK" wrote in message
...
On Nov 2, 5:32 am, willshak wrote:
JimT wrote the following:

This is the first year I've been able to use my pool heater in the
fall because I got a heater earlier this year (266k BTU Rakpak Nat
Gas) capable of heating the pool in a reasonable amount of time. I
plan to use it into December if the weather holds out.

The pool is an outdoor, in-ground, 10.5k gal pool. I'm in Central Tx.

I've been kicking the heater on about 5pm to go swimming about 8-9pm.
I keep it anywhere between 83 - 87F.

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want to go swimming like I have been?

Jim

I seem to remember that many years ago, my then FIL had a pool heater
(250,000 BTU) for his above ground oval pool. It took about 1 hour to
raise the water temp 1 degree.
Does that sound right now?

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Yes you are correct....in Jim's case (small pool / big heater) he
might get ~2+ degs per hour.
In ground pool heating is a SLOW, expensive process.


pool capacity (gals) x 8.3 / heater capacity (factored by estimated
efficincy) = ~ water temp degs rise per hour.


Pool users / owners can get an idea of heat losses by meaursing pool
water temp over time in various conditons (cover / no cover, etc)

Where is the pool located? Depending on local environment, a pool
cover might be enough to prevent freezing along with running the pool
a few time per day to bring "warmer" water into the pipes & filter.

But is $250 (someone check my number) for a refill, worth the
potential freeze? How about shutting down for the winter?


===

Were in central tx and it's a pool/spa and we use the spa all year. Not sure
what the $250 is. I doubt I'll ever have to run the heater to prevent
freezing. Normally I just turn the pump on to keep the water running. I
throw a blanket over the exposed plumbing too. During the coldest months
we've been averaging a couple of freezes. When the water gets into the '50s
or so I just stop running the pump (unless it freezes). But freezing isn't
much of an issue here and I probably shouldn't have brought it up. g
Thanks.


Jim

Sounds right, to me. Almost not worth the bother. And a lot of money
in natural gas, too.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"willshak" wrote in message
m...

I seem to remember that many years ago, my then FIL had a pool heater
(250,000 BTU) for his above ground oval pool. It took about 1 hour to
raise the water temp 1 degree.
Does that sound right now?

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Nov 1, 5:04*pm, "JimT" wrote:

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I want
to go swimming like I have been?

http://www.poolcenter.com/heaters_facts_about4.htm
-----

- gpsman

"gpsman" wrote in message
...
On Nov 1, 5:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

http://www.poolcenter.com/heaters_facts_about4.htm
-----

- gpsman

Thanks. Makes me wonder if my solar blanket is enough.

Jim

On Nov 2, 12:21*pm, "JimT" wrote:
"gpsman" wrote
On Nov 1, 5:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

http://www.poolcenter.com/heaters_facts_about4.htm

Thanks. Makes me wonder if my solar blanket is enough.

Probably.

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_hom.../mytopic=13140
-----

- gpsman

"gpsman" wrote in message
...
On Nov 2, 12:21 pm, "JimT" wrote:
"gpsman" wrote
On Nov 1, 5:04 pm, "JimT" wrote:

Is it best to leave the heater on all the time or shut it down until I
want
to go swimming like I have been?

http://www.poolcenter.com/heaters_facts_about4.htm

Thanks. Makes me wonder if my solar blanket is enough.

Probably.

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_hom.../mytopic=13140
-----

- gpsman

==

Probably. As it is, we just had our first really cold front and reality just
hit me. The pool is going into it's normal winter mode. I'm switching to the
stationary bike and weights today but the heater and blanket did get me into
November by one day this year.

Thanks again.

Jim