Pool heater died – need help selecting a replacement please!?
We’re in Western PA, and have a 16 X 32 inground pool (steel with vinyl liner). Our 8 yr old Hayward natural gas pool heater died. Our pool guy said we need a new 150,000 BTU heater. The gas pilot heater is 50 + tax and an electric ignition version is ,150 + tax installed. We plan on living in the house for at least another 3 yrs. I don’t know what brand he’s recommending.
A 150,000 BTU Hayward H-Series heater from a discount catalog is ,400 with a pilot light and ,550 with an electronic ignition. I haven’t gotten installation prices yet.
Do you recommend pilot light or electronic ignition? Anything else I should watch out for? My inclination is to try to go as cheap as possible.
Sta Rite Maxi Therm heater is the best! Here is a link with photos of heater and explanation of how it works: http://www.swimming-pool-information.com/pool-and-spa-heaters.html there is also a link there on troubleshooting gas heaters….
Go with a standing pilot unit. The simpler the better. If you’re in no hurry, you might be able to find a used one, but this is the wrong season to be looking.
I’m curious as to what died. If the heat exchanger sprung a leak, it can be expensive to replace, but other than that,there’s not too much to repairing them. $1400 sounds a bit pricey, sounds like the discount catalog is still listing retail prices.
Hope this helps.
Used to be a Hayward service rep.
20+yrs HVAC tech.