Why upgrading heaters for commercial pools is an easy sell

by Sally Bouorm | October 1, 2011 8:45 am

By Mike Fowler

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During tight economic times, facility managers are looking for ways to reduce their operating expenses. Commercial aquatic facilities that heat their pools and spas tend to notice high energy bills come the fall and winter, especially with energy costs continually on the rise. When talking to a facility manager—whether bidding on a complete renovation or simply a pool maintenance program, commercial pool service companies should offer suggestions on how the facility can be operated more efficiently. Discussing the water heater is something that will surely grab their attention.

The buzz words these days are all about saving costs and being ‘green’ or energy efficient. It is a no brainer with heaters; older models, from seven to 10 years ago, may have had a 78 per cent efficiency rating, however, they are probably now only 60 per cent efficient. Reason being, over time heat exchanger tubes fill with buildup and even the burners get clogged.

Upgrading heaters in an aquatic facility is the perfect opportunity for a commercial pool service company to increase its bottom line, while helping clients lower their heating bills and making them a loyal client in the future.

Why new heaters make sense

When selling a heater upgrade to a potential client, first explain how their current heating system works and how it can become less efficient over time. Pool professionals would be surprised to know most facility managers are not exactly sure how their heaters work, or how heater operation affects operating costs.

Explain how the pool pump draws water from the pool to circulate it through the filter and into the heater. The heater’s combustion chamber ignites the gas, heating copper tubes arranged above the burner tray. As water passes through, heat from the copper tubes is conducted to the water, increasing its temperature. The water then returns to the pool and re-circulates for consistent heating. This simple process provides quick, controlled heat.

If the client wants to know why they should upgrade to a new heating system, the reasons are simple:

1. A new heater is capable of immediately lowering energy bills as they have much higher efficiency ratings (85 to 90 per cent) and use less energy.
2. The current heating system, more than likely, is not operating anywhere near its original efficiency rating.
3. Today’s heaters have a smaller footprint and take up less space in the equipment room.
4. New heaters have lower emissions for better air quality, which also makes them environment friendly.
5. They are also easier to maintain and install (plug-and-play design).

The scoop on new high-efficiency swimming pool heaters

Gas pool heaters are rated by British thermal units (Btus). Inputs and outputs range from 75,000 to 4,500,000 Btu. For example, if the heater is rated 85 per cent efficient, with a 400,000 Btu input, the output (heating capability) is 85 per cent of the total Btu. In this case, 340,000 Btus would come out of the heater.

Using the same example as above, a seven to 10-year-old heater, which was 78 per cent efficient brand new would have an output of only 280,000 Btus. Of course, this is assuming the heater is still operating at the same efficiency rating it did when it was first installed. Most heaters, however, start losing efficiency over a period of time just from basic operation.

Reasons for decreased efficiency

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A commercial pool service company should use the factors causing decreased efficiency in older heating systems as the main selling points as to why an aquatic facility should upgrade its heating system. Should the client ask why their current heater is not as efficient as it was when it was originally installed, the following causes of decreased efficiency can be explained.

Build up on heat exchanger tubes

Heat exchanger tubes build up with chemical residuals and calcium, which causes the unit to lower its water flow. When flow is reduced, the heater loses its ability to heat the water, thus making it less efficient than originally designed. This also results in increased energy consumption, as the heater uses more energy to heat the same amount of water in the pool.

Reduced water flow

If water flow is too fast, it creates condensation; if it is too slow, the heater is not warming the water efficiently. Further, a pump that is not working properly can also contribute to heater inefficiency due to irregular water flow. This might be an opportunity to upsell a variable frequency drive (VFD) pump to ensure the water flow through the heater remains consistent.

Condensation

Propane and natural gas, when burned, produce water as a byproduct. If the heat exchanger is too ‘cool’ the humid flue gases will condense on the fins of the heater. Condensation also causes carbon (C) to adhere to the heat exchanger. The condensate collects then drops onto the burners. The combustion is then compromised as ‘raining’ condensate that interferes with the flame pattern. This poor combustion turns into ‘soot,’ which collects on the fins and impedes the flue gasses. Not only will the condensation cause inefficiencies in the heater functionality, it will also cause oxidation on copper (Cu) from low return water temperatures.

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Low gas pressure

Low gas pressure can cause damage to the internal parts of the heater causing build up that leads to heat exchanger blockage.

Lack of proper ventilation

Inadequate ventilation can cause ‘sooting,’ which prevents the heater from operating at its maximum efficiency rating. The soot layer acts like an insulator on the heat exchanger, which lessens the amount of heat transferred to the pool water.

Costs of reduced efficiency

The following examples will help in understanding the affects a heater with reduced efficiency has on a facility’s operating costs. It is important to note that one Btu will raise 0.45 kg (1 lb) of water by one degree.

Natural gas heating system

Scenario: Initial heat up time and cost for a 75,708-L (20,000-gal) pool that requires a 20 degree temperature rise. (Note: 3.78 L [1 gal] of water weighs 3.7 kg [8.33 lbs]).

20,000 gal x 8.33 lbs = 166,600 lbs of water in the pool that will need to be heated

166,600 lbs x 20-degree rise = 3,332,000 Btus required

Btu is a unit of power measured per hour. Therefore, 138,833 Btus per hour is needed to achieve the 20-degree temperature increase:

3,332,000 Btus / 24 hours = 138,833 output Btu per hour required

Going back to the original example, a new 400,000-Btu heater that is 85 per cent efficient, or in other words, has a 340,000 Btu output, will take 9.8 hours to raise the same pool’s water temperature by 20 degrees.

3,332,000 Btus / 340,000 = 9.8 hours

Gas companies charge by the therm (thm), so to figure out how much it will cost to heat the pool water it is important to know that 1 thm is equivalent to 100,000 Btus. If it takes 9.8 hours to increase the water temperature in a 75,708-L (20,000-gal) pool by 20 degrees using a 400,000-Btu heater rated at 85 per cent efficiency (i.e. 340,000 Btu output), the cost would be as follows:

9.8 (heat up time) x 400,000 (Btus) = 3,920,000 (total Btus)

3,920,000 / 100,000 = 39.2 thms used

If the cost of gas is $1.20 per therm, then:

39.2 thms x $1.20 = $47.04 (total cost to raise temperature)

A facility using a five- to seven-year-old, 400,000-Btu heater that was originally rated 78 per cent efficient, but is now operating at 65 per cent efficiency, is only outputting 260,000 Btus. To achieve the same 20-degreee temperature increase with this heating system, it would cost the facility the following:

3,332,000 Btus required / 260,000 = 12.8 hours

12.8 (heat up time) x 400,000 (Btus) = 5,120,000 (total Btus)

5,120,000 / 100,000 = 51.2 thms used

51.2 thms x $1.20 (cost per thm) = $61.44

This means it costs the facility an additional 30 per cent to heat the same body of water with their older heater.

Choosing a heater for a particular commercial pool

Now that the client is interested because they understand how their heater works and why their older heating system is not operating efficiently, be prepared to offer a heating unit that is appropriate for their aquatic facility.

It is important the facility manager realizes pool size does matter—as do factors such as whether it is an indoor or outdoor pool.

To calculate an approximate heater size for a pool, the facility manager needs to:

1. Determine the desired swimming pool temperature (average is 27.7 C [82 F] for competitive swimming).
2. Determine the average temperature for the coldest month of pool use (outdoor pools).
3. Subtract the average temperature for the coldest month from the desired pool temperature. This will give the temperature rise needed.
4. Calculate the pool surface area.
5. Use the formula (pool area) x (temperature rise) x (12) to determine the Btu/hour output required.

Based on this information, a commercial swimming pool service company can recommend a heater that is appropriate for the pool as part of a new sale or facility renovation.

Conclusion

Armed with all the facts, a commercial swimming pool service company can now approach a potential client about upgrading their heating system to a newer, more efficient heater that will immediately reduce their energy bills. Whether approaching a current or prospective customer with the proposition to upgrade their heater—selling a heater upgrade will not only increase profits, but also help attain loyal commercial accounts who will certainly be pleased with their lower monthly operating costs.

 

Mike Fowler is the commercial marketing and sales manager for Pentair Water Commercial Pool and Aquatics in Sanford, N.C. He has been with Pentair since 1992, starting his career in the technical services department at Purex Pool Products. Fowler has held many managerial roles within the company, including marketing, accounting and products. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.fowler@pentair.com[4].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/why-upgrading-heaters-for-commercial-pools-is-an-easy-sell/

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