Everything You Need to Know About Propane Pool Heaters

There are many types and styles of heaters, but only one will reliably heat your pool in a mater of no time with flick of a switch.  Propane heaters will heat your pool faster than electric or solar heaters, and like the latter they don’t require clear skies to run.  If you wonder how does a propane pool heater work, keep reading!

What Size Propane Heater Do I Need?

The pool’s surface area divided by three gives you the minimal BTU size recommended for that  particular surface area.  Continuing the example of a 15 x 30 pool, after dividing by 3 you get 150.  Therefore the minimum size heater that is recommended is 150,000 BTU’s. 

How Much Does it Cost to Heat a Pool with a Propane Heater?

As pricing are subject to change, be sure to verify with your provider.Typically one hour of propane will cost $18.00.  To heat an average pool (10-12K gallon) with no solar cover typically takes about 8-14 hours. 

What is the Most Efficient Way to Heat a Swimming Pool?

The fastest way to heat your pool is to use a propane heater and a solar cover.  It is omparable to heating your coffee in the microwave and covering it with a lid.  No matter how you plan to heat the pool, a solar cover will help you retain the heat.

Is a Propane Heater Worth the Investment?

While there are several types of pool heaters on the market, propane pool heaters are generally thought to be the most cost-effective choice.  Propane pool heaters are more efficient than other types and can heat your pool more quickly while using less fuel. 

How Much Does It Cost to Heat a Pool with Propane?

The average propane pool heater burns about 1 gallon of propane per hour per 100,000 BTU’s.  Since a propane heater for a standard sized pool (approx. 21,000 gallons) outputs 400,000 BTU’s, you will burn about four gallons of propane per hour.  The cost per gallon will vary depending on your provider.  Heating the pool with propane is very smart. 

What Size Heater Do I Need for a 10,000 Gallon Pool?

Approximately 100,000 BTU’s

Sizing a propane heater for inground pools is done by first matching the pool heater BTU output to pool size in gallons.  Or about 100,000 BTU’s for every 10,00 gallons of water.  Make sure the propane tank for the pool heater is in good working order.

How Many BTU’s Do I Need for a 20,000 Gallon Pool?

Approximately 200,000 BTU’s

Pool Heaters measure their power in BTU (British thermal units).  One BTU raises the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.  There are 8.33 pounds of water per gallon.  Therefore, if you have a 20,000 gallon swimming pool, it requires 200,000 BTU’s to increase the temperature by one degree.

How Much Propane Does a Pool Heater Use?

The average propane pool heater burns about 1 gallon of propane per hour per 100,000 BTU’s.  Since a propane pool heater for a 20,000 gallon pool outputs 400,000 BTU’s, you will burn about four gallons of propane per hour. 

Propane Tank Sizes for Pool Heater

Have you recently wondered about propane pool heater installation, and you’re now curious about the size of the propane tank that best matches it?  Wonder no more, for we researched this question and have the answer right here for you.

Large propane pool heaters typically need a 500-gallon storage tank. In contrast, a 250-gallon tank is enough for small to medium-sized pool heaters.

A typical pool heater consumes one gallon of propane for every 100,000 BTUs of heat output. Pool heaters are commonly 300,000 or 400,000 BTUs.  Your pool heater will consume four gallons of propane per hour if you’re using a 400,000 BTU pool heater.

Propane Pool Heater for Inground Pools

The heater comes in either natural gas or propane and is available for inground pools.  Gas pool heaters come in electronic or standing pilot versions.  The location can be anywhere with this type of pool.  You will need to run propane to the pool.

Propane Heater for Above Ground Pool

A propane heater is the most effective way to heat your above-ground pool.  A gas heater can raise the temperature of your pool water by 30 degrees Fahrenheit or more, greatly extending your pool season.  These heaters use propane to heat the water in the pool. 

Propane Pool Heater Installation

This is not too difficult to do.  Most in ground propane heaters can be installed in one day.  Above ground propane heaters can be installed in less than an hour.  Location is most important, so after figuring out where to put the heater, it can be installed.  The experts at Toronto Pool Supplies can answer all of your questions.

Benefits of Propane Pool Heater

Propane-powered heaters are proven to warm pools more quickly than electric heat pumps, and they maintain their heat better in cold weather.  Propane is more energy rich than natural gas, so you will use less fuel to heat the pool.  Propane is a more environmentally-friendly choice. 

A propane pool heater uses the energy created from ignited propane to heat the water of your pool.  Many people wonder, do propane pool heaters work?  The answer is a resounding yes.

They are one of the most efficient pool heating methods. Most propane pool heaters can raise your pool’s water temperature by at least 30 degrees.

It is not so much about how many degrees the water temperature can be raised. It is more important to bring the water to the ideal temperature for swimming, between 78 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.  Propane pool heaters will do just that.

If you’re looking to buy a good quality propane pool heater, visit our online pool store and get the best deal now!

Everything You Need to Know About Pool Chemical Feeders

Automatic Pool Chlorinators: Buyer's Guide - InTheSwim Pool Blog

Swimming pool chemical feeders are devices that accurately manage the quantity of chlorine, bromine, or pH-control chemicals released into the pool. Consistent chemical levels benefit both inground and above ground pools; automated chlorinators and pH chemical feeders assist pool owners avoid sanitation and pH control peaks and valleys.

Depending on the pool chemical that you wish to use, there are a variety of pool feeders available.

Chlorine and Bromine Tablet Feeders

The 3″ chlorine tablets or sticks are meant to dissolve slowly and are intended for use in tablet feeders, not in the pool skimmer, where they might cause damage to the pipes and pool equipment. When the pump is turned off for many hours, the tablets in the skimmer continue to leach, contaminating the skimmer and pipes. This overflows the skimmer’s wall, discolour the plaster and puckering the vinyl over time. When the pump is activated, the caustic water is sucked through the system, which may cause damage to the pump and valve seals, filter elements, and pool heater exchangers.

Bromine tablets can be used in most automatic chlorine feeders and floaters mentioned below, but only if the feeder has never been used for chlorine tablets. Never mix chlorine and bromine, and never add a granular chlorine product to a tablet feeder.  Many companies sell an automatic feeder with greater flow, optimized for use with bromine tablets. 

Inline Chlorinator vs Floater

Floating Chlorinators:  An inexpensive option to using the skimmer as a chlorine feeder, a floating chlorinator can be used in any pool by simply filling it with chlorine or bromine tablets and adjusting the openings to allow the pool water to flow through the tablet chamber.  Pool chlorine floaters are inexpensive and simple to operate, but they must be closely watched to avoid spilling their contents or colliding with a step or ladder. When not in use, floating chlorinators should be removed from the pool and, if used as a winter pool floater, tied off so they stay in the pool’s centre.

The standard blue & white floating chlorinators are available in many sizes, and in a variety of styles that pop-up or flip over when the tablets or sticks have depleted, to give you a visual cue to refill the floater.  Also available are large pool tablet floaters with fun and colorful designs.

In-Line Automatic Chlorinators:  Plumbed into a horizontal return line pipe near the ground, and after the filter and any heater, in-line pool chlorinators are available to match any pool size.  In-line chlorinators often have fewer issues than their off-line relatives, seen below. However, not all pool plumbing configurations allow for the installation of an in-line chlorinator.

Chlorinators put in-line must be mounted last on the line, behind the filter and heater, on a horizontal return pipe at ground level. Installing a chlorinator before to the filter or at the same level as a gas heater may result in equipment damage. Between an in-line tablet feeder and other equipment, check valves may be fitted to assist minimise issues with chlorine gas or liquid backing up when the pump is not functioning.

Above ground pools with in-line automated chlorinators may utilise threaded hose adapters to connect to flexible hose, or unions or threaded pipe adapters can be used when plumbing with rigid PVC.  Chemical feeders can be used with all pools.

Also important to mention is to use caution when opening a chlorine feeder or bucket of chlorine tablets; strong fumes are under pressure and can quickly es ape to burn throat and lung tissue if inhaled. When opening a chlorinator or chlorine bucket, hold your breath and turn away. When closing a pool for the season, be sure to empty the chlorinator of tablets and tiny bits of chlorine and dry completely. Keep the lid loose to avoid dangerous gas build-up.

Off-Line Automatic Chlorinators:

Where no room exists to plumb an in-line chlorinator in place properly or conveniently, off-Line automatic chlorinators are installed easily.  Two hose sections are utilised; one is connected after the pump to bring water into the feeder, and another is attached after the filter and any other equipment to inject chlorinated water straight into the return pipe. Screw the feeder base into the concrete or into a long board to secure it while removing the feeder cover or top.

Off-line chlorine feeders enable you to locate the chlorinator in the most convenient place and inject chlorine straight into the pipe, horizontal or vertical, well after any other equipment on the line. The sole disadvantage of off-line chlorinators is that the small injection fittings and check valves might clog and the hoses degrade with time in the sun. Every 3-5 years, a new hose and fitting kit may be required.

Liquid Chlorine Feeder for Pools

Liquid chlorine, or sodium hypochlorite, is the most often used liquid pool chemical. It is pushed directly into the return line from enormous vats using peristaltic chemical pumps. Muriatic acid may also be put straight into a return line to reduce the pH and alkalinity (using a separate chemical pump).

Chemical pumps of different sizes are available to match the chemical demand of the pool, from the small model which pumps 1 gpd (gallons per day) up to the model, capable of 77 gpd.  A dial and three-way switch on the front of the chemical pump provide further control, including the ability to postpone the pumping motion. When the 3-way switch is set to ON, it runs continuously; when set to TIMER, you may change the dial to determine the length of run time within a 9-minute cycle.

Chlorine feeders for swimming pools. have the potential to leak, in the feed hose, at the pump tube connection, or at the injection fitting.  Chemical pumps should always be firmly positioned above the chemical on a wall or level shelf. They must be kept inside to protect the feeder and chlorine from the environment and to keep youngsters out of reach.

Liquid Automation Systems:   Taking liquid chemical pumping to another level, automation systems combine a digital ORP/pH controller with two chemical pumps, one for liquid chlorine and one for muriatic acid.  The controller is capable of automatically adding a precise quantity of chlorine and pH/Alkalinity control by using a pH sensor and an ORP sensor. 

Erosion Chemical Feeder is What Type of Feeder?

The erosion feeder is the most often used form of chlorine feeder. The feeder is filled with solid, compressed chlorine or bromine (in the form of a chlorine stick or tablet). Water passes over the chlorine pucks or tabs, dissolving them and allowing for a gradual release. 

Acid Feeder for Pools

Is it necessary to lower the alkalinity or pH of a swimming pool? If this is the case, you may need to add acid. This article recommends introducing acid through a feeder. Calculate the alkalinity to estimate the amount of acid to add. This will determine whether to utilise acid products and how to appropriately apply acid to a pool. Yes, the manner in which (and where) the acid is thrown into the pool DOES important.

You have a 20,000 gallon home pool that has a pH of 8.0 when tested, and you wish to reduce the pH to 7.5. How much muriatic acid is required?

We’ve been asking this question a lot recently since the responses confirm our belief that we are an industry of habits…many of which are in desperate need of updating. The majority of folks say around half a gallon. Which is scarey, considering the correct answer is around half of that, depending on the pool’s alkalinity. It is critical to use the appropriate quantity of acid.

There is a clear link between how much acid is pumped into a pool and how difficult it is for the pool to maintain its alkalinity levels.  Acid problems are common everywhere, and much of it is because muriatic acid is 1.18x the density of water (18% denser). 18 percent may not sound like a lot, but in water, it is a big enough difference to cause acid to plummet to the bottom of a swimming pool. 

Using an acid pool feeder is essential.

Maintaining your pool will ensure that you are protecting your most important investment.  For the enjoyment and safety of everyone, add a pool chemical feeder today.  It will pay for itself in no time as you are not overusing chemicals. Toronto Pool Supplies has a wide variety for your convenience.  We are here to answer all of your questions.