How does pool heat work?

[mbb]

and what are the differences?

Electric, gas, solar...?? I know that there's the new construction/conservation "below 55* shut off"..is that electric heat?

The villa we rented last year had a "waterfall spa" and it never seemed to be any warmer than the pool. For that reason, we're really searching for homes that have a freestanding, separately heated, covered hot tub...and for homes with pool blankets!!LOL!

Thanks for any insight:)

Mary Beth

[Newhomebuyer]

Our spa produces additional heat when you switch it on. We have a timer switch on the wall nearby. It is the waterfall type but once you switch it on to become a spa. the waterfall stops, the heating increases and the bubbles are active.
I should imagine that is the case with most spas which tumble into the pool. It gets much hotter than you would want the pool to be.
Of course it only does this if you have requested pool heat.
Ours is gas but I am sure many others work in the same way.

[athurstance]

Our spa has a waterfall to the pool. When the spa is bubbling the water to the spa is heated first and it does get very warm in there - much warmer than you would want the pool. The water in the pool is always warmer around the waterfall area aswell - it is rather nice to stand under - very soothing on the shoulders. Our heater is gas too - they don't cut out at low temperatures (that is electric) although it is rarely that cold in Florida so it should not be a problem.

[Carla]

Hi Mary Beth

Electric heat exchangers may struggle at below about 55 degrees ambient temperature, as they draw in the warm air and convert this into heat for the water, however above this temperature they will work very well, particularly if a pool blanket is placed on top of the water whenever the pool is not in use. Fortunately there are usually less than a handful of nights per year when the electric heater could be affected by the weather. So use of the pool blanket, especially at night, throughout the winter months ensures that there will not be a problem and that the water stays warm.

Gas heaters work at any temperature and using a pool blanket also ensures that the heat remains in the water.

Solar pool heaters are great for removing the chill during the winter months (and are fine on their own for heating during the summer) but would not heat the water to the same temperature as a gas or electric heater would. You would most likely still feel that the water was cold. Most villas with solar pool heating also have either gas or electric and this kicks in when the solar can't cope.

Standalone hot tubs/spas are usually maintained at a constant temperature of between 100 and 102 degrees. Any hotter and you could end up cooking your internal organs!![msneek][msneek]

Have a great vacation.[msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

[mbb]

Thanks everyone!:)

We were the first renters in the villa last year, and unfortunately, we got to work out lots of the kinks..ie, no phone service, no cable for the first days, garage door wouldn't work, the power grid was wired incorrectly, resulting in LOTS of power outages, leak in the pool - so the water wasn't circulating properly ( and not heating properly), and the "endless hot water" took endless adjusting of the taps:D

To their credit, management/builders were wonderful about staying on top of Verizon, and the electrician to get back and rewire the 2nd panel, and we just kept adding water to the pool with the hose until the pool guy arrived...and the owner was more than apologetic. There were just soooo many inconveniences that we had to wait around for to people to come and correct...mind you, the house was a beautiful place to wait around in!! LOL

And we had a wonderful vacation:D...
Like everyone should be, we're being very deliberate and extremely thorough about our next rental!! I do know I'm asking questions that not every renter would request though;)

Thanks again for your help:)

[resorthomerentals]

We have a spa that waterfalls into the pool also. We have an electric heat pump to heat the pool, and an additional gas heater to get the spa nice and toasty when the timer on the wall is switched on. We also have a solar pool blanket/cover to use during the colder months. This cover helps to minimize heat loss during the cooler evening hours when the pool filter is not on (the pool only heats when the filter is running).

[Snapper]

Hi Mary Beth,

I wouldn't rule out pools that have an in-ground spa, with waterfall. Many of them have quite sophisticated spa controllers that will re-route the water flow so that only the spa water is being circulated through the heater. The thing you see happen, as newhomebuyer says, is that the waterfall stops. If you figure a pool heater is designed to heat a volume of water the size of a pool, you can imagine how fast it can raise the temperature of tiny spa (by comparison). There are two key questions to ask the villa owner; do they have an electronic control system for the spa, and can the heater run dual temperatures so that it can take the spa up to 100 degrees plus. If both answers are yes you should have a fantastic spa experience!

[mbb]

This is why these forums are so great...renters like us can go "right to the source":Dand a little information is a valuable thing:)

Thanks again!!

[domster]

We have a spa that heats up seperate to the pool.

They have told me it can kick out some heat if needed.

DOM