Get in the know
Dealers should become as comfortable and familiar with heat pumps as they are with gas heaters to ensure everything goes smoothly when selling and installing these products. Many of the factors taken into consideration when sizing a heat pump are the same as a gas heater (e.g. outside temperature, desired water temperature, water features, pool exposure, etc.) Dealers should also utilize local manufacturer representatives and the company’s instructional materials to get a better understanding of how a particular product performs under different circumstances. This allows the dealer to teach a client what to expect when heating with this type of equipment.
Remember, heat pumps are not ‘voodoo,’ nor are they ‘newfangled.’ They are simply another option available to help attract and satisfy a different field of customers—including those in Canada.
| Gas heaters | Heat pumps |
| · Regarded more for their effectiveness; | · Regarded more for their efficiency; |
| · Typically called upon to heat pools and spas as rapidly as possible; | · Typically used to maintain heat levels in pools and spas; |
| · Residential units usually range between 200 to 400 British thermal units (Btus) in size; and |
· Residential units usually range between 95 to 130 Btus in size; and |
| · Usually have an efficiency of approximately 78 to 84 per cent, which means for every $1 spent on gas, the unit puts out roughly 78 to 84 cents worth of energy. | · Usually have a coefficient of performance (COP) between 4.0 to 6.0, which means for every $1 spent on electricity, the unit puts out approximately $4 to 6 worth of energy. |
Tom ‘TJ’ Redman is a district sales manager and heat pump product specialist for Raypak/Rheem in Central and Northeast Florida. He has more than 20 years experience in retail, service/repair, construction/remodeling, and is currently involved in manufacturing. Redman has been working with Raypak/Rheem for almost eight years. He can be reached at tredman@raypak.com.
