Spa Heaters
Spas are often heated using electric spa heaterss, instead of the natural gas or propane spa heaterss typically installed for pools. Electric spa heaters are specifically designed for a smaller body of water and are much easier to install than gas spa heaterss because you do not need to hassle with gas tanks or lines. These spa heaterss are also compact to fit into a small space near your space or hot tub.
Electric spa heaters are rated by kilowatt and there are two typical sizes, either 5.5 kw or 11 kw. The higher kilowatt spa heaterss will heat the water faster. For example, to raise the temperature 30 degrees F in a 500-gallon spa, 5.5 kw spa heaters will take about 400 minutes while 11 kw spa heaters takes about 200 minutes. As you can see, the 11 kw spa heaters will heat twice as fast as a 5.5 kw model. So if you go with the larger size, you won't have to run the spa heaters as long - and this means a shorter wait for the perfect water temperature. You can use a basic timer or a more elaborate automated control system to turn on the spa heaters automatically. While you're at work, your spa spa heaters can also be working to heat the water to a comfortable and relaxing temperature – just what you need after a long day.
The cost of running electric spa heaters is of course going to vary based on the size of spa heaters, the amount of time it runs and your local electric rates. Spa heaters are typically wired for 240 volts which has a lower amp draw than normal household voltage of 120. Some other factors to consider are location of the spa or hot tub (indoors or outdoors), climate and weather conditions and whether or not the spa is covered. See the spa covers section below for more information about retaining precious heat and saving money.
Installing Spa heaters
We recommend having a professional familiar with both plumbing and electric install electric spa spa heaters to insure maximum safety and efficiency. The installer should closely follow the instructions outlined by the manufacturer for your specific spa heaters. Here are some basic guidelines to follow. Place spa heaters on a level surface and be sure to allow some clearance around it for maintenance. Electric spa heaters usually come with mounting holes so that they can be secured once their location is determined. Spa heaters should be installed after the filter and before any chlorinators or other chemical feeders that are connected to the plumbing. This will protect spa heaters from corrosion due to concentrated chemicals.
Maintenance of Spa Heaters
As part of regular spa heater maintenance, one thing to pay close attention to is your spa's chemical levels. High mineral content in the water can cause scale to form inside the spa heaters exchanger while low pH level (below 7.2) will corrode it. Manufacturer's warranties generally do not cover any damage caused by failure to maintain proper water chemistry.
Regular spa heater inspection is recommended to maintain spa heaters and make sure it is operating properly. The venting system should be inspected to be sure there are no obstructions to air flow. Remove any debris, chemicals or combustible materials that are near the spa heater.
Electric spa heaters have a heating element inside which is the part that most commonly needs replacing. Removal and replacement instructions for this and other parts can be found in your owner's manual along with guidelines for winterizing and spring start-up. For safety, we recommend having a qualified pool service technician perform any necessary maintenance and/or repairs on your heater.
Larger Electric Spa heaters
There are some companies that make higher kilowatt heaters for larger pools. These are more commonly used on commercial or public spas. At this time, we do not carry the larger electric spa heaters since these are usually available only to installers to ensure proper installation.
Spa Covers
If you are adding a heater to your spa, a spa cover is an accessory well worth considering. It will help retain a significant amount of heat, which reduces the amount of time you'll need to run the heater and saves you money. A spa cover will also keep out leaves and other debris and, on covers with locking hardware, prevent children, pets and pests from entering so. These additional benefits make it a worthwhile investment. Spa covers are available in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes, most commonly round, square, rectangle, octagonal, or hexagonal. They are made of high-grade vinyl with a foam core that retains heat.
Spa covers are a bit cumbersome and can be difficult for some people to lift. Fortunately, you can install some extra help with a cover lifter. We carry the Cover Valet, the Cover Caddy and the CoverMate all of which attach to the spa and have a lifting device which takes the burden off of you.
Since a spa cover comes into contact with the chemicals in the spa, it's a good idea to protect it with a Spa CoverSaver which is a sheet of closed cell insulating foam. This floats on the surface and provides a barrier between your spa cover and the water. In addition to prolonging the life of the cover, the Spa CoverSaver offers further insulation against heat loss. You can also use a spa solar cover to retain heat. Solar covers are made from a material similar to bubble wrap. You simply buy a square that most closely matches your spa size and you can cut it to size.
Visit our Pool and Spa Heaters store.