When I first started working in the pool industry, one of the areas I always tried to avoid was helping customers size their pool heaters. I’m not sure what made me uncomfortable about sizing heaters but I avoided it like the plague. One thing I did know was that when it came down to heaters and heat pumps, the bigger the better. Although true, I learned that some pool owners actually prefer efficiency over size. Eventually, I realized that my “bigger is better” line wasn’t always the best advice for every pool set up and sooner, rather than later, I’d have to learn how to size a heater for a pool owner.
So, exactly how do you size a heater for your pool? Let’s do this together.
Sizing Your Pool Heater
There are a lot of decisions pool owners make during the heater buying process. Besides the norm like choosing a manufacturer and if you’re using natural gas or propane, pool owners also must know how big or how small their heater needs to be. From experience, this is the area where most pool owners have tons of questions. And I don’t blame them.
Back to my original, “bigger is better” statement. It is true that larger heaters heat your pool faster than smaller ones. A 400k BTU heater will roughly heat your pool twice as fast as a 200k BTU heater, but it also burns gas twice as fast. Heating up a pool versus a pool and spa combination requires less BTU power. Usually, if you have a pool and spa combination, we recommend purchasing the largest BTU size available because you’re not just heating up a single body of water. But, even if you want to perform the calculations for sizing your heater, you can do that as well.
Calculations
Step 1: Calculate your Surface Area (Pool Length x Pool Width)
When you are determining which size pool heater to buy, the first step is calculating your pool’s surface area. A lot of pool owners assume that you use your pool’s gallon size to determine your heater size. In fact, there are some websites that DO use the number of gallons. I mean, the gallon size is important, just in a roundabout way. Let’s think about it this way. If you have a pool with a large surface area, the heat has more space to escape and subsequently, more water to heat. As a result, the heater needs to be large enough to compensate for surface area and the pool size.
To calculate the surface area of your pool, multiply the length times the width.
For example, if your pool is 15 x 30, then your surface area is 450 square feet.
Step 2: Divide your Surface Area by 3 (Surface area/ 3)
Once you determine your pool’s surface area, divide it by three. This answer is the minimal BTU size recommended for that particular surface area. Continuing the example above with the 15 x 30 pool, after dividing by 3, you get 150. Therefore, the minimum size heater that is recommended for a 15 x 30 pool is 150,000 BTUs.
Keep in mind, this is simply the recommended minimum size. Meaning, I wouldn’t go lower but I might need to go a little higher. When it comes to gas heaters, you always want to oversize the unit. The job of a pool heater is to replenish the heat loss at the surface of your pool. Most heat loss happens over night. Without a solar cover, there is no way to make up for the loss. That’s when having a higher BTU size comes in handy.
Step 3: Consider Your Variables
Now that you have the absolute smallest BTU size recommended for you pool, next, you have to determine if you need to go larger. And if so, how much larger? Before making a decision, consider all the variables that may affect the efficiency of your heater such as owning a solar cover, wind speed, and how often you swim.
For a 15 x 30 pool without a solar cover, I might recommend the 250 k or 300 k BTU model, depending on the customer’s preferences. That way it accounts for heat loss, evaporation, and unexpected windy conditions. It also accounts for pool owners who prefer to swim at night.
By adding a solar cover, you’re changing the game. Using a solar blanket in conjunction with your heater is the best tag team in terms of providing the best heat in the shortest amount of time. With a solar blanket, you might not need a 300 K BTU heater. You might settle on the 200K or 250k heater. Sometimes, it’s cheaper to simply invest in a solar blanket than paying for a larger heater.
Raypak Residential Gas Heater Sizing
The really cool thing about technology is that it makes all of our lives easier. Raypak has a handy-dandy gas heater calculator that configures your city and state with your desired water temperature, average air temperature, and desired temperature rise. This online calculator allows pool owners to input really specific information about their pool and location and configure what size heater is best, not only for their pool but taking your physical location into consideration as well.
The calculator also has the ability to calculate the cost of natural gas and propane. This tool allows customers to compare energy costs and discover which unit is truly right for them. It goes much further than I could ever tell you, that’s for sure.
You can use the Raypak Residential Gas Heater Sizing Calculator here.
Check out our one stop- spot for the heater-related content we’ve already covered.
have a pent air fnsp 36 can i use aHayward HeatPro Heat Pump, 140,000 BTU, Titanium Heat Exchanger – Model W3HP21404T GPM ok and the pool is about 30k gallon pool 18×36
Sure, the heat pump will work with that pump and filter setup. Heaters and heat pumps should work wth most residential pump and filter equipment equipment pads.
Hi,
We have a 30k gallon inground pool, it’s an odd shape and trying a solar cover last year was a disaster. Former house owners had a gas heater on the pool but it’s all rusted out, the heater doesn’t work and the lines look bad. I’m interested in trying a heat pump but have no idea how much BTU we would need. At it’s widest point it’s about 16′, roughly 32′ length, goes from 4ft to 8ft depth.
The pool gets a fair amount of sun, the water is absolutely perfect from July to August, but outside of that can feel too cold or at a temp that is cold for a minute but then our bodies adjust. We don’t get to open til June despite having many 70-80 degree days in May (but cold 50-60 degree nights), so really just hoping to be able to start opening at the beginning of May and maybe be able to extend it into October when weather is still well above 60 in the day.
Would 140k btu heat pump heater cut it? There’s no spa attached, and I’m only looking to keep it around 80 degrees.
Thanks so much for any help you can provide.
6500 gallons pool and spa. Which heat pump works
What temps are you wanting the watert to reach? What time of the year do you plan to use the heat pump and what part of the country are you in?
Hi, we live in NC. Our pool is 16×32, and about 18kgal. We want to install a heater, but were not sure of what type. We entertain frequently on week-end, and want maintain pool temp at 82F. We have natural gas at the property, but like the heat pump operation cost. Could you please recommend what heater to use? Gas, Electric, or heat pump?
Thanks,
First time pool owner
It depends on ion the length of your swim season. Are you going to do a traditional May to September, or do you want the option to go year-round?
If you plan to operate the pool late-Spring to the end of Summer, I’d choose the heat pump; it’ll make the water comfortable on those borderline-weather weekends. However, if you are trying to extend your season into April or October, the gas heater is your best option.
Heater Suggestions:
Raypak RP2100 Digital Heater – R336A – Copper – Natural Gas – P-R336A-EN-C
Raypak Classic Series Heat Pump 140,000 BTU – 016033
I’m in Portland OR and have a small 12 foot diameter 4 foot deep above ground pool.
I’m looking at heat pumps and am trying to determine how much to “oversize” it.
There’s a Doel heatpump that says it’s good for up to 3900 gal (my pool is 3400). No BTU rating was provided. Next up is a Fibropool unit that has an output rating of 20k BTUs, for about $600 more.
Is a 20k BTU unit a waste? What is the min BTU you would recommend?
What temps are you wanting to maintain in the pool? What parts of the year are you planning to operate the heater?
Hi there- I have a 12×28 pool (no spa) and it’s 6FT deep in deep in and 3FT in shallow. Our house faces west so after 1 PM, even in the summer, it can be chilly (we have a dark pebbletec). What size would you recommend to keep heat the pool to 89ish degrees? What size would be the most efficient to run?
Your pool does not have direct sunlight, and you wish to maintain a high temperature, I would use a 400K BTU or equivalent heater. We recommend Raypak heaters for their simple design and easy maintenance. if your pools usees traditional chlorine the RP2100 with Copper Heat Exchanger is your best choice. For saltwater pools, the RP2100 with Cupro-Nickel Heat Exchanger would be the best option.
Will an electric heat pump 400k btu be enough to heat a 40k gallons pool?
That I know of, there are no 400 k BTU pool heat pumps available on the market today. If there is one, yes, it would be enough; but if you want a heater with that many BTUs, you will need a gas heater.
Matthew —
Your information here is great, and it sounds like you really know your stuff… So, I have a question on the same subject of pipe size/length and btus. We are in an older home that had gas heater removed prior to our moving here a few years ago. In deciding which heater to buy as a replacement, as our northern CA weather is great in the summer but very cool at night (and in winter months) I wanted to go with the “bigger is better” concept primarily for efficiency. Also, I’m thinking we should go with 400 btus as we don’t have a cover (the pool is kidney shaped). It measures approx 25 x 40, and we’ve tried a solar cover but that’s a real pain.
Contractor A said that for a 400 BTU Jandy and a gas line run of approx. 90ft, we would need to upgrade the existing 3/4″ line to 1/1/4″ pipe — same as what the Jandy chart above (and our brochure) states. So we upgraded the pipe, re-ran the line, etc. and now have a 1/1/4″ line — but we haven’t yet pulled the trigger on which heater we want.
When I learned that our regular pool service provider also installs pool heaters (which I didn’t realize until recently), I requested a bit from them as well. They/Contractor B carry Raypak and Pentair — not Jandy. And in working up a bid, they said they would need to put on a line reducer, as both Raypak & Pentair take a 3/4″ gas line!!! Imagine that! Something just doesn’t make sense to me…
I haven’t yet received Contractor B’s bid, but I don’t recall them measuring the long distance for the gas line, and wonder if they simply don’t factor that into the equation. To me, this would mean that a 400btu heater would be starving for gas…
I would very much appreciate your input, as my knowledge of pool heaters and gas lines is very new and very limited — but my sense of logic tells me that Contractor A has done his homework.
Thanks so much!
pfb
I have a 36×20 pool in NY surrounded by trees and shade. I don’t have gas line and want to use a heat pump.
Which size do you recommend?
Live in SC & have inground pool, 34’ by 15’. Shallow end is 3ft & deep end is 6ft 7 in. Would like to heat to 85 degrees & want to use April – October. Have a poly gal roof over it. What brand heat pump do you recommend & how many btu’s? Don’t want to urs propane or gas heat. Thx for feedback.
email address for response re: 34 by 15 foot pool in SC is bjsimons50@yahoo.com
Will a heat pump type pool heater be a viable choice for a 15 by 40 ft pool in Clark county NV?
What water temp are you wanting to maintain? Also, what time of year do you plan on using it?
I have a 27’x54” above ground that I was wanting to know what size heat pump heater to purchase
I forgot to mention that my pool also has a sloped- “dished-out” deep end that is about 6 1/2 ft.
Don’t see an answer so I will as a poolman I’d install a Starite 333 or 400. In my experience the Starite’s are the longest lasting heater.
In our experience, Sta-Rite is the most costly to repair and tend to be overdesigned. There are a lot of moving parts in a Sta-Rite heater; a la, a lot that could go wrong. I generally prefer Raypak because their heaters are relatively simple, and they are a company that specializes in heaters. Because the parent company is Rheem, when you call Raypak you ae guaranteed to get someone who knows their way around a heater and can tell you how to troubleshoot any problem. With the larger pool companies like Hayward or Pentair, you may call about a heater issue, but you are on the line that is more familiar with pumps or filters and can only go through basic troubleshoot handbook.
Hello. I have a 18 x 33 ft above ground pool that I use for exercise. Due to my medical conditions I can’t tolerate water temp less than 85-86 but in southern PA, (in the summer) I am lucky to be able to get in the pool more than 10 days. I will be using propane as can’t afford connection gas fee. In order to be able to swim all summer (and end of spring plus beginning of fall would be wonderful!) I would need anywhere from 5 to 15 degree increase, depending on the day/night. Can you tell me what btu heater and also, any recommendations of what heater. Unfortunately, being a disabled widow, cost is a concern for me, so if any ideas of heater with that in mind. Thank you very much for any help you can give me!
Hi,
I have a 31 x 31 x 5 pool (in ground)
Windy conditions
Ambient temp of 65 F
My pump runs 6 hours a day
2 ppt of salinity
My target temp is at least 86 F
How many BTUs should I be looking for ?
Thanks
I see you have most of the info we asked for in the article to get the BTU size. I do not see the area of the country you live in, the seasons you’ll be operating the unit or the cost of utilities.
If you can provide that information, I can try to calculate the answer. You may also use the Raypak Sizing Calculator we have linked in the article.
I just purchased 400,000 btu hayward heater. I have run
90 feet of 1 inch natural gas pipe to heater and reduced it at last 4 feet to 3/4 inch. I may be undersized on pipe. How will that affect heater performance?
You’d be starving the heater of gas, so obviously it is not good for performance. Think about what your car do if you cut the gas supply to a fraction of what it needed?
Hayward’s LowNox heaters require a 1-1/4″ gas line for a 50-100 foot run.
I recently purchased a 350000 BTU Hayward universal heater for my 18 x 36 inground pool. upon looking at my gas meter it only has 3/4 inch piping and the chart says that I should have at least one and a quarter inch all the way to the heater. Do I need to get a new gas meter or can I just go up to a one and a quarter inch all the way to the heater and then reduce it back to 3/4 in at the heater inlet?
My first call would be to the gas company to determine the necessary changes to your gas line.
Likely you solved this but make sure the 3/4″ isn’t the pipe going into the gas meter the pipe going from the meter to the pool needs to be larger.
I have a typical 15 x 30 pool & spam combo. Had a 400k BTU LP heater so the gas install is in place. Live in central Florida, no screen enclosure. Pool temp is fine for 8+ months of the year. Never used the heater for pool, too expensive.
I just want a replacement LP heater, electronic ignition, decent quality, for the occasional spa use only. What would you recommend?
I’m in the same situation, same location. Did you happen to get the sorted?
What factors should I consider if I have an indoor pool? the poolhouse is heated so I won’t get the quick variations in ambient temp to cool my pool? My pool is 15k gallons unsure of the dimensions…
thanks!
Hello there.
How do I calculate the BTU needed for a pool 640 SQF pool that has solar blanket and Solar heating panels, and its in Los angels, California, full of sunshine days.
I need to boost the heat only to extend the swimming season and rise Temp to 85′ from April, May, June and November .
TNX for your help!
Does anyone have an experience with the solar heaters on the market?
After reading the information maybe I missed something but I didn’t see information on ELECTRIC HEATERS.
Please advise,
Regards
Electric pool heaters are not very common because of their high unit and operational cost. Even the smaller electric heater can pull 100-125 amps on single phase circuits. But most of the electric pool heaters require a three-phase power source, another rarity in residential installations.
But the main reason for them not being included was their rarity. But Coates has a sizing calculator.
Yes I’m in same boat, no gas on my street it’s all electric coast Boca. Unfortunately, I did not think about the pool heating when purchasing home. 😤 best heat pump for a 14x 25 foot pool 6 feet deep down to 12 inches.
I am going to presume Coast Boca implies you are in southern Florida. A reasonably sized heat would be the Raypak Classic Series Heat Pump 103,000 BTU – 016010 or go with the larger 140,000 BTU – 016033
I am in southeast GA. I recently put a (roughly 14k to 15k gal) pool in. 15×30, 3.5′ at shallow, 7′ at deep end. Rough estimates on day light temperatures are 60 degrees. I am looking at a heat pump due to this, but… according to BTU calculator, Hayward does not offer a large enough heat pump… HELP!!
Most heat pumps do not operate well in temperatures of 60 degrees or less. Manufacturers like Hayward, Raypak and Pentair probably will not work for you.
For lower end temperatures, Aquacal makes a unit called the Icebreaker.
Us AirWater makes a unit that claims high performance down to 38 degrees. Check it out
Use two heat pumps
The key part of the article is about gas consumption. A smaller heater will burn longer to get the desired temperature rise, a larger heater will get that the pool to temperature faster. Roughly the same amount of gas will be consumed either way, so don’t assume that the larger one will cost more to operate.
Spa combos almost universally have a 400K btu heater.
If considering adding a heater, do not forget to consider the price of running the gas line to it. That expense has been a deal killer on many heater installations.
I had a Heat Pump for my 24′ round. The guys at the pool store said it was the right size. Nope!
1. My pool mostly in the shade due to the tree cover.
2. I’m on a cliff with a clear path to the beach (Revere Beach in MA).
3. Always windy.
Existing heater cost about 3k. The next size up cost 7k. Did the solar cover, to much stuff form the trees would fall including animals.